| I use the prong collar on both my rotties. When we are for walks, we OFTEN get comments such as -- "wow, they look like really happy dogs". I think if they were being tortured by the prongs they would not be so happy on their walks.
I oncce went to a trainer (actually nationally known trainer in training many different types of animals), who did not allow prong collars. Used a choke collar instead because I liked some of her training approach and learned quite a bit from her classes in some ways. however, I found it much less humane to hear the breath choking out of my dog than to give a single, quick prong correction that likely would not have to be repeated (at least not very often). This is the same trainer who has people throwing rolled up newspapers and magazines at the dogs for various infractions, and who kicked us out of agility class because (1) she didn't like the way my reasonably well-behaved rottie was looking at the little tiny poodle that was yapping at all the bigger dogs, and (2) I wouldn't let her people throw rolled up magazines at my rottie when he looked (yes, I said 'looked', not 'lunged') at the little yappy dog.
It was a good lesson that this trainer had a 'one method fits all' approach, and was not someone I cared to work with again.
So, I would say, if the trainer says not to use a prong, you could try what I did -- use his/her methods and see if they work for you. If not, you could try using the prong on your own but not in the class -- perhaps you'll still get something out of the class. But be forewarned, the trainer might have a limited knowledge of training, and also might lack knowledge in training certain, physically strong and strong-willed, breeds. It might also be a 'heads-up' that the trainer is predjudiced against rotties. In my case I found these things to be true.  |