Reason for Prong Choke Chain???

[rottweiler_fancier]

Is there any particular reason why people use the Prong Collar over the regular choke chain or another type? Many of the Rotties at the last trial I went to had them. Is it for their training? I've used one before (still have it in a box somewhere) and hated the thing. It gave no control and the correction wasn't even clear to the dog. She reacts much better to the regular choke chain. Thats why I was wondering if there was a specific reason why people use these on their dogs?

[laurlitt]

I prefer the pronged over the choke.
** The pronged requires very little effort to make a correction and has a bigger impact than a choke.
** The choke, if used incorrectly, can do more damage to the dog.
** It's easier to keep a proper fitting pronged in the right position (high up on the neck right behind ears) than a choke collar. The choke easily slides back to the base of the neck where a correction is useless on a strong necked dog.
** A correction can be given from many angles using a pronged collar whereas a choke it seems a bit more difficult if the dog is on the other side of you or the o-ring has slid to be underneath their throat.
** A choke, if put on backwards, can 'choke' a dog.

To me using a pronged collar is like power-steering my dog and I can drive w/ one hand or only a couple of fingers on the leash (unless we're in a situation where a major correction is needed then it's both hands and POP!)

Dana, depending on the size of the pronged collar you are using the dog may not be getting the appropriate corrections. For a shepard the larger prong may be okay because it has a longer coat. For a Rottweiler you can use the medium sized links (and I sometimes use the small links for training) and still get a good correction. The trouble with the small linked collar is that if they really give you a jerk a Rottweiler can break that collar (I always have a larger choke on for backup just in case!) A pronged collar must fit on snugly like a flat collar and not be loose like a necklace.

[rottweiler_fancier]

Yes, they were off the field when I saw them. I missed a large part of the trial though so I just assumed they were also used in part of the trial.

I'm not sure the size of the prong because it was given to me. I used it once and it seemed tight, but I thought thats how they fit. How do you know that its on the right way? Same as the choke chain where it makes a "P"?

[rottmommie]

i understand that the choke if not applied correctly can choke a dog
i also understand that you need at least half a brain cell to find out the correct way to put one on....
JEEZ

[pride-and-joy]

I agree with Judy and Laurlitt. The choke chain always seemed to be sliped out of place when a timely correction was needed.

I use a medium prong on Jake with one extra link so far. The extra links come 3 to a pack, I think.

When it is hooked together it makes a complete circle, not a P. You fasten it by insterting the first link's prong "snake fangs" in and out of the ring holes at the top. It is cumbersome at first and you have to make sure it isn't twisted.

Definately made a postive difference in comparison to the choke chain.

[LucyJ]

I personally hate choke chains for my dogs. They're both strong pullers and literally do "choke" themselves with a chain. The coughing and gagging is awful. If you attach your leash to both rings of the prong collar pullers give themselves a correction rather than you really having to do it (I read that recently on another thread and they were definitely right). My little girl pulls much harder than my boy, I can't believe the strength she has in that little body! But the first time she tried to pull against the prong, instant correction, and she hasn't tried to pull against it since. Tried the choke again after that and forget it... I thought she would take my arm off. Needless to say we will be starting obedience VERY soon but I will always use the prong because I'm a small woman and they are just too strong and I need to have total control at all times. If they decide they want to chase the kitty accross the street they have another thing coming! ;) All of the above comments are absolutely right and I'd never switch back to the chain.

[rottweiler_fancier]

Ok, I dug it out and have it in my hands. It doesn't fit over Libby's head anymore but I remember it use to when she was younger.

Oh great....broke one of the links apart to see how you add more links and can't get it back in.......oh well, I guess I'll dig out pliers later to get it back in. The only thing that tells me what kind it is, is an inscription at the ring you hook the leash to. It says HS GERMANY which just may be where it was made. When you add links does it have to be for the brand of prong collar or do they work on all prong collars?


I guess I'll take this as hopeless for me and get rid of it or throw it back in a box.

[bgddy36]

Dana,
A pronged collar is not supposed to be put on over the head. You should undo one link in the chain and wrap it around the neck and rehook it. It should be fairly snug so when you give a correction the two links on the back of the neck should not come together easily. One sharp tug in an upward motion is all this type of chain requires when giving a correction. Good luck. :)

[bgddy36]

Dana,
One more thing, don't use pliers on the chain. they are a little tough to rehook, but that's what keeps the collar together. Using pliers will weaken the collar.

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by bgddy36:
Dana,
A pronged collar is not supposed to be put on over the head. You should undo one link in the chain and wrap it around the neck and rehook it. It should be fairly snug so when you give a correction the two links on the back of the neck should not come together easily. One sharp tug in an upward motion is all this type of chain requires when giving a correction. Good luck. :)

The direction of the correction is relevant to what you are working on, sit, platz, etc. They aren't all in an upward motion.

Dana, do a search of the archives on prong collars BEFORE you use it. It's an excellent training tool but far too often misused.

Don't use pliers just simply squeeze the "leg end" of one of the link while holding the other link it's connected to. It's a matter of squeeze, pull up on the leg end while pushing down on the link it's connected to.

Clear as mud?

[TrinityRun]

and another thing.....

I'm one of the believers the prong collar doesn't belong on puppies which is what you indicated originally. You tried it when she was a pup (slipping it over her head no less) - it gave no control and the correction wasn't clear to the dog.

The dog *first* must understand the exercise. You don't correct them into compliance as that is unfair, IMO. There is a big difference between correcting your dog for refusal to do what is asked of her when she completely understands the command vs a dog who goes through the motions simply to avoid the correction. Avoidance isn't necessarily comprehension and it looks like crap to watch a dog perform this way.

It's your job to make sure the exercise is cyrstal clear so that any correction applied is fair and this holds true for whatever collar you use.

Just wanted to be clear on that. Good luck and happy training.

[Ramon]

I like the prong collar. My dog is almost impervious to anything else. It needs to be up high and tight on the neck. The easiest ones to use have a clip so you don't need to mess with the links, and they usually don't cost more either. I got mine at Petsmart.

[rottweiler_fancier]

Originally posted by Lauren Fitzgerald:
and another thing.....

I'm one of the believers the prong collar doesn't belong on puppies which is what you indicated originally. You tried it when she was a pup (slipping it over her head no less) - it gave no control and the correction wasn't clear to the dog.

She wasn't a "puppy" really, more an adolescent dog....over 8 months. It was given to me to help control her on the heel because she was very strong and wanted to be in the lead. I never used the prong after that....switched to a head harness which made a world of improvement and weaned her off of it and back onto a regular choke chain.

How snug should it be on a dog?

[TrinityRun]

Dana asked: (How snug should it be on a dog?)

It should be placed high up on the neck, just behind the ears and snug enough to just get your finger under. And the snap gets attached to both rings.

Working in heeling the rings are just under the dog's right ear. Working a platz the rings are under the chin.

Hope this helps.

[nick teifke]

Originally posted by Lauren Fitzgerald:
It should be placed high up on the neck, just behind the ears and snug enough to just get your finger under. And the snap gets attached to both rings.

Not necessarily. You can use one ring, it just gives you a slower correction. But it allows the collar to collapse more, so I guess it gives you a harder correction. I dont like using the word "harder" though because corrections with a prong collar probably dont need to be "hard". On the other hand, using both rings is good for a real quick pop. When I say pop, I dont mean rip the dogs head off either :)
I use both rings when I do use a prong, but thats not too often because one of my dogs will fall apart if I use it :) The other one doesnt need that yet. But they are nice for walks because once they hit the end of the leash once, they learn real quick that it aint to fun :D