Prong Collar

[Birdie'sMom]

I went to the pet store by my house today to get Birdie food and why I was there I asked of they sold prong collars. Birdie does ok walking until we see a person or a dog, then she pulls really hard and it's getting hard for me to control her. I don't intend on using the prong collar until I have a trainer teach me how to use it, so I was merely asking if they carried them in their store. The cashier (a young girl) got very snippy with me and told me that they did sell them, but the kept them under the counter because they were controversial and she thought that they were mean. SHe told me to get the gentle leader instead. I told her that I had researched the topic and I felt that the prong collar, correctly used was the way to go for me. She was extremely snotty with me and rang me up without another word. I felt embarrassed. I have read the threads on this forum about it and felt I was making an informed decision. I feel like she had no right to make me feel like a bad person for wanting one, when all I want to do is train my dog so that I can keep her safe in all situations. The way she looked at me was like I wasn't even fit to own a dog! That makes me angry!

[Judi W]

Then you don't give them money!!!! for the prong or the dog food. I would also tell the manager that they are losing a customer as you do not patronize a retail establishment where you have to beg the clerk to take your money. You were not asking her advice or you would have asked for her credentials as a dog trainer first. Explain that you had not come in for training advice, but to make a purchase.

If you wish, you should call the owner or general manager (not the shift manager) and let them know.

[Rottnlove]

I would've done exactly what Judy said.

That lady would have ticked me off!!!!

If I was you I'd be taking that prong collar back and taking my business elsewhere.

Sorry you were treated like that. :(

[Carina43]

Ohh...I agree, tell the manager! That girl needs a little education.

Why were YOU embarassed? Because some snotty girl mistakenly thought you were being cruel? That's her problem, not yours - Her motives may have been honorable if she really thinks prong collars are cruel - but if she really wants to be high & mighty about it she should not be working in a place that sells them.

[Birdie'sMom]

I didn't buy the prong collar there, unfortunately it's the only place around that I can get super premium food. I like the advice, though! I wish I had thought to say that I wasn't there for advice! I was more just embarrassed because I thought that the people behind be may have thought that I was cruel. Even though I know that I am doing the right thing, someoen else that is not educated on the subject would probably be more likely to believe that it was cruel, before they did the research on it. Oh, well - I'll have to go there for the food, but I won't be making any other purchases there and I will be talking to the manager. Thanks guys, I knew I could count on you for support!

[Knucklesmom]

Maybe you should go a little easy on the girl at the store. Perhaps she is just a teenager working there, and someone has told her prong collars are bad. When you look at one, they do look sort of like instruments of torture. Quite honestly, "a certain chain of pet supply stores" really pushes gentle leaders, so she may have been giving you a company "line". She is obviously not a trainer and probably "just loves animals" as a reason to be working there. Doesn't sound like she is old enough to know how to keep her opinions to herself and give impartial information, and needs to learn some "people" skills! (Would you value her opinion on which dog food to buy or any thing else? Not likely!)

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Judi W
Then you don't give them money!!!! for the prong or the dog food. I would also tell the manager that they are losing a customer as you do not patronize a retail establishment where you have to beg the clerk to take your money. You were not asking her advice or you would have asked for her credentials as a dog trainer first. Explain that you had not come in for training advice, but to make a purchase.

If you wish, you should call the owner or general manager (not the shift manager) and let them know.

Better yet.........send that cashier here. :D

[Birdie'sMom]

Originally posted by Knucklesmom
Maybe you should go a little easy on the girl at the store. Perhaps she is just a teenager working there, and someone has told her prong collars are bad. When you look at one, they do look sort of like instruments of torture. Quite honestly, "a certain chain of pet supply stores" really pushes gentle leaders, so she may have been giving you a company "line". She is obviously not a trainer and probably "just loves animals" as a reason to be working there. Doesn't sound like she is old enough to know how to keep her opinions to herself and give impartial information, and needs to learn some "people" skills! (Would you value her opinion on which dog food to buy or any thing else? Not likely!)

I don't think I was hard on her. I just told her why I wanted one and she didn't agree and that was that. I didn't argue with her about it because I doubt that that would have done any good. I tend to go overboard when I argue, so I thought I better not even get started!:D And this wasn't "a certain chain of pet supply stores." It's the mom and pop store around the corner. I really do like the store because it sells all of the superpremium foods (Canidae, Wellness, Innova, California Natural and Solid Gold) and they are always advertising rescues and training classes, so I do think it's a good store. I've seen who I think is the owner of the store around at times. I think the next time I see him I will talk to him about it. I agree that she is a young girl and is probably only repeating what she has been told. Thanks for everyone's advice!

[Loki's Mom]

There probably wasn't any point arguing with some little girl that has never been in a situation with anything bigger than a poodle. I admit, I used to think that prongs were cruel too, until I had to have one. What I want to know is why do people give their opinion or feelings on things that they know nothing about? I'm not trying to be ugly here, by no means. But if you don't know anything about an object or whatever, keep your mouth shut....The girl really had no right to voice her opinion on something that many, many people believe in... You should really tell the manager/owner and make a formal complaint....

[spidey]

There's a fair amount of science and hard evidence behind the statement that a prong is less harmful to many dogs than a choke chain (if properly used). It's not an opinion that many dogs on choke chains suffer permanent damage to their necks and its internal tissues, it's not an opinion that there have also been many documented cases of dogs seriously injured by "gentle" leaders (which is one reason why many trainers flat-out refuse to have them on dogs in their classes). If it had been me, I'd have taken it as an opportunity to offer this girl some education (in a nice way) about facts, rather than opinions. Anything can be harsh if misused, of course, but I find it so hard to fathom why people will believe that something is "gentle" simply because its manufacturer named it that, and why people are so quick to make up their minds based on what something looks like, rather than on how it actually works in practice and the rationale behind it. I know people who use prong collars when training dogs as small as Pugs, simply because the prong is more effective and makes it less likely that the dog will pull hard enough to choke, as happens with choke chains.

[Nina&Bill]

If I can toss in my two bones...

I, too, used to think that prong collars were "mean" and Smidgen never had one. As I read various posts on this forum my opinion changed and when I read one where someone mentioned trying one on themselves before using one on their dog so that they could see how it felt that clinched it. Next time I was in a pet store I put on a prong so that I could see how it felt. I won't hesitate to use one PROPERLY on Amber if the trainer thinks it's necessary.

There's no point in having a long debate with a cashier over this sort of thing but if it ever does come up again ask her if she's ever tried one on & mention that you have. That should end the conversation pretty quickly ;).

Nina

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Loki's Mom
What I want to know is why do people give their opinion or feelings on things that they know nothing about?

We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.

Chuang Tzu
(c 369 BC-286 BC, Chinese Philosopher)

[poohbearsmom]

This boils down to crappy customer service, and lack of customer service training. No way, no how, should ANY cashier ever make a customer (the person that pays the rent, insurance, salaries, light bill..... you get the picture) feel badly for inquiring about a product, or attempting to buy one.

Having been in customer service businesses for the entirity of my employed life, this is appalling behavior on that cashier's part. Judi is absolutely right on the money.... Only I'd have likely asked her very nicely if I could use her telephone to contact the owner of the business right then and there....lol....that cashier hasn't seen mean.... ...hehehe.

Really, the owner should be contacted, because he/she can't fix an unknown problem......and I'm sure, as a small business owner, he is very aware that every $$ counts..... :)

Regards - Elisabeth

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by Birdie'sMom
The way she looked at me was like I wasn't even fit to own a dog! That makes me angry!

Seriously - like they say - hindsight is 20/20. Perhaps what you should do is garner up as much info on the benefits of the pinch vs the standard collar. Medical testimonies of studies done on the damage sustained using both collars. The right way to use it and the wrong way - the effects of improper fit. You get the picture.

Take that in and calmly present it to the owner. Let him (or her) see the data. They will likely concur with you.

Then remain equally as polite when you tell of the GROSS misinformation you received at their store by one of their employees. Make a suggestion that all employees educate themselves so they in turn can educate the public so we don't see these collars misused and our dogs abused.

There I go again with being PROactive.

[Rottnlove]

Originally posted by TrinityRun


Seriously - like they say - hindsight is 20/20. Perhaps what you should do is garner up as much info on the benefits of the pinch vs the standard collar. Medical testimonies of studies done on the damage sustained using both collars. The right way to use it and the wrong way - the effects of improper fit. You get the picture.

Take that in and calmly present it to the owner. Let him (or her) see the data. They will likely concur with you.

Then remain equally as polite when you tell of the GROSS misinformation you received at their store by one of their employees. Make a suggestion that all employees educate themselves so they in turn can educate the public so we don't see these collars misused and our dogs abused.

There I go again with being PROactive.

Great idea! I think she should go for it!!! ;)