Need opinions on this Prong Collar!

[KZoppa]

I'm interested in this prong collar but I'd like opinions from those with more experience than myself. Yes, i know how to properly fit a prong collar. I'm interested because I like the nylon pull with the easy buckle. HOWEVER, the buckle is what concerns me. Previously we've had to replace collars with buckles (regular every day flat collars) because the clip came undone. I know a lot of these types of buckles are a lot more durable and harder to open then they were but still would like opinions. I don't have to do hard corrections, really just subtle reminds.

So, what do you think. Would you use this?


Nylon Quick-Release Training Pinch Collar for German Shepherd [PRONG 50004 nylon(3.25mm)] : German Shepherd dog harness, German Shepherd dog muzzle, German Shepherd dog collar, Dog leash, German Shepherd

[paulag1955]

I made a safety strap to use with Shasta's prong collar, which is just a short piece of nylon webbing with a snap hook on one end and a D-ring on the other. The snap hook attaches to the leash, and the D-ring is attached to the leash. A long answer to say, I don't trust any hook on a prong collar. Even though it's been ages since Shasta popped the hook on hers.

[Rerun]

Interesting, like a prong martingale. I guess my question would be - the prong is designed to be snug fitting for proper use; so since this one is a martingle, is it going to stay snug and still issue corrections properly?

A lot of these new prongs seems gimicky to me.

I still maintain that in 20 years of using prongs on a ton of different dogs from HS to cheap ones from petsmart (no the edges were sharp and flat like so many here always say they are), I've NEVER had a prong come off a dog. I can not for the life of me figure out how all these "experts" keep having prongs just fall off a dog. The entire principal of it is beyond me - those prongs are pretty long, how do they just pop out? I just have to wonder if people are fitting them improperly (too tight, too lose) or using the same two prongs day after day, year after year, and eventually the prongs just get a bit worn and looser (closer together, not spreading and holding tight inside the other prong) and eventually it just pops out. But that's an issue of wear, not product IMHO.

[wildo]

Don't all prongs use the martingale design?? I don't see the difference between this prong and any other prong- omitting the nylon and buckle. I see the advantages of the buckle (maybe... it's not hard to unhook a link), but I can't fathom an advantage of the nylon. What is the point of the nylon?

[EDIT]- Come to think of it- I think the only reason for the nylon is so that the buckle can be attached.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted by Rerun

A lot of these new prongs seems gimicky to me.

Me too, how are they any different from a normal prong other than usually being more expensive? Maybe the nylon and buckle is supposed to look "humane" or something.

[Rerun]

Yeah, I guess you are right, they do use martingale design. Not sure what I'm thinking of then. Maybe more like a slip chain?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by wildo

I see the advantages of the buckle (maybe... it's not hard to unhook a link

I, too, find the prongs easier to do than the "quick release" which I dont' find quick to snap at all, literally just a quick release. Though I also don't trust the release to hold. But with that said, concerning this type of buckle, many older people or people of any age with problems with their hands/wrists have a lot of trouble with pinching the prongs to get them in and out. So in those cases, the snap is preferable for them simple so they can use the tool vs not be able to use it because they can't get it on and off the dog.

[Liesje]

OK I can think of *one* reason to use a prong like that, but I've only seen this happen once so for me it does not outweigh the annoyance of having to have nylon and a buckle...my friend's dog once got some fur on his neck stuck in the chain loop part of his prong. It twisted and pinched when we gave a correction and he ended up with a half inch tear in his neck. He didn't seem to notice, in fact we didn't notice until much later during training. I suppose having the nylon would make it less likely to grab and "catch" fur or skin.

[wildo]

I'll say this:

I do keep the prong collar high on my dog's neck, but I don't have it tight in resting position. In my opinion, there is no reason for it to be tight in resting position (though that certainly would help hold it up behind the ears). So with that said, the difference I've found between a pet smart prong and a HS prong is that the "action" of the HS is much smoother. The chain slides through the end links of the prong nicely, which means the correction is can be applied and released easily.

With nylon as the martingale section of the collar, I couldn't imagine you'd get that "smooth" action like you do on a good chain prong collar. In other words, YOU as the handler don't get the feedback of the chain loosening back up with a nylon martingale section. At least I wouldn't expect you would; I'd think that collar would feel very "dead."

That's just my $0.02. I might be misusing mine since I don't keep it tight in resting position, but I'm using it less and less lately so no big deal.

[Rerun]

On some dogs, if it's not tight, it won't stay up at all. The difference in a prong behind the ears or low on the neck on my malinois is the difference of one link. It's frustrating because I'd rather it not be quite so snug, but if I add even one more link (I use the small links) it will drop quite low on his neck within minutes of working. His is a HS.