why connect the two rings on prong?

[WorkinDogz]

It delivers the instant correction (that is distributed evenly) that a prong collar is INTENED to.

Hooking it up to only ONE ring tightens (slower correction) but still uses the whole neck.

Both rings is proper.

[Jason Ware]

So you're saying the "choke chain" feature of the prong coller shouldn't be used at all? Hmm... I'll have to do more research on the forum to see what K&S is talking about. Thanks K&S and WorkinDogz for bringing this to my attention.

[tricia]

Now I am confused. I thought the collar was supposed to work like a choke collar that is what the sales person told me at Pets Mart. I tried putting it really high on Dakota neck and high on the back of her ears and it seemed to have it a quicker response time that when it is further down on her neck. Please tell me the exact way to use this collar. Thanks for you help.
http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/confused.gif
~Tricia~

[WorkinDogz]

High up on the neck behind the ears with the "chain" part facing you...not the prongs...taught...(so it doesn't slide down) hooked up to BOTH the swivel ring and the O ring.

(I doubt if the PetsMart employee knows much about training equiptment anyway)

Instant correction. SELF correction by the dog. He pulls..he corrects himself.

I have read in this forum suggestions to connect the lead to Both of the rings on the prong collar. Can you tell me why this is recommended instead of just the one active ring?

I tried it the other day and noticed it no longer pulls closed as in a choke, but instead the whole collar pulls against the dog's neck.

[Jason Ware]

So what's the point of the swivel ring? Is it used later on during training after the dog has learned so that he can be on a looser lead but still get a correction? Or is it there just to be there?

[WorkinDogz]

The prong collar is a series of "prongs" joined together with a short length of chain. The prong collar is NOT inteded to be a "choke" chain. ONE ring would be using it as a Choke....(which it wasn't designed for) so the "O" ring was place there to be the "flat, smooth" ring next to the fur and the swivel ring to attatch to so IT CAN BE USED AS INTENDED....NOT as a "choke". Normally rings aren't put there for decoration purposes only http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[Jason Ware]

I kinda figured that. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif Thanks for the info WorkinDogz!

[tricia]

WorkinDogz Today I walked Dakota with her prong collar the proper way that you have explained. I was afraid that it would not work as well but it is great!!!!!! She now does all the work herself. When I used it the other way I had to pull http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/rolleyes.gif to correct her. WorkinDogz your information is very informative and I enjoy reading your posts and suggestions to the other posts!
Boy, do I ever love this site! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif

~Tricia~

[Jason Ware]

I haven't gotten to try it on Chewie yet but I'm sure that if Dakota responds like that, so will he. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

Thanks again WorkinDogz.

[WorkinDogz]

Why do some trainers tell you to beat the holy kibble out of your dog to "teach" sit? Who knows WHY some trainers do things the way they do...but with EQUIPTMENT....sometimes there is a RIGHT and a WRONG. Both rings is right; anything less is wrong.

Snug = being able to put a finger under it (but not without some effort) and having it unable to "slide" down. If your dog is "inbetween" needing another link (which would make it a little bit lose) or not adding one (where you can't fit a finger under it) add the link but readjust it frequently.

I've found that the MEDIUM size links work better than the large. Only one of my dogs uses the large link and only because he has such a heavy coat (he's a GSD...not a Rottie).

[mscez]

Thank you Workindogz, that helps a lot. From your description the collar fits fine for now. I can slide my finger under the collar, and I did get the medium prongs, not the large.
Thank you.

workingdogz-

When I use the prong on my little guy and have to correct, he generally yelps, which makes me concerned that it is too strong a correction. However, when I use a choke there is mainly alot of dragging him around and not much of a good correction (partly because I can't get the choke to stay up high on his neck).

An example of the yelp - We were walking and a person with a dog approached toward us but on the other side of the street. I put Dash him in a 'heel', 'watch me'. Because this dog was new (not the ones he's now used to), he broke and I immediately corrected. When he hit the prongs he yelped. When he came back to heel position he got praise and treats.

Perhaps this is the response I want?

I know that if he was on choke we would have struggled for a while til the other dog was further away and I would not have gotten any kind of response from Dash.

[mscez]

I have now taken Luke (8 mo) on two walks hooked up as Workindogz explained, and his response seems much better, too. (as others have already mentioned.)He doesn't pull like he did before.

My question is: is the prong collar supposed to be umm...snug? No, not snug, ummm...when placed high on his neck it stays there. Is this a proper fit? Or is "snug" not desirable, and I need another link?

Also, why did my trainer tell me to hook up to just the swival? (Well, of course you wouldn't know why....) Sorry, that's a retorical question.
Thanks.

[WorkinDogz]

k&s--

The prong collar delivers a "pinch" (that's why it's also known as a pinch collar).

A very large percentage of dogs (when wearing the collar CORRECTLY for the first time) give that "yelp"....it's more of a SURPRISE than it is a PAIN response. Especially if a dog is accustomed to "pulling through" a choke chain like you describe.

I highly recommend that the leash is not only attached to BOTH rings of the prong, but also the "dead" ring (the one that doesn't slide) of the fur saver. (or a flat collar...whatever collar he "normally" wears)

Remember; the prong collar is TRAINING TOOL...it's not a crutch. Your "goal" should be teaching leash respect...obedience while out for a walk no matter the distraction, and having the dog respond positively. Eventually the leash is hooked up to the dead ring of the fur saver only (dog still wearing the prong collar) and have a short 6" piece of cotton web leash on the prong. So a correction can be given if necessary.