Prong Collar

[MicheleMarie]

Samson started his pressure collar training today (he did AMAZING btw!) and my trainer said to just get a cheap prong collar. he said when you start them this young (5 months) they pick up the pressure more easily and then you can wean them off of it faster and easier. however i wanted to get a nice quality one because i know i will have to bring it out in later use and i'd like to try this training technique on my other dog.

what is a good quality prong collar...i.e. what should i look for and what is the best place to get one?? i was just going to go to pet smart but if there's differences in them please let me know!

[onyx'girl]

Herm Sprenger is the one I'd go with...(Coastal brand) Herm Sprengers can be found in some stores, or you can get one off a website. Try to make sure if you do get one from a shop that the tips are rounded and not blunt, the rounded ones are better.

[codmaster]

And get someone to show you how to fit it and also to use it.

[selzer]

I do not use prong collars on puppies, so not condoning it for a five month old pup, but I hear the Herm Sprenger seems to be the poison of choice.

Be careful with sharp prongs, and quick releases, get information on the best size.

I have bought two, use neither. The first was too big for me to use with my wrist surgery, the second was smaller but the quick release pretty much useless. Neither were Herm Sprengers.

[Greek]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Herm Sprenger is the one I'd go with...(Coastal brand) Herm Sprengers can be found in some stores, or you can get one off a website. Try to make sure if you do get one from a shop that the tips are rounded and not blunt, the rounded ones are better.

hmmm agreed, it is also what my dog has, tips are rounded also, make sure there not square tip - also if you dont know how to use it, make sure someone teaches you lol it's very important you know how to

[Liesje]

As long as the tips are smooth and rounded, I personally am not picky on brand. To be honest, my two Herm Sprengers pop apart pretty easily and no I don't always unhook them at the same joint. My pet store brand (rounded tips) has never come apart and is harder for me to take apart (but not too hard).

[zyppi]

I do use prong collars (Herm Springer) but would not put one on a 5 month old pup. Just my opinion.

[Stosh]

I used the HS on Stosh, it's one of the quick release ones. It's generally not used on pups under 6 mos old. It was fitted by a trainer at our obedience club and he showed my how to use it properly. It needs to be high on the neck just under the ears. It looks gnarly but is very effective and safer than a choke type collar.

[MicheleMarie]

Originally Posted by Liesje

As long as the tips are smooth and rounded, I personally am not picky on brand. To be honest, my two Herm Sprengers pop apart pretty easily and no I don't always unhook them at the same joint. My pet store brand (rounded tips) has never come apart and is harder for me to take apart (but not too hard).

if it sounds like they're all the same i will just pop into pet smart and see if they have the one with rounded tips.

i know how to use it/fit it on (def. understand the concern!) which is why we are in training

he did VERY good his first time. the trainer worked with him for 10 minutes first and then i tried and he didn't even tug once GSDs are <3

[Rerun]

I've always bought mine from petsmart and petco, and have bought probably 6 - 8 in the past decade (they got sent home with fosters sometimes), a couple in the last year or so. So yes, even recently. All of mine have nice rounded corners, on every single "point" and not a single one has ever just "popped off" and my dogs wear them during some very active activities, not just a leisure walk around the block.

One of them is a quick release. Yes it releases quickly, but it's not easier to get ON the dog IMHO. I put it on and often take it off the standard way, but sometimes I do use the quick release and it is a nice feature but not one I'd pay extra for. It just happened to be the only variety available at petsmart when I went shopping for it.

It's funny because the only ones i've heard of popping off are the herm springers...go figure.

Regarding age...I was just talking to my SO about this the other night. Dante (10 months, acquired at 10 wks) and Micah (4 yrs, adopted at 2 yrs) are both in advanced OB each week. I do one for the first hr, and then the other. They have both been solely trained by me. Micah was 2 and lived in a pen, NO LEASH experience or training whatsoever before I adopted him. He literally NEVER left that pen. He is very well behaved, walks nicely on a lead, but requires regular corrections. He is a little further behind in training than Dante. However, with that said, I've worked Dante in a small prong since he was 4 1/2 months old (when he started novice OB after puppy, which was flat collar only) and he is SO LIGHT on the leash it's like walking a butterfly during OB compared to Micah.

I used to not start pups in prongs until they were a little older and the pulling increased, but now I have seen the light and I much prefer having started Dante in it when the pulling first started than having dicked around with other methods and let it really set in. He walks beautifully now. It was so nice working him that second hr of OB class after Micah. Micah doesn't "pull" but he's not light on the lead. He just doesn't respect it like Dante does.