The prong collar has been a life-saver for so many dogs. Its not illegal to use Oftentimes, breed is an excuse Oh, hes a German Shepherd, he needs a prong or hell be out of control well no thats not really true is it? Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. The bans on them are sad as so many people jump on the band wagon without fully knowing the full story. Its not an issue. No matter how prey driven, no matter how strong. The correctional collars are illegal to import in the country but are only banned in Victoria currently. 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. My first dog was a female shepherd-mix rescue and I used a prong collar on her to amazing effect. I have tried a few with our foster dogs, and they never truly work. Psychology Today, December 4, 2017. And never crate the dog with it on. The prong collar sounds just what we need. All of the images in this post contain dogs who are wearing prong collars incorrectly. Now what should I do? The kennel I work at is very much 50% training, 50% the tools you use. Make sure you buy the Herm Sprenger brand I recommend. Because puppies learn really easily. I had the stigma that the prong collars were abusive. started a campaign to ban shock, choke, and prong collars in the city, are known to inflict stress, discomfort, and pain, and potentially have long-term negative effects on dogs. 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. As sweet as he is, I ended up on the ground numerous times and my husband was tired of having his arm yanked in the wrong direction. They started our dog on a martingale collar, then upgraded him to a choke, and finally the prong. A jerk on the leash to suddenly, quickly restrict airflow as the teeth of the prong squeeze the neck, often misappropriated as a mommy bite Ill discuss that one another time) actually just reinforces the idea that they were right to be scared of the oncoming threat., Over time? I have only used the style that the prongs go all the way around the neck, so I cant speak of the effectiveness of the ones that dont. Theyre primed for that. The prong collar allows us to share our life with our dog and not just have a dog at home waiting for us to get back from our adventures. Now before you pass judgment, please read on to learn more and then decide for yourself. He pulled his previous owner down their porch steps! Dr. Jean Dodds says choke or prong collars are not recommended as they can easily injure the delicate butterfly-shaped thyroid gland that sits just below the larynx and in front of the trachea. Whether or not a dog wearing an e-collar, prong collar, or shock collar is largely happy or living a good life, the reason these devices work is that they cause some degree of discomfort, pain, or distress (regardless of the level of intensity). Thanks Karen for sharing your story. I can get away with taking her to off leash parks sometimes but I dont always have the time to drive there as Im also mom to 3 kids. Im not finding anything in the ADA that says anything about these collars ( any collars for that matter). So I would not recommend the prong in your scenario. By using the prong collar, he is now interacting with me in positive and affectionate ways, instead of the aggressive and painful ways that came natural to him. Ill let you know how our first walk goes! About 30% of the time he will heel/sit/stay with the choke collar but there is no real control without constant pulling on him. I can even run in the park with him without getting dragged or jumped on. The OSPet offers a prong collar that is ideal for medium and large dogs with the maximum length of the collar at 24 inches and a diameter of 0.14 inches or 3.5 mm. (see Training Methods and Devices for more details) As eloquently put by Jean Donaldson of The Academy for Dog Trainers in an essay called "If They Could March," Theyre elective on easy dogs and theyre elective on dogs with behaviors we dislike, including dogs who lunge and pull on leash and growl and snap and bite. Thanks for the information. What a great story Donna, thank you for sharing. (See "Is Your Dogs Collar Dangerous?") 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. A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. I have a 4 month old border collie and the prong used gently allows me to walk him. Its another self-rewarding cycle. But for corrections? 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. I knew that I had to learn how to control him if I wanted to be able to walk him without it being a dangerous task. The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs: A Review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19 (2017): 5060. ), All you have to do to unlock that? Teaching pressure & release is fast, easy, and helps build the dogs confidence. The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important energy channels in the body. 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! With some dogs prong collars are a great tool! Prong collars do NOT cause pain. Is it worth it to subdue and suppress behavior, to use the threat of pain to train a dog? I hope that this informed guy and the other bus passengers who heard what I had to say stop to think about what theyre doing with their dogs and realize that my success is due to learning how to use a prong. When my German Shepherd was very young she had a lot of behavior issues and I was worried she would grow up to become an aggressive dog. Could you post a video or picture of what you are recommending to do? And Tom asked, "Why do so-called 'balanced trainers' get so cavalier about causing dogs harm? The prong is simply a tool as if to tap the dogs shoulder to get her attention. Research showing that force-free, positive reinforcement-based techniques are better for both human and dog is overwhelming, so much so that there is a growing list of countries that have banned shock collars, for example, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. I love the prong collar! It was a lifesaver for me and he was a true angel to walk with it. Adding in a prong collar and correcting their fear (aka. No one ever claimed it so it became our shop dog and because I opened and closed the shop regularly I was the one in charge of walking him. But, after attending a seminar with a balanced dog trainer and doing a lot of research, I realized what a great dog training tool the prong collar can be. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! I want my dog to be off leash if we move there. It makes all the difference and Blu seldom pulls or lunges. My advice would be to give it a try w/ a professionals guidance to see if it could solve your dogs leash pulling habit. However, its really important that throughout the process of training a dog with a prong collar that we are aware, that we admit that it causes pain or discomfort in order to have an effect. I have a 150lbs St Bernard mix, I cant walk her she is stronger then me. Yes, the prong collar can cause damage, but so can a flat collar or harness. I think most people are afraid to publicly admit the prong collar is a great training tool. Thanks. Of course I do not know this dog. Also we may all live to see tomorrow. A quick, gentle tug is all thats needed. With the prong, he is walking next to me instead of pulling and I can walk him easily with one hand. We use a mini prong collar and had to adjust the number of links. Why was CodeMiko banned? Putting a prong collar on him that would make him uncomfortable or hurt him would further harm him mentally. Unfortunately, Kodi is one of those dogs that take you for a walk and not the other way around.. so i am wanting to try a prong collar, he gets so over stimulated when we go for a walk its almost unbearable.. pulling, barking, hyper over the top behaviour. Good luck! When you adopt a dog that pulls so hard you can not walk him, then come talk to me do you want to go through a 6-12-18 month (or more) positive-only training program so this dog can finally take a walk in a public space? and links therein.) Hes pretty good on walks but pulls to the point of choking himself. I do actually have a prong collar, the trainers at his class suggested it. Jennifer Cattet, "Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools. They certainly can be if misused. How, Mary wondered, can anyone be upset with having a social puppy? PostedApril 25, 2019 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? After 5 years we still must put it on him when in public even though we still do training in private with him frequently to get him to behave on a regular collar. Unfortunately, people really just dont understand these collars and that they can actually help prevent damage or injury, and help owners bond and communicate better with their dogs. And then comes the debate of aversive vs positive. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") It has been 4 years since I had my last beloved dog. Filter by 1 Inch Custom Hidden Prong Embroidered Collar $0.00. We put on the collar and took my dog out into the waiting room, where there was actually another dog waiting. But like you mention, fit is crucial. Have you ever seen a dog love wearing a head halter? And there are two much better alternatives, halters and walk harnesses https://positively.com/dog-training/methods-equipment/training-equipment/choke-and-prong-collars/. Highnote612 1 yr. ago. We were told that it was probably allergies. It is cruel to these dogs for them to be abandoned over and over again, adding to their unsuitability as pets, by people who believe themselves humane, when a gentle training session with a prong collar can turn those wonderful dogs into the kind of pet the owner dreams of. 2. Now presume there is a fence (metal picket fence/devils fork) in the dogs way and he decides to jump this but your choke or prong hooks on the live ring. Your email address will not be published. I have a 2 yr old Havanese and have had him since he was 8 weeks old. I used positive reinforcement in training him to walk since he was 3 months old. You dont use it to punish, you use it to guide. After our trainer introduced us to the prong collar walking with him is a joy. England Shock collars are banned in Wales, but with the help of a new proposal, the cruel devices may be banned in 2. Once your dog proper leash etiquette with the prong collar do you have to use it from here on out? Hi, I have a 90 lb intact lab that I adopted a week ago. Required fields are marked. Now he is under control and gentle. We look forward to walks now!! The more we can share these real-life stories, the more people can realize that the prong collar is not cruel, but a life saving training tool. I love him to bits and am looking forward to enjoying our walks from now on. Thank you Patty for sharing your story! I recommend prong collars, but only after consulting a certified dog training professional. I swore Id never use a prong, they are cruel, I thought. Our previous 2 dogs were Chocolates so we knew what to expect in regards to energy levels and exercise needs. Hi! We were working with a purely positive trainer for a while, who was really great, but when it came to real-world practice out and about it was still nearly impossible for me to get my dogs attention with just treats when they saw something they wanted to go after, usually a squirrel but sometimes a friendly neighbor. He eventually started showing extreme aggression towards dogs including my other two rescues. WebHidden Prong Collars. If used correctly prongs are a great tool and can greatly improve your and the dogs quality of life, I have four bouvier dogs whom i love dearly, but using the regular belt type choker, got me dragged under the wheels of truck, which fortunately stopped at the last second, saving my life and the probably the dogs as well, since i walk all four at once, so all i can say, is your information and positive comments on the use of the prong collar seems to be my only and final choice. Ive used regular collars, choke collars, gentle leaders, harnesses and the prong collar. Give it a light tug if necessary and the unwanted behavior is over. If you just allow him to pull on the collar and go after the rabbit, it may startle him and if he is sensitive dog, it may correct the behavior. By: Evelyn Konopik, RVT There are different styles of the prong collar. They are simply NOT necessary; there are better ways to train! We were lead to believe that our Bear was leash trained. The dog didnt even attempt to pull, lunge or drag me anywhere anymore. Ali Smith is the Positive Puppy Expert, dog trainer and is the founder of Rebarkable. I actually have a ton of experience with the prong collar with my own dogs and other foster dogs I have trained. Science Shows Positive Reward-Based Dog Training is Best, What and Who Dogs Want and Need: Love, Not Shocks, Living With a Dog Is Good, If It's Good for You and the Dog. Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well. He gets to decide to eliminate that discomfort by not pulling. 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. Flat collars can cause tracheal damage. Now he is eyes on me. All seemed to be going well with the prong except his reactivity to other dogs while on leash seemed to get worse. But more importantly is the age of the puppy. Or pulling his owner over, cause owners not to walk their dog? I want her to learn the actual commands I give her. Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, are a type of dog collar that is designed to provide a correction to a dog's behavior through the use of prongs. Diana, I love your story, thank you so much for sharing! 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?? Its helped ensure that MY dog is well controlled and attending to me. I have yet to find anything in writing that says this is ok. In my years of dog training (at this point, Ive been involved in training over 1300 dogs and won awards), Ive never found a reason for a prong collar that cannot be resolved with positive training. I noticed early on that other dog owners or even people who have seen a dog somewhere in their lifetime, have become experts on how to care for MY dog, irrespective of how theyre known me! I just cant say enough positive about the usefulness of a prong collar. I was stunned how quickly her behavior improved once I started using the prong collar! I think hes smart enough to realize that hes in control, if he doesnt pull, his collar is comfortable for him. I want him to walk ahead of me on a 20-30 lead along my single file trail. Results were immediate and wonderful with no signs of distress, only a few sounds of surprise. Boy was he difficult to walk though. Use lots of love and positive reinforcement with a no pull harness. In large, older, strong, and/or strong-willed dogs, this would point us to the prong collars. I recommend reading https://www.rescuedogs101.com/bringing-new-dog-home-3-3-3-rule/. How Can I Find a Dog Trainer? Watch the video on proper fitting and you will be fine. We have a 4yo female rescue GSD. Consult with Virginia from Olivers Travels dog training. The collars are brutal due to the fact that they typically lack a quick release mechanism. "As long as we are looking for shortcuts to proper training, both the dog and the guardian will likely suffer long term consequences from a poor choice of training tools, a poor use of these tools and the negative side effects from their aversive properties." The prong collar is the opposite of cruel in the right hands. WebProng collars are legal in most states, but there are some places where they are banned or regulated. Loved this post! I know Id be doing it for everyones safety, including theirs, and not as a way to punish my dog. Exhaust other options Fit it properly Use an experienced trainer (who admits what it is and how it works) Use as designed Pick a quality one (no rubber tips! (See "Choose a Dog Trainer as Carefully as You Would a Surgeon" and "Dog Training's Dirty Little Secret: Anyone Can Legally Do It."). However, I am afraid of breaking a wrist or worse; & I have some balance problems. Keep up the good work and dont let the ignorant and uneducated bring you down! I have volunteered at numerous rescues that would allow for use of harnesses and Martingale or choke style collars but not prongs. When used correctly the prong collar will immediately stop your dog from pulling you. hi,,, we got a herm sprenger collar yesterday, it was recommended by the owner of the daycare center. _____. He is absolutely gorgeous and has the sweetest disposition. I took my unmanageable dog to a basic obedience class and the teacher told me to get one. rated as 2021 & 2022 worlds best pet blog! These trainers believe that the prong collar is cruel and should be banned. Dog lovers are fighting to extend this ban to prong and choke collars as well. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. From tracking to bite work (agitation work), and even an every day harness! Train with your brain, not with ) Dont forget to train them off of it. Gentle leaders and the like can cause serious neck injuries like whiplash. All dogs will show signals that he is about to lung or go after prey, such as excitement, whining, eye contact, etc. His triggers are squirrels, any wonderful smells, etc. That should tell us something. If you think about the anatomy of the neck, it contains essential things like the windpipe. No more choking off the trachea. We now use the prong collar to train our own dogs and our foster dogs when needed. 4. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society. Thank you for providing this resource, however nothing would change my mind about it, ever! Free shipping for many products! Their use is discretionary, optional, or voluntary. The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important energy channels in the body. Shes a 5 year old Great Pyrenees cross that Ive had the joy of owning for a year now. Check Latest Price. And thank you for all you do. She walked normal and actually we all enjoyed our walk instead of dreading it. It certainly would not work if you kept yanking on it all the time. At what age do you recommend that people start using a prong Collar? Thank you! In addition, the government of Australia Note: I just received an interesting email asking if it's possible that some dogs hold grudges against their guardians and trainers who mistreat them with aversive collars and "other abusive training techniques." If they are, the whole world may have collectively hopped in banning :/ (Thank you for posting that video!). My question is I know it can be good for walks but can it also be used in training my dog to stop jumping and biting? Very pleased with the purchase and have recommended it to other dog owners. Its an adaptation of choke chains, the links become larger and there are teeth on each link that encircle the neck. 2. A world of difference. The content in this post is a breath of fresh air. I highly recommend following a couple of trainers online: https://www.facebook.com/MajorsAcademyDogTraining/ and https://www.facebook.com/SolidK9TrainingRI/ both of these trainers offer a lot of free advice. Dog collars can cause a good deal of physical and psychological harm to dogs. When the parents of a large dog (particularly, though small breeds are not exempt) raise the question of loose leash walking or stopping their dog from pulling on their leash, the subject gets heated fast. I dont see dog trainer in your credentials, but do see a link to a product which suggests you make money off of your recommendation. It is not allowed to permanently keep a dog in a box; only two hours per day at the most. He is a rescue who was only 77 lbs when he came to live with me. I did not have prong collars on them, but I am confident if I had, it would never had happened. He is doing well but, as he is getting older, he is pulling toward other dogs and people. We dog sat for a friends dog last week that has no leash manners, and the way he pulled on his flat collar scared me! 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. They say it should redirect them, and that worked for a little while, but not well enough, apparently, since she figure out that she could push through it anyway. Many trainers suggest using a carabiner to connect the prong to the collar. I would argue a year to 18 months is the minimum you should be considering this tool., Why? You will hear strong opinions about prong collars on both sides, for and against. Its a good thing I work out because I can reign her back in but I fear one day shell dislocate my shoulder!! With the use of a prong collar, you immediately become your dogs source of punishment. He has someone home with him 24 hrs a day and has all the love and attention he could want. The studies seem to show that choke collars are dangerous but not prong collars. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this.
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