Prong collar BAD?

[brianbat420]

Every time that I look at a prong collar I just think that it is there to kill the dog. I am sorry but how in the world does it not just go into the neck and kill them? I know that it probibly sounds dumb to some but I was getting interested in them because I heard that they do wonders for training. Thank you for any advice.

PS Are prong and pich the same thing?

[sophie's-mom]

Prong and pinch are the same.

They do not go through the dogs skin because the tips are blunt....not sharp.

It is designed to PINCH (just as the name indicates) not choke or poke.

If you plan on using this in your training, make sure it's for the right reason. It is in no way a SHORTCUT to getting the desired reaction from your dog.......in my opinion, it is for behavior you want to correct that has failed to be corrected with OTHER training methods. It's not a QUICK FIX.

Also, make sure you KNOW how to use it.........it can be COUNTER PRODUCTIVE if used in the wrong way. Get with a trainer or someone on this board.....DO NOT get the cashier at petsmart to show you!! PLEASE!!!!

Good luck.

:)

[brianbat420]

the only reason that I ask is a lot of people have hurt there dogs by using them(by all means improperly) But with training there will always be little accidents and I dont want to be out on a walk with Rocky and he see something and just take off and hurt himself that was my biggest concern.
Thank you:D

[sophie's-mom]

Yes, unfortunately, improper use can cause injury to the dog, but if the pinch is fitted correctly and the owner is AWARE of HOW to use the collar, it CAN be a good training tool.

But should ALWAYS be used with help from a professional.

[Mick Trainer]

Whilst there is indeed the potential for problems with pinch collars if used incorectly the chance of you actually hurting or damaging your dog is low. It would require a lot more than a small accident. The dangers with pinch collars is more to do with the potential too load your dog when it becomes aggressive rather than alter it's behavior in a positive way. The chance of actually physically causing your dog damage with a pinch collar is very low and it can be argued that they are safer from this point of view than a standard slip/choke style collar.

Don't be frightened of a pinch (although their appearance is medi-evil) but like all training equipment find out from someone with experience how to get the best results from it.

Mick.

[Skip]

try one on yourself. Fasten it around your bare thigh and give it a tug. There is actually very little discomfort involved. I think it's a great tool if worn and used PROPERLY. Much better than a slip/choke collar in my opinion.

[girlunderainbow]

They require proper instruction from someone who knows exactly how to use them, and like others said that doesn't mean the cashier at petsmart..
or they could cause damage used the wrong way, but so could a choke collar.

To show they are not inhumane...
I adopted a dog a year ago from the group I am with, because she had been very neglected and abused. She was afraid to be touched. She would freak out. She can also climb fences. When I brought her home..I had to have a way to take her out to potty-on lead. She was scared to death and would try to bolt on lead. With her regular collarI was afraid she'd slip out. With a choke she'd gag herself...scaring herself more. So next came a prong. Id take her out on a 12foot lead..and she'd walk to the very end of it to do her thing..but she didn't flip out like she did with regular collars. I just think being able to put one on a dog that was that frightened..and have it scare her less than a choke...etc..shows it can't be all that bad when used right.

[Luvs]

I prefer a prong/pinch to a choke chain. The prong applies pressure evenly around the neck while the choke chain applies pressure at the dogs trachea. Either collar if used improperly can cause damage. I do use both on my dogs because you can't show them in a prong so I need to be able to use a choke chain. Before using either collar have someone show you how to fit it properly and how to use it.

[Beckysmom]

Isn't Rocky just a very young puppy still?

Have you got him into an excellent puppy kindergarten class?

I think prong may be premature if memory serves correct as to that you were just picking up your new puppy a few weeks ago.

kate

[Mick Trainer]

If it is true that your dog is young then the pinch is of no use for you at the present time. Neither is a slip chain for that matter. Teach the dog what you want before you teach it what you do not want. If you have trouble getting the dog too offer the behavviors you want then a Helti style collar can be a great tool for this as the dog can be placed very easily and gently into the desired poisiton and then rewarded for it. Thus making the dog want to form this position/behavior more oftne.

Mick.

[RottieGirl86]

Athena's been on a pinch collar for 6 months, if I recall correctly.

It has more to how you walk the dog rather than the collar type you select. The dog will learn it can misbehave and pull you, rather than keep pace with you - either on choke or pincher.

I prefer the pincher - easier corrections when needed, less force you have to apply - but with training the dog should learn not to pull regardless of what you use.

[Beckysmom]

On June 3rd Rocky was stated to be 14 weeks old.

Agree with Mick as to training etc. and not using any sort of corrections (what a prong or chain choke collar does do) with such a still young, and untrained pup.

Not sure about Halti (or other similar head halters) in situation you describe where it sounds like dog is running off? Neck of dog can be seriously hurt in such situation. But could be that with treats etc. on leash this would be a way to work on leash walking nicely. Suggest you do a search here for the many discussions we have had pro and con about use of head halters. Term GL or Gentle Leader may bring some of it up too.

I guess I have never faced situation where a pup that young had to be leash walked on sidewalk etc. Have always had some sort of yard if in suburbs or country, or park if in city available to take a pup to. Do you not have these other options?

If you do have a yard of park, then, How about a long line (basically a light rope with a thing on end to connect it to collar or harness) connected to a regular harness or collar for such a young as yet untrained pup. He can get the running and exercise he needs without being able to run off.

If you add a thing called a "snap back" which is like a bungee cord with useful bolt snap attachments, you can further minimize risk of injury. AND keep the exercise area somewhere that is basically safe.

Kate

[Mick Trainer]

I agree with above post and if he is only 14 weeks old don't put a halti collar on either until he is at least 5 months. In terms of him running off he can indeed do damage to his neck on the halti. I would simply not be giving him enough lead to pull out so far. Let him pull out too it gently.

He is a puppy and is going to pull on the lead, just dont let him bolt off. Keep your eye on him and let him out gently.

Mick.

[brianbat420]

Oh no no no no no.

I am definitly not going to use it on him as a puppy.

I am in the air force and I am going to be going overseas to Japan in Oct and I need something that will ( for lack of a better word) keep him in is place because while on base he has to be the perfect dog one little mistake and it will be a bad thing.:(

Also my wife is 105 Lbs. and from the looks of Rockys Sire&Dame
He is going to be right around 110-115 and I want her to have something to use in her trainning with him as well as walks. And believe me I will find the proper way to use it .

Thank you all:)

[brianbat420]

Also what is "Helti style collar" Iis it just a regular collar that you put around the neck?

Also he does do good on walks and we have a ok sized yard I am just refering to in the future when we get to japan.

My only problem is that I am in Korea right now and my wife and dog are in Phoenix. Now my wife isnt into training and do what is needed to be done. Like for example I was home when we got Rocky and we brought him home a 8 weeks and I followed Mick Trianer's potty training advise and Did it work. Now the crate thing well that is a different story every time that we put him in there he will cry for hours I mean seriously Hours. My wife said that she put him in the crate at 5 and he was crying untill she let him out to go potty but that is another story. Well what was I trying to say again:D

Ohh yea when I was there the potty thing was going great and he only had like 4 accidents in the 3 weeks that I was there with him ( and I will say for sure that the times that he did go were all MY fault not his i just didnt get him out in time).
But now that my wife is slacking off on what she should be doing she tells me every day that she wakes up to accidents, and I just want the same to be true when we go to train him and she tells me the Rocky drag'd me for 3 miles LoL

Again I would like to thank you all for your help and I just have one more question.

Well I followed Mick's advise and it worked great and I was wondering how do I break him from the habbits that he is learning right now? I dont want him to be 110 pounds and me try to tell him something and he just not listen of god forbid think that he is the alpha male and try to "correct" me.

Thanks