Misuse of a prong collar

[Good_Karma]

If there is already a thread on this, please point me in the right direction.

So I've heard lots of talk about how a prong collar is a good tool to have If properly used.

That begs the question: What constitutes misuse of a prong?

If you have used a prong, who taught you how to use it correctly?

[chicagojosh]

i googled "how to properly fit a prong collar" and that helped a ton. no one showed me.

in terms of properly using it; just give a little tug. in many cases you won't even have to. they'll get to the end of the leash, feel the collar start to tighten and without effort on your part, just decide not to pull. in some cases (they see another dog, squirel) you may need to give a tug.

how old is the dog you want to use it on? i know age can be a concern. i started using a prong on Cody around 7 months. honestly im not sure if that was too early, but with a 100 pound girlfriend trying to walk an 80 pound gsd, and a 70 pounds gsd mix, we really had no choice or my GF would not be able to walk them alone

[chicagojosh]

oh yeah, get one with the "quick release" feature

[Good_Karma]

I know virtually nothing about prongs and how to use or misuse one. I am beginning to think I have come to the end of my abilities as a trainer to teach my dog not to lunge for prey while we are on leash. Niko is about 15 months old. I outweigh him by about 15 lbs.

I really didn't want to go there with the prong. Not judging those who use one, but I've been convinced by trainers that they are inhumane. But I don't want to lose grip on the leash and lose my dog in the woods either.

I reached my limit today. With my leg still hurting from when he pulled me down a gravel slope on Saturday evening to chase a bunny, today he lunged for a deer that sprinted across the path in front of us. I had just gotten his calmed down and walking nicely again when we came upon a flock of turkeys trotting through the woods and up the path in front of us.

I'm not ready to buy one yet. But the door has been opened in my mind. I need to know what it means to mis-use one. Can I trust myself to learn how to properly use it? What is the likelihood of me screwing up and hurting my dog?

[Chris Wild]

Originally Posted by chicagojosh

oh yeah, get one with the "quick release" feature

I would highly recommend AGAINST this. While they do make the collar easier to put on and take off, these snaps are a weak point in the collar that can break and cause the whole collar to pop off. Even if they don't break, which I've seen many do, they tend to gum up over time which makes them very prone to getting stuck partially open, which again can lead to the collar popping off. When putting it on/off using the prongs, it is not only more secure but when one prong starts to wear out you can easily and cheaply replace with another so the collar stays strong and intact. Can't do that with the snaps.

As far as misuse, the most common problems I see are poorly fitted prong collars. Collars that are too tight, but more often collars that are way too big. Some so large it appears the owner thought they were supposed to slide over the head like a choke collar. This not only makes them ineffective it means that when the dog does hit the end he gets poked, not pinched, which is not the way they are supposed to work. And of course if sized too large, like any collar, the dog can slip out of them. The other common fitting problem is people buying the huge collars with the giant links, and a collar that is too heavy duty or with links that are too large, and thus not very numerous, isn't nearly as effective as a well fitted one.

I see a lot of people attaching the leash to both rings, or the wrong ring, instead of the correct ring that allows the collar to constrict and gives it the pinching action. Dead ring (both rings) attachment does have it's uses, but not for what most people use a prong for.

I also see a lot of people yanking the dog around too harshly or correcting with big pulls, neither of which are correct or usually warranted. A quick pop, typically requiring no more effort than a flick of the wrist, so the collar constricts quickly and then loosens quickly is the correct way to use a prong.

I also see people often leaving prong collars on their dogs all the time, whether they are using it or not. Leaving them on for extended periods of time, is not only dangerous but can cause pressure sores in the dog's neck. When not using it, take it off.

[chicagojosh]

well to be fair to your dog...bunnies, deer and turkeys are awfully tempting! lol

my dogs have never yelped once from a prong. they can not break the skin. i put on once and corrected myself....it's not that bad.

i was all about only positive reinforcement too. after trying positive "distraction/treat" methods, harness etc... i decided i had to try the prong out. and it is a god send

don't feel bad. they really aren't painful, and if the dog behaves he won't have to worry about it.

Yes, it's easy to teach yourself to use it. fitting it properly is key. hurting your dog...i would doubt is if you fit properly. the prong is made of removable links to size correctly. put it just below the dogs ears with the prong part around the front of her neck. it should fit a couple inches higher than a normal collar would. unless your and NFL linebacker your corrections should not do any harm to your pup

[chicagojosh]

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

I would highly recommend AGAINST this. While they do make the collar easier to put on and take off, these snaps are a weak point in the collar that can break and cause the whole collar to pop off. Even if they don't break, which I've seen many do, they tend to gum up over time which makes them very prone to getting stuck partially open, which again can lead to the collar popping off. When putting it on/off using the prongs, it is not only more secure but when one prong starts to wear out you can easily and cheaply replace with another so the collar stays strong and intact. Can't do that with the snaps.

hey Chris,

what would you say the expected life is of one? as you know mine are the quick releasers. they've been great so far, have not come off or been gumming up. BUT, i'd like to pre-emptively get new ones before they break. a year or two? five? thanks

[Good_Karma]

Originally Posted by chicagojosh

well to be fair to your dog...bunnies, deer and turkeys are awfully tempting! lol

Ahhh, it's like friggin' wild kingdom out here! Don't even get me started on the stupid stray cats. And the squirrels and chipmunks. Niko even tried to chase an owl one time.


. unless your and NFL linebacker your corrections should not do any harm to your pup

I'm not even close to linebacker material! But the trainers I used said they DID see it happen where dogs neck was punctured by the prongs. Maybe it was in a breed that is fairly insensitive to pain???

[Whiteshepherds]

Leah, have you tried using a harness on him? The ones with the ring in the front (chest rather than neck) do work pretty good. We have the Premier Easy Walk Harnesses.

[chicagojosh]

wow! punctued? i've never heard that.

All 80 pounds of Cody has gone barrelling after a bunny and came to a screeching halt when the leash ran out. he didn't even yelp, and certainly was not puncuted by it...