But I will never be completely relaxed walking her if shes going to lunge and bark at every person, bike, dog we see on our walks. Sincerely Brian Kelly. This is something that I will be sure to remember because Im planning to buy handmade dog prong collars for my dogs at home. I just ordered a Sprenger 2.25 mm 12 inch prong collar and will let you know how it works out in trainingit should arrive in 2 days. It made a difference! I used it as you explained back in 1999, maybe for 3 months and periodically as needed over a years time. I guess I am one of those 100% pure positive dog trainers and yes their is a more humane way to train the dog. He was getting worse and worse out of control. Keep up the good work and dont let the ignorant and uneducated bring you down! Have you ever seen a dog love wearing a head halter? Our shih-poo is VERY smart and learns quick so we know it isnt an intelligence issue. Among Scandinavian countries , Sweden bans e collars. Like I said, he is very well behaved, until he is not. Just last week, while at a local dog park, she saw a very social puppy who was running up to every strange human and dog she passed, excitedly soliciting attention, with a loose, exuberantly waggy body. Offering him a toy when he attacks me, biting and scratching me, only taught him to attack me in order to get a toy. Thats all. I can only hope that the prong collar helps as I am having a hard time controlling him when people and animals walk within eyesight. The prong collar helps keep his focus on me and makes it a positive experience for both of us. Some people I have a 4 month old border collie and the prong used gently allows me to walk him. And there are two much better alternatives, halters and walk harnesses https://positively.com/dog-training/methods-equipment/training-equipment/choke-and-prong-collars/. Not to mention that the window of opportunity for use becomes so slim that these dogs are actually probably really easy to train anyway. WebE-Collars & prong collars are banned in several countries in Europe. You can have a dog who listens well, learns well and as a puppy? But for corrections? Truth is she was the best dog I could have ever had the privilege of rescuing. Whether or not a dog wearing an e-collar, prong collar, or shock collar is largely happy or living a good life, the reason these devices work is that they cause some degree of discomfort, pain, or distress (regardless of the level of intensity). They are not suitable for all dogs, and if used incorrectly, they can cause injury. 2, I think it can add a little stress during dog-to-dog interactions, especially if the other dog is aggressive. Now presume there is a fence (metal picket fence/devils fork) in the dogs way and he decides to jump this but your choke or prong hooks on the live ring. But every dog is different. Anyone else has used it on large dogs? Prong collars are still legal in the US, but are highly When presented with alternative methods, many dog guardians are not only readily willing to discontinue the use of force, but relieved to do so. The pulling can be very tiring and tiresome. So a friend recommended a prong collar, I knew that I had nothing to lose by trying it. Just saw the first video about how to put it on -on your website. Shadow received an award at the end of the class for Most Improved. Our first walk getting her home she barked and lunged at anything that moved be it person or dog. And Tom asked, "Why do so-called 'balanced trainers' get so cavalier about causing dogs harm? You are most likely reading this because your dog pulls on the leash, is leash reactive or you cant control your dog on leash, right? Additionally he pulled my husband to the ground one time. I finally bought a Herm Sprenger collar and it was moderately helpful. Actually he has never gagged, choked or shown any discomfort to prong where Ive had dogs gag if they pulled hard with flat collar. Lab. Time, time is all it takes. The trainer showed me how to use it properly and within 10 mins, Sam was walking by my side, not pulling and not jumping up at the 2 trainers I had with me, the difference was remarkable!! I would think they would still work as long as you have the collar up high on the neck. Many dogs will still pull, despite the discomfort, and are at risk of injury to their necks. I know thats easier said than done. A prong collar must be placed around a dog's neck in a specific manner to be safe and helpful for training purposes. I switched him to a prong (Herm Sprenger 2.25mm) and his behavior improved immediately. He only does the right things when he has the prong collar on cause hes smart and knows not to mess around w/ it on. I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. I heard a trainer once describe the prong collar as power steering for dog training, which I think is a great analogy. There is no need to be heavy handed using a prong collar. Most dogs that are terrified of things have never been exposed to them rather than having been beaten by/with the thing theyre exposed to. I have a year old Great Dane mix. To help create a puppy capable of being a confident and adaptable family member and keep puppies out of shelters. He has someone home with him 24 hrs a day and has all the love and attention he could want. Granted, my training should have been better and more consistent, and Ill probably always blame myself for letting her get this bad when it could have been prevented but I gotta say, she is exhausting to walk! Kilian you are very welcome. Do the ends really justify the means? This is deliberate! But in some situations all that goes out the window. If you want the bones of how to train your dog to walk on a loose leash without a prong collar? Hi, I have a 90 lb intact lab that I adopted a week ago. He was also extremely leash reactive and aggressive towards other dogs in general. Where are prong collars banned? He hates them all except treats, of course, but they have zero effect on his lunging and pulling. You are truly saving lives. That is a misconception. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") Not ideal for small breeds. And by the way, love the name Bear, thats our yellow labs name too . If you choose to use a restraining collar, why do you do so? He is a rescue who was only 77 lbs when he came to live with me. I bought a Herm Spengler for my 3 year old 100lb. Prong collars do NOT cause pain. I signed us up for an obedience class. I exercised and walked my new buddy for 3 weeks using no prong collar. However, I am primarily writing here because he recently growled and snapped at our 1.5 year old son while getting a correction with the collar he has never done this before. He had good manners (or so I thought) and was very very love able. Love the prong collarI always thought they were cruelbut they're not. PostedApril 25, 2019 When she looked down, her dog's eye had prolapsed. The pulling she used to have has almost been eliminated by the training techniques my trainer taught us. Awe Rachel, this is great news! These trainers believe that the prong collar is cruel and should be banned. It is your responsibility to use the amount of training force necessary to eventually produce instant obedience in public. We were lead to believe that our Bear was leash trained. We put it on her and it was like she was a different dog I could take her anywhere . Is it worth it to subdue and suppress behavior, to use the threat of pain to train a dog? Required fields are marked. Started training obedience day 1 (8 weeks of age)he (was) a nervous jrtnot fearless at all. Adding in a prong collar and correcting their fear (aka. Prong collars are legal to use in the UK, but they are not typically recommended by behaviorists or trainers. Yours and the fur baby. I hope that this informed guy and the other bus passengers who heard what I had to say stop to think about what theyre doing with their dogs and realize that my success is due to learning how to use a prong. I used a pinch collar on Chester and he and I were happy walkers for 10+ years. I do worry about what other people think, even though I shouldnt. I have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. It depends on the severity of his fearfulness. What a great testament to what a life changing training tool the prong collar can be. We adopted our 5-yr-old 18-lb floof in March, and at first she was coughing and choking all the time. Your email address will not be published. What size prong collar should I get? Of course, if you see regression, then make sure that the previous training method is reverted to., This is a really subjective question. How Can I Find a Dog Trainer? WebShock collars have been illegal to use on dogs and cats in Wales for more than a decade. Of course the length of time it takes for each dog varies. I have yet to find anything in writing that says this is ok. I thought prong collars were for out-of-control vicious dogs! The state government will introduce legislation into parliament to end the use of pronged dog collars, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Sunday. There are many different types of dog harnesses. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Since the incident he has been mouthing our son a lot more. They started our dog on a martingale collar, then upgraded him to a choke, and finally the prong. Positive only trainers will disagree, but no it will not make him more aggressive. We have been working at it for 5 months now and occasionally I will just use his regular collar.he pulls every time! I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. That creature is way stronger and way more dangerous than a german shepherd so why keep perpetuating the same rubbish?. Ali has won multiple awards for her dog training, and has had her blog (this blog!) Youre welcome ! Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. We are in 80s and vet says pinch collar will save our lives. Ummmm not so fast. Hello, while I dont have a prong collar yet (getting one from work soon) I greatly appreciate your article. I still use it, especially on walks and it helps her not pull too hard and injure her neck. This gives respect for the tool, and means that youre less likely to misuse it. The one linked in the article above fits dogs with up to a 18-inch neck. If you just allow him to pull on the collar and go after the rabbit, it may startle him and if he is sensitive dog, it may correct the behavior. With some dogs prong collars are a great tool! I enrolled her in puppy class and the prong collar has changed my life and the dogs life. Of course I do not know this dog. It has been a life-saver. Also, the result of positive training isnt dependent on the presence of the device which is definitely a good thing., The other reason I would advise against prong collar usage is because of the time in which you have to apply the correction., You have 2 seconds to capture a behaviour, right or wrong, reward or correction., With positive reinforcement, you can use a marker word, and reward to give you a little longer for the treat/play reward. A prong collar will give you a bit of power steering with a larger dog that pulls hard, but its no substitute for training., So if youre training? Collars are known to be associated with whiplash, fainting, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, crushing of the trachea, partial or complete asphyxiation, crushing or fracture of the bones in the larynx, dislocation of the vertebrae in the neck, bruising of the esophagus, damage to the skin and tissue of the neck, prolapsed eyeballs, and brain damage. My dgt promised to do all the walking and caring for the dog. She fitted the prong collar and leashed him and literally within MINUTES he was no longer lunging or pulling even though there were loud cars, people, and other dogs coming and going around us. I recommend using a carabiniere for a back up just in case the links come apart. She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. But Id recommend giving it a try, if he seems too afraid, then take a few steps back. You still need to train your dog. Use lots of love and positive reinforcement with a no pull harness. By the way, the vet also said to only use the Herm Sprenger brand. Can you tell me why theyre being misused? I dont care what breed you have, how strong they are, or how small you are. Tail a waggin. The links and ads are a way for me to cover my expenses. Yes. With the use of a prong collar, you immediately become your dogs source of punishment. We told our dog trainer all about this today and he introduced us to the prong collar with lots of instruction about how to gently tug the leash with just 2 fingers to get the dogs attention. What theyre made to do, and what theyre not made to do.. I love hearing all the success stories. Psychology Today, December 4, 2017. I use to think they were cruel but now I believe they are an invaluable training tool especially for adult rescue dogs with no previous leash training. I spent a year night after night, hours in all weathers, trying thresholds etc to help our dog and while we saw improvement she was still had some reactivity issues. I did not find it to be a painful experience on my own neck. Im so glad you were able to keep your dog! Way to go Shadow!! I had the stigma that the prong collars were abusive. WebPerhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? P.s. Carol, good professional dog trainers ALWAYS recommend a back up collar for a prong collar. I so hate to see good, effective training tools totally demonized. They take the easy route, as opposed to teaching proper, solid cues and commands. However, the tool will work no matter where its been placed. This is supported by Herm Sprenger, the top manufacturer of prong collars in the world., Anything pain based is not suitable for a reactive dog.. When we adopted our 95 lb lab, he had no leash manners at all. WebCollars with inward facing spikes will be banned from dog shows and training classes under proposals to be discussed by the Kennel Club. Hannah, Thank you so much for your message. I do believe it is each to their own, but to me it is still an aversive tool created for people who do not have time to train their dogs without punishment or the consequence of pain. But more importantly is the age of the puppy. Again 99.9% of the time he is a joy to walk & im walking him and my other dog which could greatly overpower me. I support so much the keep working till you find something that actually works, and make sure you know how to use it before using it. There are back clip harnesses, which promote pulling (think about sled dogs). WebProng collars work by causing discomfort (pain/punishment) when the dog pulls against it. I have a 15 lb, 1 year old shih-poo who, because he is overly excited, attempt to pull and lunge to meet other people and dogs. Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, are a type of dog collar that is designed to provide a correction to a dog's behavior through the use of prongs. Hi there, I totally agree with you on prong collars. It is not OK. My dogs get excited when they see the prong collars come out, it means they are going for a walk and cant wait to get the collar on! I have one dog that doesnt need it anymore, the other (our lab) is a constant puller without it. Hes sweet smart and strong. I want to make sure that they wont get hurt when using the collars that I will buy for them. For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. and eventually? It was so bad before that I actually would dread having to take him for his walks and I loved him so much because he was a beautiful loving dog but he literally hurt me on his walks but after we tried the pronged collar and he walked so calmly and correctly I couldnt wait to take him on his walks. New Zealand, Austria, Australia, Switzerland, the Canadian Province of Quebec, and many others have made prong collars (and in many cases choke and shock collars) illegal. Its important to understand your pup is still adjusting and pushing the limits. I have a 2 year old, big strong 50kg male rottweiler who my ex was supposed to have trained, but only really had him off the lead, Sam doesnt listen to a word I say when were out walking and literally drags me, causing me injury. She brought to class a prong collar and instructed me how to fit it and how to use it. I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. Inevitably inaccuracies get thrown around and overall? Your comments are spot on that trainers are obsessively against this collar so fear there will be no where for me to go to get training if I were to purchase.