So now Im looking to eliminate the lunging at joggers, bikes, people walking towards us with or without dogs and the occasional car that she decides is a threat?? I am at the end of my rope, so to speak. This harness is one of few that is genuinely military spec and is still useful for regular pet users. We just have to apply it. After 3 weeks of work with our 11 month old, highly excitable rescue dog we saw his behavior getting worse and no amount of treats of any kind could get his attention any more. Honestly, I know, Ive taught a great, reliable loose leash (even without the leash) a lot with all sorts of dogs, all sorts of breeds. WebThere are two recommended sizes of prong collars for dogs. A shortcut that compromises too much for me to feel comfortable using one or recommending one when there are tried and tested methods that dont require one. Shame they dont research the damage done to dogs by flat buckle ! They are simply NOT necessary; there are better ways to train! We have beautiful, stress-free walks thanks to this great tool. Not all prong collars are created equal, the cheap versions can have sharp points and break. I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. Thank you so much for your story Terry! Truth is she was the best dog I could have ever had the privilege of rescuing. I bought a Herm Spengler for my 3 year old 100lb. Ill let you know how our first walk goes! A prong collar must be placed around a dog's neck in a specific manner to be safe and helpful for training purposes. Why would he still be so excited to go on walks if the prong collar was so terrible? Teacup puppies are incredibly trendy, because of their small size and cuteness. It has been 4 years since I had my last beloved dog. My trainer switched her to a prong collar with flat round ends. These trainers believe that the prong collar is cruel and should be banned. So glad you found a trainer to guide you! I will write as unbiasedly as I can, and be informative and factual, allowing you to make your own decisions. About 4 mths ago I enlisted the help of an amazing young woman who is a dog trainer and with her help my dogs behaviour on leash has improved 10 fold. I have a ten month old foxhound that I walk daily in the forest for two miles in rugged terrain. The dogs hear the rattle of the prong collar and get so excited for their walks! I know some people cringe at the sight of a prong collar, it looks barbaric and cruel. I have walked him w/ the prong collar here at home several times since our session and he is not pulling or lunging. This is the worst tool you can use for a reactive dog. But your points make sense to me. A lot of peer pressure and uneducated people spreading rumors about a training tool they have no experience with. No. and links therein.) With the gentlest reminder, and no indication that she had felt anything at all, my dog turned straight back to me, looking happy and ready to take notice of me. They dont hurt them at all to train them. So I will be finally , not without some reservations , be trying your collar, at least i feel that when walking the dogs , they will know when to stop yanking, rather than me pulling or yanking on them for control. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Just put it on when you are getting ready to take a walk. I have used the prong collar with my Lab. I switched him to a prong (Herm Sprenger 2.25mm) and his behavior improved immediately. These collars have been the subject of controversy in recent years, with some people arguing that they are inhumane and should be banned, while others claim that they are an effective Im not sure you have the experience to recommend this nor have the dogs best interest in mind. But according to a new study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, there is no credible scientific evidence to justify electronic collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs.. Will a prong collar help? I have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. Just remember, the collar doesnt train the dog, its a tool to train your training will train your dog. Anyways, she had so much leash reactivity when I first adopted her. When I am conducting group training sessions I introduce the prong collar to each and every one of my classes and I properly fit it around my own bare leg and give it the correct pull as if I were training a dog to demonstrate to my groups how safe and non-damaging the prong collar is. Unfortunately, I think the rescue society I got her from downplayed the leash issues. As for the comment about it causing pain, no one has ever mentioned their dog cries out, winces in discomfort. I love my dogs very much and I know in my heart that I am not a bad dog mom. The prong collar controversy is real! Small prong collars are for dogs with necks up to 12 inches, and medium prong collars are for dogs with necks 12-16 inches. The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. Hi, I have a 90 lb intact lab that I adopted a week ago. He would pull so hard that I wound up on the ground a time or two and injured just by walking him. Its a large part of what drove me to write this blog post was because people are using these tools and are not actually looking at the whole page, reading all the information and are consequently making poorly informed decisions., Or, theyre making their decision based on the word of a trainer who is practicing with outdated techniques which is a really easy mistake to make.. Ive come to the conclusion that the people bashing the prong collar never had a dog like yours. And ask yourself, is it better for your dog to drag you through your walk, choking himself on his flat collar or to have a peaceful walk with your dog walking next to you, enjoying the smells and scenery? Check Latest Price. I would think they would still work as long as you have the collar up high on the neck. Contrary to popular belief, dogs dont have thick skin on their necks, nor does their fur protect them from pressure on the neck. Any collar, and training tool for that matter can cause damage to a dog if not used properly. He's become a more confident pup with the prong collar training. I have a 48 lb Whoodle who would wear the gentle harness on our walks in our old location (CT) where wed go 3-4 miles on a weekend and was great exercise for both of us. And not to mention all that pulling also affects me stresses my joints and feet, strains my wrists, has caused me to slip and fall in icy or muddy conditions, and makes me dread walking these problem dogs. As you go through the article, see if you can tell why theyre wrong. Boy was he difficult to walk though. and it is big and clunky. Not that it wont work, but because he is still young enough to teach him not to pull without it. I spend more than 40 hours a week writing, researching and helping dog owners, I can not do it for free and still feed my family. Do you want to know why he was riding the bus with me to work? Some foster dogs come to us without any leash skills and in order for me to be able to walk them with my dogs, I need to quickly teach them how to walk on the leash without pulling, and a prong collar is a great tool for this. A couple years of extremely hard work and amazing luck in happening upon a rescue dog with an incredible temperament and work drive, and my goals of having a pet to hike with turned into a lifelong passion for training dogs as a hobby and advocating for responsible dog ownership. Positively, constructively and with an open mind) theres a positive solution you can take to achieve the same goal. We pull out the prong collar and he come and sits patiently for us to put it on..hes excited knowing hes going for a walk. Do your dogs reach a point that you no longer have to use the prong collar? These collars have been the subject of controversy in recent years, with some people arguing that they are inhumane and should be banned, while others claim that they are an effective tool for training and managing a dog's behavior. Of course, if you see regression, then make sure that the previous training method is reverted to., This is a really subjective question. CodeMiko posted in her Discord yesterday, sharing that she was suspended on Twitch for her use of a shock collar on herself during her Sunday, Feb. 26 stream. People would comment on how well-mannered she was on walks and after a few years, I didnt need the prong collar at all. Living With a Dog Is Good, If It's Good for You and the Dog. Humanely training your dog as with children should be a personal choice not one dictated by supposed do gooders and government policies Thanks for your free download I look forward to reading it and sharing! The pain and discomfort of of a prong collar isnt going to beat out the bad behavior. Forget a regular collar she did nothing but choke herself out the entire walk. For this reason, more and more trainers and veterinarians are recommending that a dog be walked or run on a chest harness. A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. The pulling can be very tiring and tiresome. Prong collars are still legal in the US, but are highly The prong collar would be a way to inform the dogs that they have to pay attention to you when you say rather than when they find convenient. Is It Time to Ban Shock Collars for Dogs In All Situations? Ali has won multiple awards for her dog training, and has had her blog (this blog!) If you are consistently pulling the collar he may become numb to any corrections. This is the information I'l looking for also. My boy is a saint bernard mix too. If youre going to miss something, would you rather that your dog misunderstood a reward, or a punishment? However, she told me that she uses a prong collar with her two German shepherds for the same reason and offered to demonstrate on my dog while we were there. I have since gone on to do board and train with dogs on the side, have taken in numerous problematic foster dogs and trained them for easier placement, and intend to continue doing both so that I can help dog owners and their dogs live calmer, happier lives. This is a really popular question, and it's something that a lot of dog owners ask me - because there's a lot of conflicting information out there. I have a 4 month old border collie and the prong used gently allows me to walk him. One is 2.0mm (small) and the other is 3.0mm (medium). I wanted to get one for him when we first started having problems with him but my dad seemed so against it so I decided on not getting one. Because you deserve information that is clear, truthful and backed by science or the information of the manufacturer., Finding the best method for both you and your dog is really important, so I must discuss it., Im going to discuss what they are, how they work, why they work. And if you genuinely feel like thats the case? We have been trying positive reinforcement with him but he goes over threshold quickly if were out on a hike. Decide which equipment you would like your dog to walk on, and grab a double ended leash, like a halti training leash, and clip the prong to one end of the leash, and the harness or collar to the other., As your need for corrections lessen, allow the balance of the leash to lean towards the harness, and away from the prong.. Punishment often appears to work quickly (who wouldnt want to avoid a painful or uncomfortable correction?) Thank you, the bandana is a good idea. I am with a training group right now, not training with them at present. Ive compensated by going out during less busy times and the latest which has been driving to off leash dog parks as she is sooooo much off leash. Every time, with only a few sessions, the dogs became calm, happy and responsive. Results were immediate and wonderful with no signs of distress, only a few sounds of surprise. I just cant say enough positive about the usefulness of a prong collar. Mary writes, "I've seen situations like this more times than I can count at local dog parks and trails. It was like I was walking a totally different dog altogether. Jennifer Cattet, "Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools. I asked him why not? He went on to tell me theyre known for breaking dogs necks. If you decide you want to try a prong collar with your dog, make sure your purchase the Herm Sprenger brand (this is the exact one I have). When we adopted our 95 lb lab, he had no leash manners at all. So, the time to start using it is whenever youve genuinely exhausted your options when youve tried the kinder methodology, youve tried a professional positive trainer, and youve gotten to a point where your dog cannot progress despite your dedication, patience and addressing all of the aspects of your dogs life that may be inhibiting their learning. I just ordered a Sprenger 2.25 mm 12 inch prong collar and will let you know how it works out in trainingit should arrive in 2 days. There has to be a clear line of communication between you and you dog and the prong is just a quick reminder of the expectation. She quickly realized she wasnt a dog person and wanted to rehome her. I did not find it to be a painful experience on my own neck. This also could be possible. Positive only trainers will disagree, but no it will not make him more aggressive. I mean, afterall, if youve been using a tool for 30 years with your dogs (or even 3 months) you dont want to find out that youve been doing a bad thing, or that if youve been sucking it up and using a harness, you dont want to find theres potentially an easier option., So, I want to discuss one of those options for you now, so that you, my dear puppy parent, understand what youre looking at when assessing these options for you and your little pup. We have read numerous articles and watched dog training videos. This is supported by Herm Sprenger, the top manufacturer of prong collars in the world., Anything pain based is not suitable for a reactive dog.. I can even run in the park with him without getting dragged or jumped on. (We are in the process of training him to be a therapy dog to take to local nursing homes/schools etc)He thinks everyone is his friend and wants to play. I have a strong, 1.5 year old, hard headed, 60 pound English Springer Spaniel and he is all over the place on walks. A smart, quick, and gentle tug as he came at me, playfully, but vigorously and painfully, biting and scratching, caused him to halt and look at my face, asking me what I need from him, wanting to interact and please. Would the place where the lead clips on end up under the neck and, thus, drag on the ground on a long lead? The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. I rescued Shadow, a black Newfoundland, many years ago, that was when I was introduced to the prong collar in an obedience class I took with Shadow. As subjects go, Prong collars are pretty divisive in the dog world.. Virginia transformed her into an absolutely normal dog. So many people misuse them, but when used correctly theyre very good tools. My dogs come running with excitement when they hear their prong collar come out. I found the prong collar to be far more humane than say a shock collar, a flat collar, or even an ill fitted harness. She was like a different dog! I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. Right now. Thanks! Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! Reading this article and the comments made me realize I have to get over what people might think. I recently entered the world of dog ownership by adopting a rescue. As with other training devices, when used under supervision and in combination with proper behavioral training, these collars can be quite effective. Is 3mm what I should use with a lab? A video of the electrifying However, I am afraid of breaking a wrist or worse; & I have some balance problems. Came to me weighing 43lbs, greatly malnourished (the rescue had fixed all the medical issues and had to adopt him out, so not complaining) since then, he is well nourished at 68 lbs.still pulls like a fiend sometimes. I definitely want to use it. WebShock collars have been illegal to use on dogs and cats in Wales for more than a decade. These collars can also injure the salivary glands and salivary lymph nodes on the side of the face underneath both ears. Keep up the good work and dont let the ignorant and uneducated bring you down! No trainers want to work with me because I have him on a prong. Kodi will be 2 yrs old in September this year, originates from a rescue center and has been with me from 4 months of age.