Fitting a prong collar

malinois_16 · 08-02-2011, 01:08 AM

Okay, I never liked prong collars. I will be the first to say that. I bought one years ago and used it a few times, didnt like it and put it away. Now I have been reading up on them and decided I want to use it for training again. I know how to use one, I used to work with a trainer with my previous dogs. But I am having an issue getting over how high it needs to sit.

I was told it had to sit right up behind the ears, but wouldnt that hurt their throat?

I also have a different prong then I am used to. Mine has flat tips.

Are these okay? or should I get a rounded tip one? I dont really want to as they cost $20 here but will if its suggested.

Also, I have been getting mixed messages. Any pet store I have called said I need to be able to slip it over his neck and it needs to sit low like the pic below with 7 links in it

Then the trainer I used to work with I recall him using them right under the ears like the below pic with 6 links in it

I was concerned about his throat being hurt, this is right under the ears but where it sits under the neck in a delicate area

Anyone care to help? I dont need to use a safety collar with him as his recall is solid.

Good_Karma · 08-02-2011, 05:43 AM

I've seen a lot of people recommend the Leerburg site for how to properly fit a prong.

Leerburg | How to fit a Prong Collar

Sorry, I can't help any more than that, I've never used a prong.

Todd · 08-02-2011, 06:28 AM

The trainer I worked with said it needed to be high on the neck like the second and third pics.

I understood her that since the prong distributed the correction around the whole neck, it was a lot better for the dog than a choker which only put force on the front of the neck.

I'm pretty sure it should not be able to slip over his neck. My trainer was pretty firm that there should be minimal slack in the part of the collar that is not prongs (if that makes sense...i.e. minimal slack in the chain part of the collar).

The version I had made you put the collar on and off by taking apart a link. I think there are some versions that have some sort of clip or something.

I used the prong for walking for Heidi's whole life if we were walking near traffic. My trainer made an interesting point. "Even if she has a great recall, if you have to use it, then she did leave your side in the first place." OK, got it ;-)

Sunstreaked · 08-02-2011, 09:23 AM

We also just went to a prong collar and it is working AMAZINGLY well!

Eva was fitted high up on the neck (your 2nd and 3rd pics) and it was NOT supposed to slip over her head. We clip it on every time (I believe it's one of the quick release ones).

Here's the weird thing I didn't expect: It has made me much more aware of the signals I'm giving my pup. I don't want to jerk her anywhere and I find I'm verbally communicating what I want and VERY gently doing it with the lead. She is not lunging like she was after lizards (omg, we have a gazillion lizards everywhere!) and my face is no longer in danger of once again meeting the gate post.

Our trainer told us the prong was to be "self-correcting" and that made me aware of watching how the pup responds to the prong. The difference in walking her on the lead is just so great and I'm now whacking the back of my own head for waiting so long!

**lhczth** · 08-02-2011, 10:56 AM

The pinch should never be loose enough to slip over the head of the dog. It should sit fairly high and snug (not so tight it is almost impossible to put on). No, it will not hurt their throat if used corectly.

malinois_16 · 08-02-2011, 11:15 AM

I have to take apart a link to put it on. it will not slip of his head. I want to use it to correct a couple behavoirs he is having that are starting to peeve me off. Once I stopped using the prong the last time these behavoirs got worse. So, I want to go back to the prong collar.

One behavoir is how he greets other dogs by stalking them. He isnt aggressive when he does this, he just crouches very low when walking up to them like hes trying to make himself invisible. I dont want him to do that.

The other one (thanks to the shih tzu that kept attacking him) he has become a bit more reactive with other dogs. Before, he would wait for the other dog to react lunging, barking etc before he would but now he seems to know thy dog and will react prior. I dont want him reacting at all. I dont blame him for reacting to an aggressive dog, but it makes me look bad so this has to stop as well.

I basically want him to ignore other dogs as we walk by. He was doing so good, till I switched back to a flat collar then he sorta was like oh haha you cant correct me on this thing so **** you. I dont like this attitude and it will come to an end.

I find I have been slacking and he has been sliding back because of me, so I need to pick it up for him.

On the collar can I leave those little black nubs on there or should I take them off? I dont like the quick release collars only because if I am going to correct him and it gives out that correction is kind of pointless. He is NOT aggressive so I have no concerns about his reactivity getting up to aggression if this prong ever gave way, I just want him to ignore.

tintallie · 08-02-2011, 11:49 AM

If you have the Herm Sprenger prong collar, the tips of the metal links are rounded and not flat. I do not use the rounded rubber tips on my prong collar and I have the basic one where you have to pinch a link in order to place and remove the collar on the dog. The Leerburg site has a very good illustration for where the prong collar should sit, and it should not slip over your dog's head.

Have you tried working on focus with your dog when a neighbourhood dog is nearby? I still work on this too, but my trainer had shown me that if you see something that could ramp up your dog that you get your dog to "watch" you and reward that behaviour.

jmoney · 08-02-2011, 12:03 PM

Good job on the fit! I see so many people that have those on wrong

LuvMyDog_Worldwide · 08-02-2011, 02:12 PM

The Leerburg site is a good resource for fitting a prong collar, but the picture of the doberman wearing the collar high up is a very bad angle because it looks like a garotte and I know people who have fitted them way too tight after seeing that pic. Being too loose isn't ideal, but being too tight is worse because the collar can't release, it's a permanent correction and that won't teach the dog anything. Having the collar right tight behind the ears isn't necessary either, that's just a preference, anywhere on the top half of the neck will work fine.

The collar has chisel cut ends, I'd recommend the plastic caps because they're notorious for scratching the skin. I see the links have been unclipped from the loops and the top prong moved down the collar so the prongs can be reversed in the middle like the HS Ultra Plus collars, that must be affecting the flexibility on that section.

regards,

LMD

WarrantsWifey · 08-02-2011, 02:15 PM

I've always put it high on the neck with one less link so it sits up there on its own. You need less correction and get more effect that way.

08-02-2011, 01:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
malinois_16 Banned Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 743	Fitting a prong collar Okay, I never liked prong collars. I will be the first to say that. I bought one years ago and used it a few times, didnt like it and put it away. Now I have been reading up on them and decided I want to use it for training again. I know how to use one, I used to work with a trainer with my previous dogs. But I am having an issue getting over how high it needs to sit. I was told it had to sit right up behind the ears, but wouldnt that hurt their throat? I also have a different prong then I am used to. Mine has flat tips. Are these okay? or should I get a rounded tip one? I dont really want to as they cost $20 here but will if its suggested. Also, I have been getting mixed messages. Any pet store I have called said I need to be able to slip it over his neck and it needs to sit low like the pic below with 7 links in it Then the trainer I used to work with I recall him using them right under the ears like the below pic with 6 links in it I was concerned about his throat being hurt, this is right under the ears but where it sits under the neck in a delicate area Anyone care to help? I dont need to use a safety collar with him as his recall is solid.

08-02-2011, 05:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Good_Karma Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 4,103	I've seen a lot of people recommend the Leerburg site for how to properly fit a prong. Leerburg \| How to fit a Prong Collar Sorry, I can't help any more than that, I've never used a prong. __________________ Leah: Newbie dog owner Niko: American Showline GSD 2 1/2 years old Rosa: American Muppet Dog (GSD/Border Collie mix) 3 years old

08-02-2011, 06:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Todd Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA Posts: 1,129	The trainer I worked with said it needed to be high on the neck like the second and third pics. I understood her that since the prong distributed the correction around the whole neck, it was a lot better for the dog than a choker which only put force on the front of the neck. I'm pretty sure it should not be able to slip over his neck. My trainer was pretty firm that there should be minimal slack in the part of the collar that is not prongs (if that makes sense...i.e. minimal slack in the chain part of the collar). The version I had made you put the collar on and off by taking apart a link. I think there are some versions that have some sort of clip or something. I used the prong for walking for Heidi's whole life if we were walking near traffic. My trainer made an interesting point. "Even if she has a great recall, if you have to use it, then she did leave your side in the first place." OK, got it ;-) __________________ Todd Abby - Adopted 11 July 2011 Heidi - RIP (3 May 2011) Run free little girl, you gave me the best seven years of my life.

08-02-2011, 10:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,697	The pinch should never be loose enough to slip over the head of the dog. It should sit fairly high and snug (not so tight it is almost impossible to put on). No, it will not hurt their throat if used corectly. __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

08-02-2011, 09:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sunstreaked Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 439	We also just went to a prong collar and it is working AMAZINGLY well! Eva was fitted high up on the neck (your 2nd and 3rd pics) and it was NOT supposed to slip over her head. We clip it on every time (I believe it's one of the quick release ones). Here's the weird thing I didn't expect: It has made me much more aware of the signals I'm giving my pup. I don't want to jerk her anywhere and I find I'm verbally communicating what I want and VERY gently doing it with the lead. She is not lunging like she was after lizards (omg, we have a gazillion lizards everywhere!) and my face is no longer in danger of once again meeting the gate post. Our trainer told us the prong was to be "self-correcting" and that made me aware of watching how the pup responds to the prong. The difference in walking her on the lead is just so great and I'm now whacking the back of my own head for waiting so long!

08-02-2011, 11:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
malinois_16 Banned Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 743	I have to take apart a link to put it on. it will not slip of his head. I want to use it to correct a couple behavoirs he is having that are starting to peeve me off. Once I stopped using the prong the last time these behavoirs got worse. So, I want to go back to the prong collar. One behavoir is how he greets other dogs by stalking them. He isnt aggressive when he does this, he just crouches very low when walking up to them like hes trying to make himself invisible. I dont want him to do that. The other one (thanks to the shih tzu that kept attacking him) he has become a bit more reactive with other dogs. Before, he would wait for the other dog to react lunging, barking etc before he would but now he seems to know thy dog and will react prior. I dont want him reacting at all. I dont blame him for reacting to an aggressive dog, but it makes me look bad so this has to stop as well. I basically want him to ignore other dogs as we walk by. He was doing so good, till I switched back to a flat collar then he sorta was like oh haha you cant correct me on this thing so **** you. I dont like this attitude and it will come to an end. I find I have been slacking and he has been sliding back because of me, so I need to pick it up for him. On the collar can I leave those little black nubs on there or should I take them off? I dont like the quick release collars only because if I am going to correct him and it gives out that correction is kind of pointless. He is NOT aggressive so I have no concerns about his reactivity getting up to aggression if this prong ever gave way, I just want him to ignore.

08-02-2011, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
tintallie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 330	If you have the Herm Sprenger prong collar, the tips of the metal links are rounded and not flat. I do not use the rounded rubber tips on my prong collar and I have the basic one where you have to pinch a link in order to place and remove the collar on the dog. The Leerburg site has a very good illustration for where the prong collar should sit, and it should not slip over your dog's head. Have you tried working on focus with your dog when a neighbourhood dog is nearby? I still work on this too, but my trainer had shown me that if you see something that could ramp up your dog that you get your dog to "watch" you and reward that behaviour.

08-02-2011, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
jmoney Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 83	Good job on the fit! I see so many people that have those on wrong

08-02-2011, 02:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
LuvMyDog_Worldwide Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 64	The Leerburg site is a good resource for fitting a prong collar, but the picture of the doberman wearing the collar high up is a very bad angle because it looks like a garotte and I know people who have fitted them way too tight after seeing that pic. Being too loose isn't ideal, but being too tight is worse because the collar can't release, it's a permanent correction and that won't teach the dog anything. Having the collar right tight behind the ears isn't necessary either, that's just a preference, anywhere on the top half of the neck will work fine. The collar has chisel cut ends, I'd recommend the plastic caps because they're notorious for scratching the skin. I see the links have been unclipped from the loops and the top prong moved down the collar so the prongs can be reversed in the middle like the HS Ultra Plus collars, that must be affecting the flexibility on that section. regards, LMD

08-02-2011, 02:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
WarrantsWifey Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,905	I've always put it high on the neck with one less link so it sits up there on its own. You need less correction and get more effect that way.

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