Prong collar - what is proper fit and tightness?

Seems to me my rottie is getting used to the prong, and even when I have the leash attached to the two rings it does not seem to have much effect (I expect an almost immediate effect from slight pressure).

I do not have the collar hanging loosely, but at the same time it is not tight enough to be almost up around his ears. Is this still too loose?

[WorkinDogz]

Right under the chin; rings behind the right ear. Needs to be tight enough to be able to STAY there.

[rottiholt]

Also it should not be used all the time. It is a training collar & so you dog must be learning with it on.
Do you have a trainer? You should be working with a trainer also.

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Thanks for the advice on the fit.

Yes, we go to an obedience class with a very good trainer and we just joined the local training club. However, summer is a busy time for me work-wise, so he is on 'recess' from formal training til fall (unfortunately).

Both the class and club are set up so you go when you can't but don't loose $$ if you miss a session. Also, esp. in the class, the dogs each go at their own pace in the various excercises.

My rottie is somewhere betwen pre-novice and novice level in the obedience classes at the dog club (novice on a good day, pre-novice on a bad day!).

[Michael C.]

The only time I use mine is on walks and training. It may sound bad, but I never taught our girl "heel". I may eventually do it, but It's not as important to me as sit, down and stay.

Mike

[lotte]

Hi there!

We're do I get a picture of proper fit/use of the prong collar. I bought one, and I think I'm not using it properly.... any sites will be a great help....




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Mr. Charlotte M. Nulud
lottenulud@hotmail.com
ICQ # 35704618
Quezon City, Philippines

[cdbeez]

Are prongs necessary? I know so many people who get them right at the start of training, but it seems to me that not every dog would need one. They just seem realtively harsh, but then again I keep getting conflicting information....ie: more even choke, inhumane, good, bad, ugly....???What's correct or is that just subjective like everything else? thanks.

[ebony]

The prong is not for every dog. Take for example my 9 month old pup. She ignored the prong completely but when the trainer put on the Gentle leader all commands obeyed. I, myself, see the choke chain to be more harsh than the prong. Very hard on the throat. The prong, when used correctly, is a great training tool.

[Joanne in NJ]

Workin' let me ask also on the "fit" question. I use the prong on the big dober and he's fine as long as it stays where it belongs.... But on that skinny long neck of his- that sucker is always sliding and I'm always hiking it back up. If I take a link out, it's digging in really hard. Do you think I might have better luck going to a smaller sized link to give me that "half-size" adjustment I need? Or should I just tell him "tough".....

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[Carol Burke]

Joanne, another option might be to put a buckle collar just below the pinch,tight enough to stay and keep the pinch from sliding.

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Carol
Darrlburg Rottweilers

[Joanne in NJ]

Carol, I had started weaning him off it, so to speak... Flat buckle & pinch rings both in the leash snap. But to do that, the buckle collar would have to be somewhat loose. I'll try tightening that one up and see what happens. All those months of walking him with his broken leg healing were paying off...
hehehe, besides which, I lost 15 pounds

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[JonandMichelle]

I think your best bet would be to contact your local training club and have a professional who is highly skilled in this field of knowledge teach you and SHOW you When I hear people talk about how inhumane a prong/choke is, you MUST think that not every dog is easy to train. There are a lot of "hard" dogs out there who need these training devices. Not every dog is going to be "soft" if you could say. When done right, for the right reasons, the prong/choke is a very effective and VERY humane training method. IF DONE RIGHT!

[This message has been edited by JonandMichelle (edited September 16, 2000).]

[WorkinDogz]

Originally posted by Joanne in NJ:
Workin' let me ask also on the "fit" question. I use the prong on the big dober and he's fine as long as it stays where it belongs.... But on that skinny long neck of his- that sucker is always sliding and I'm always hiking it back up. If I take a link out, it's digging in really hard. Do you think I might have better luck going to a smaller sized link to give me that "half-size" adjustment I need? Or should I just tell him "tough".....

Joanne,

What size link do you use? Large or medium?

I use the medium link on all of my dogs except one but his coat is the only reason for that.

Some dogs do fall in that "inbetween" size thing and if one of mine were a Dobie and that happened; I'd take him with me to the pet supply store and try the smaller link (and including the SMALL link size).

It shouldn't slide down with slight pressure/correction. The buckle collar idea works if it's tight enough.

I'm glad to hear he's doing better! That recovery was a nightmare for you but ya "done good!!!"

[Joanne in NJ]

I thought I was using the medium. I just measured, the links are 1 1/2 inches long. Do I have the large?

I only use it on 2 dogs (the other is the little devil dog) and not happy with the fit on either. It slides south instantly.
But if I take a link out, gag,gag,owie,... it really, really digs in. Ouch!
It's so tight that when I undo a link to take it off, they whimper.

Which is why I've been putting up with hiking those suckers back up where they belong.

I did see a very fine, small link collar at the petshop. I thought that the chain would make up the difference, but I guess not. When it slides, I have the two rings standing about an inch or so off their necks so there is some space between their necks and the collar. That may be just enough room to give me problems, but taking out a link is worse.

Of course, SOME people are always telling me to just use one ring, but we've had that conversation before

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[MonsterFarm]

Prong collars are not inhumane if properly used. A thin nylon choke can be just as harsh as a prong collar.

My male rottie was very sensitive to correction, a choke chain was too much for him. He was trained with a leather choker and a prong was used for correction. I snaped a pull tab to the prong and his leash to his choker. That way the prong was available if needed but not used if not necessary.

Proper fit is under the chin and snug as previously stated. The correct use is a quick pull and release. Keeping constant pressure on collar will cause dog to build up tolerance.