[acurajane]

Hi, I am new here. Ok to get to the point-has anyone ever used a martingale collar? My 9 mo gsd pup needs something more than a reg collar but not a choke or prong cause it freaks her out bad. I understand that the martingale collar is in small comparison like a reg choke due to the tightning. Any help would be great.

 

[chevysmom]

I tried a martingale type collar with Chevy and honestly, I should have save my money as it didn't work for us. I think a lot of it has to do with your dog--what may work for some (and I have heard of people with success with the martingales) may not work for others. We've tried regular buckle collars, choke chain, martingale, Gentle Leader and now we're using a small prong (and that's working very well for us). Good luck!

 

[Liesje]

Why do you say she needs something more? Is she pulling? The martingale isn't really a training collar like a halti, prong, Easy Walk, etc. I think it was designed mainly for hounds with very slim heads, so the dog cannot possibly slip out of a normal flat collar. It's mainly for security, without having to use a full choke. For training, I don't think they are any better than a flat collar. Neither is really meant for giving corrections or dealing with pulling.

 

[natalie559]

I use a martingale and love it. For one you never have to worry about the dog slipping out of its collar and two I find it does make a good training tool. They come in two styles, with a chain closure and with a regular collar type closure. The chain type can be used if sound triggers your dog into correct behavior.

 

[Kayla's Dad]

I have used the choke, prong, martingale, and flat for Kayla. With the exception of the choke, I switch between the other three depending on what we are doing. I still use the choke while we are trialing in obedience. I like the martingale best but after the initial training with Kayla who can be a bit drivey at times. I relied more on the prong during her first and second year.

My question for you is did someone show you how to fit and use the prong collar? Can you describe how your dog "freaks out"-i.e when putting it on, when correcting. How hard/forceful is the correction when the prong is on-it does not need to be much at all. If you can go into a little detail on those issues someone here nay be able to give you a bit of advice. But the biggest thing is you want someone with experience to show you how to fit and use a prong collar-if that has not happen.

 

[acurajane]

ok I use a prog collar on my lab as that has worked best. On my gsd pup I was walking her with a reg choke and she pulled forward and which tightned up on her and she bounced around,yelped and did everything but back up and relieve the pressure. I had the chain high on the neck where it should be.

 

[ceardach]

I used a martingale for a short while, but found that I needed to correct far too frequently.

I now use it as a backup for the prong. I loosened it up so it can come on and off easily and use it as a no-noise collar while at the office.

As a note about the prong: are you using it dead or live? You should use prongs "dead" before trying "live." A dead prong would be one where you clip the leash to both the D and O rings so it won't tighten during corrections.

 

[Liesje]

Wouldn't using a prong "dead" put all the pressure on the front prongs b/c if the dog does pull against it, it won't evenly tighten, thus defeating its purpose? Granted, I've never tried using a prong on the dead link, but if you don't want the collar to tighten, I don't think the prong is the collar to use.

Acurajane, I wouldn't use a prong on a pup just yet. Personally, I prefer to train heeling OFF leash, either indoors in a large room or outdoors in a fenced space or dog run. I mark and reward the dog any time it returns to me, and as it follows me around in order to develop a "heeling" type of behavior. That way, I don't have to rely on any type of collar to get my dog to heel. "Heel" should mean the dog is in position on your left, regardless of whether you are stopped or in motion, fast or slow, turning or straight.

Prongs are safer than a choke, though. A choke puts all the pressure in one spot and tightens indefinitely. A prong IS a martingale and can only tighten so far and it puts an even amount of pressure around the entire neck (the more prongs the better, I never want less than 10 prong links).

If you want to use a training collar other than a prong, I would try an Easy Walk harness.

 

[big_dog7777]

Originally Posted By: LiesjeWouldn't using a prong "dead" put all the pressure on the front prongs b/c if the dog does pull against it, it won't evenly tighten, thus defeating its purpose? Granted, I've never tried using a prong on the dead link, but if you don't want the collar to tighten, I don't think the prong is the collar to use.

Actually, I only use a prong on the dead ring (both rings) because I want directional stimulation as it's clearer to the dog. When correcting during healing I want the stimulation coming from the front as dogs are more apt to forge. Same for the sit. When working down I want the stimulation to come from the back of the neck - down means down NOW. Clear concise directional stimulation. The live ring is just an even correction all around the neck that doesn't communicate anything by itself and you have to be timed perfectly in order to be clear to the dog. Also, if sized properly the prong will not tighten much at all since it sits high and tight on the neck to begin with.

 

[SunCzarina]

I've used a martingale on my female, it works when when right up behind her ears. I used a prong on her when I was correcting her pulling.

Now I'm using a fur saver for walks and I really like it. She knows the click click noise means it's going to tighten up. It works like a choke but not as harsh and I think it would be really hard to strangle a dog with a fursaver.

I like using a different collar for walks than what she wears every day. I think it helps define home relaxed behavior from how she's expected to behave out in public.

 

[Liesje]

Originally Posted By: ZeusGSD

Originally Posted By: LiesjeWouldn't using a prong "dead" put all the pressure on the front prongs b/c if the dog does pull against it, it won't evenly tighten, thus defeating its purpose? Granted, I've never tried using a prong on the dead link, but if you don't want the collar to tighten, I don't think the prong is the collar to use.

Actually, I only use a prong on the dead ring (both rings) because I want directional stimulation as it's clearer to the dog. When correcting during healing I want the stimulation coming from the front as dogs are more apt to forge. Same for the sit. When working down I want the stimulation to come from the back of the neck - down means down NOW. Clear concise directional stimulation. The live ring is just an even correction all around the neck that doesn't communicate anything by itself and you have to be timed perfectly in order to be clear to the dog. Also, if sized properly the prong will not tighten much at all since it sits high and tight on the neck to begin with.

Hey, that makes a lot of sense. I guess I never used a prong for sits and downs, but I see how that goes. I've used it mostly on Coke for loose leash walking (not heeling) and let it self-correct b/c despite his size he is the wimpiest dog ever. One pop and he's good to go for a few hours!

 

[ceardach]

Originally Posted By: LiesjeWouldn't using a prong "dead" put all the pressure on the front prongs b/c if the dog does pull against it, it won't evenly tighten, thus defeating its purpose? Granted, I've never tried using a prong on the dead link, but if you don't want the collar to tighten, I don't think the prong is the collar to use.

Besides what ZeusGSD mentioned, I actually don't want the prong to tighten. I keep it high up on the neck below the ears without much slack (like how Leerburg recommends).

The "live" setting has a more severe pop than the "dead" setting. So, correct using the lower pop first until you discover that your dog doesn't respond to it, then move up the live setting.

 

[acurajane]

Thank you everybody so much, In just a few short walks with her attention and just a reg choke she did amazing. I have hopes of keeping her in that. Just hoping. Cause my lab has to have a prong collar and I get so much crap from people saying I am abusing my dog and thats not humane and all that stuff. I know I will have many more questions to come. Look forward to talking more.

 

[ceardach]

Originally Posted By: acurajaneCause my lab has to have a prong collar and I get so much crap from people saying I am abusing my dog and thats not humane and all that stuff.

Yeah, don't you love it when people like to butt their head into your business?

A "dead" prong is actually less risky than a choke collar.

 

[Liesje]

I use my prong "live" but it sounds like I use it a lot differently. I don't use it to correct, rather I use it as a self-correcting device, to help teach the dog basic loose leash walking (not formal heeling or any specific command). The dog I'm currently working on came with NO training and he has zero pain tolerance so I don't even have to correct him with a prong, as soon as it starts to tighten on its own, he slows up and gets in the right spot (and then is marked and rewarded so he knows where to be). It's a great tool that can be used a number of ways for different things. I agree that dead or live, it's safer than training with a choke. I use chokes and slips all the time, but on my dog that already knows how to loose leash walk and formal heel.

 

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: acurajaneHi, I am new here. Ok to get to the point-has anyone ever used a martingale collar? My 9 mo gsd pup needs something more than a reg collar but not a choke or prong cause it freaks her out bad. I understand that the martingale collar is in small comparison like a reg choke due to the tightning. Any help would be great.

I think the replies here are ignoring the part of the OP's post that I've emphasised.

acurajane, don't be led by the strong prong bias on this site. It's a bias that runs both ways - two camps diametrically opposed. One group advocates nothing but the prong and tears down anything else and the other group despises it as "cruel". The truth is it is neither the "only" answer nor a non-answer. It's just another tool among many. Any good triner knows that it is best to use what suits that particular dog best and is willing and able to try different things to come to the proper choice.

I have used prongs, halters, Gentle Leaders, and Martingales, and back in the day I used choke collars when that was all we knew. I've been training dogs for decades and what I use most these days is similar to the Martingale - the adjustable slip collar. It is incorrect to say you can't train with either. Most dogs that I have trained need little more than the minor correction these kind of collars employ. Some dogs need more and some owners need more and feel more comfortable with a prong. Nothing wrong with that, but nothing wrong with using a Martingale or adjustable slip either if you've determined that that's what works. From the sound of the OP's post it looks like other choices have been tried and the question was about using a specific collar. Hopefully, I've answered that, but if I can relate anything more just ask.