DumDog
Posted : 5/12/2007 10:13:09 PM
i have a slight dislike for prong collars (or pinch collars as some may call them) but its kinda personal....
i had TWO butt headed men on two different occasions tell me that no dog will pull against a prong collar.
once was at the park with my cousin. we came across a couple of officers with their k-9 in training (they have their own private agility course at the park) at some point i mentioned that Kaydee will pull on the odd occasion, but usually when we first begin our walk, it usually takes maybe two or three minutes before she settles down into a steady stride..
anyway mister officer said use a pinch collar.. i said "She's a BULLDOG... i dont think it will work." then my cousin started backing him up and agreeing that no dog will pull, that her shepherds dont pull against a pinch collar... they didnt listen to the "bulldog" part of my arguement ie - high threshold for pain..... so i just let it go that day. i know my dog better than them.
the other incident was in another chat forum. there was a guy asking about which was best, prong or halty or choker... and how old could the dog be before you used it....
i told them if the dog is young then you dont NEED a choker or prong. its a prime time to teach good manners on the lead before the dog is big enough to take you turf surfing.... then this other guy, trainer of rotts and schuttzehund stuff, argues with me that he has used them and they work and what did i know anyway, i wouldnt know a real dog if it bit me in the arm pit.... he totally bypassed the fact that the guy was asking about a puppy.... and totally bypassed the fact that i said the prong collar is the lazy way of training a dog that has missed that critical stage.... instead the guy asssumed i didnt like it because i thought it was cruel and harmful!!
i think a prong serves a purpose, but i ran into a lady once that was walking her dog, some big hairy mutt, she had a prong collar on him and he was DRAGGING her!!! oh yeah no dog can stand them.. riiiiiight.....
honestly the best thing i have found to stop pulling is a halter.... if it can stop an 80 pound bull puppy from pulling then it can stop any other dog.... or so i believe. but they all must be used appropriately. any collar can desensitize the dog if its over used or used in the wrong manner. of course any collar is capable of hurting a dog if its not used right.
anyway,just stating my view on it. maybe its a little too personal for me. i dont hate prong collars, but i dont think they have a purpose if you are raising the dog from a puppy. you have ample time to leash train it.