Dog Community

Prong Collar

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:10:11 PM

Hi, I know this is not one of those favorite subjects, but I am thinking of trying this with my older dog. He is a notorious puller and we have tried just about everything with him.

What are your thoughts?
How do you know you are using it right?
Will they always need it if you start it?
Thanks in advance.
Julie

glenmar

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:20:14 PM

I have used a prong with a couple of my boys. It should sit where a regular collar sits, not way up high on the neck like some websites show.....what I did was go to a pet supply store that has trainers and have her SHOW me how to use it. I never give a leash corrections with a prong....just let the dog pulling be self correcting. You never want your dog to lunge and hit the end of the lead, cuz that will really HURT and the idea is not to inflict pain.

Jennie-Carra

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:21:43 PM

I love the prong collar. Mac is the worst puller on THE FACE OF THE EARTH! I tryed everything with him and I mean everything. Then at dog obediance school the trainer suggested we get a prong collar. I used it on him and it works great.
It only looks like a medieval torture device, but I assure you it isnt. I put it on my thigh and pulled it and it just gives even pressure on the dogs neck.
A common problem is that many people arent putting it on right. It is supposed to be way up high on the dogs neck, not worn low like a collar.

Jennie-Carra

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:23:41 PM

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I have used a prong with a couple of my boys. It should sit where a regular collar sits, not way up high on the neck like some websites show.....what I did was go to a pet supply store that has trainers and have her SHOW me how to use it. I never give a leash corrections with a prong....just let the dog pulling be self correcting. You never want your dog to lunge and hit the end of the lead, cuz that will really HURT and the idea is not to inflict pain.

Really? Me and my mom went to a pet store too and they told us it was a really common problem to put it low on the neck.

Now I`m really confused! [&:]

glenmar

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:24:16 PM

Putting a prong up high on the neck maximizes pain. I didn't use a prong to injure my boys, but to have more control. And, I forgot to answer your question....nope, it isn't a forever thing.

schleide

Posted : 4/20/2006 12:53:13 PM

We use one too, I tried it on myself first, since I was afraid it would hurt - it doesn't hurt, it is just not super comfortable to pull when wearing it, so it definately decreased Wesley's pulling enough to get him to concentrate on me to start learning to walk properly on a leash. He doesn't really need it anymore in most situations, but I will use it when I feel like I need the extra control (mostly because there is no way he can slip it and he has slipped flat collars before). I also to not give any sort of correction with the prong collar - when he pulls, he self corrects. Just our experience, but hope it helps!

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 4/20/2006 1:36:40 PM

Max is also a notorious puller and we started using a prong a few months ago. It has made a world of difference - he still, every now and then, takes an occassional lunge - but not very often. I just have to remember to take his regular collar off first, because his collar is a wide one and the prong was slipping over it.

Sandra TH

Posted : 4/20/2006 3:45:06 PM

I use a coupler and attach one end to the martingale collar Zoey wears, just incase the prong comes undone. Zoey goes berzerk when she sees another dog and I have no idea what she would do if she got loose, but I don't want to find out!

spiritdogs

Posted : 4/20/2006 4:30:46 PM

My first preference would be to try an Easy Walk Harness (www.premierpet.com), or a Gentle Leader. But, if you want to use a prong, there are two types of dogs I would not want to see one one - aggressive (including reactive), or shy/fearful.

Mic

Posted : 4/20/2006 5:41:19 PM

Oh, I am going to stir the pot here.

I put the collar very high up on the neck, directly under the chin, right behind the ears. Glenda is right, in that this is the most sensitive area (pain wise) of the neck. The reason it should be placed there is to lower the level of correction needed to motivate the dog. This is how we prevent injury. Lower on the neck requires a greater correction (whether owner corrected or self corrected) and could potentially cause harm.

glenmar

Posted : 4/20/2006 5:49:41 PM

While I understand your reasoning, and don't disagree with you, Mic, I found that NO correction was needed when I started Thor on the prong. My pulling machine pulled once, stopped dead in his tracks and started walking like he's SUPPOSED to. He forgot a few times and pulled, got the self correction, and very quickly made the connection and doesn't pull at all now.

Mic

Posted : 4/20/2006 5:54:41 PM

It varies from dog to dog. I have a lot of clients who have bought the prong collar, let it hang, and the dog pulls them around the yard, and then I slide it up and they walk perfectly. Others stop after just seeing the prong collar ;-)

.

I have seen some that can be sternly corrected and still pull.

My best advice is to see what works best for your dog. Just remember to be gentle. Teaching a dog to heel on a prong collar is based on pain. Don't be fooled. So take it easy and take it slow.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/20/2006 11:42:07 PM

Also, I'd like to add, that it's NEVER a good idea for anyone who is not a very experienced trainer, or a dog behaviorist, to use a prong (or any adversive) on a dog with any form of aggression. Using adversives on aggressive dogs can heighten the aggression, as they often associate the correction with the object of aggression.

Mic

Posted : 4/21/2006 6:05:58 AM

Jennie is right! It can also over stimulate and already hypersensitive dog, and really drive up the aggression.

Stef w

Posted : 4/21/2006 7:51:45 AM

I have had excellent success with prongs. [

] My lab only wears his now when we jog together.