The OSPet offers a prong collar that is ideal for medium and large dogs with the maximum length of the collar at 24 inches and a diameter of 0.14 inches or 3.5 mm. As a trainer, it breaks my heart, because I know how the story often goeswhile the owner may have been intending to diminish and disrupt jumping, she was likely unintentionally building an association between strangers, dogs, and shock. I am a firm believer of the pros of a prong collar and I would never get on other then the Herm brand, the rest always break or corrode. The prong collar training gets a lot of attention from pure positive or force free dog trainers. I did not have prong collars on them, but I am confident if I had, it would never had happened. Teacup puppies are incredibly trendy, because of their small size and cuteness. Pulls a lot, lunges after wild rabbits and some other dogs etc. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this. However, the tool will work no matter where its been placed. "As long as we are looking for shortcuts to proper training, both the dog and the guardian will likely suffer long term consequences from a poor choice of training tools, a poor use of these tools and the negative side effects from their aversive properties." WebWhere are prong collars banned? Thanks for this article. The prongs simulate another dog's mouth, which makes sense if you've ever taken your dog to the dog park. Ran into the road? BTW the trainer only recommended this after understanding the extent of our dogs A.D.D. Because you deserve information that is clear, truthful and backed by science or the information of the manufacturer., Finding the best method for both you and your dog is really important, so I must discuss it., Im going to discuss what they are, how they work, why they work. Why was CodeMiko banned? After our outing I realized how overwhelmed he still gets with new scents and experiences. 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. And never crate the dog with it on. The Prong Collar, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Dog for a Walk. I want to make sure that they wont get hurt when using the collars that I will buy for them. Im not sure you have the experience to recommend this nor have the dogs best interest in mind. We adopted a 7 month old lab/pit/Brittany spaniel mix from our local rescue shelter. Doing this is utterly unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional. A prong collar must be placed around a dog's neck in a specific manner to be safe and helpful for training purposes. WebAustria, Germany, maybe Netherlands and some scandinavian countries. The dog must learn to pay attention and do exactly what you sayfor your sake and its. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. I dont want her to listen to me just because she fears what comes if she doesnt. Some societies and activists are taking action against their use; lets hope for a piece of good news in the future. Specifically, they state that prolonged or extreme pulling of ANY collar can lead to damage. If hes really excited treats have no value, even hot dogs. We are switching over to a 1 on 1 trainer very soon hoping it will help with his other problems we are having at home. For this very reason, many countries with a progressive approach to pet safety and health, such as Austria and Switzerland, have already banned prong collars. I still use it, especially on walks and it helps her not pull too hard and injure her neck. This forces the dog into a state of learned helplessness. Punishment often appears to work quickly (who wouldnt want to avoid a painful or uncomfortable correction?) Needless to say Shadow and I were able to participate in class and he wasnt the class clown he was in the first class. We just started with a trainer for our 16wk Lab/Shepherd puppy that uses the Herm S prong collar. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? She is a quick learner with all the usual commands and is due to graduate her first round of puppy training classes this Sunday. Thank you so much for sharing your story! For instance, our sweet River does so well with other dogs and people at the dog park, but once shes on the leash shes much more reactive. Even with a prong? Some dog breeds tend to be wanderers, and an intact dog or girls in heat can be problem too. As eloquently put by Jean Donaldson of The Academy for Dog Trainers in an essay called "If They Could March," Theyre elective on easy dogs and theyre elective on dogs with behaviors we dislike, including dogs who lunge and pull on leash and growl and snap and bite. Once your dog proper leash etiquette with the prong collar do you have to use it from here on out? If you were told you had the option to teach a child how to read by physically punishing them for every word they said incorrectly (option A) or by working incrementally and rewarding the words they got correct (option B), and that you could achieve the same results no matter which way you taught the child, which would you choose? And dont be a jerk and pull on it. WebIn this Q&A I address the important question:What do I think of countries that ban e-collars? Hes the sweet dog I knew him to be. Nothing worked until I found this site and started using a prong collar. I am a 56 year old woman with a mild case of MS that affects my balance. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! She brought to class a prong collar and instructed me how to fit it and how to use it. Ali has won multiple awards for her dog training, and has had her blog (this blog!) He already knew all basic commands, house broken and crate trained. This must never happen. Meaning, they are walking well with no correction needed. There has to be a clear line of communication between you and you dog and the prong is just a quick reminder of the expectation. Or can eventually she go off it and into her normal collar/ no leash? And by the way, love the name Bear, thats our yellow labs name too . We recently moved to a suburb of Boston where walks are now exercise but also to do her business. Why would he still be so excited to go on walks if the prong collar was so terrible? Whoopee! I wanted to get one for him when we first started having problems with him but my dad seemed so against it so I decided on not getting one. What a life changer. So many people misuse them, but when used correctly theyre very good tools. Im a 68-year-old skinny woman I dont have the strength for this dog and dont know what to do. The first of its kind, the flagship plan aims to ensure the UK is leading the way in animal welfare and includes a ban on the use of electric shock collars, a move which has been long-campaigned for by The Kennel Club. Free shipping for many products! I agree 100%, the right collar and training are essential. My dgt promised to do all the walking and caring for the dog. We are in 80s and vet says pinch collar will save our lives. She was especially dialed in when hiking in Alaska, saved me from crossing paths with many bears, moose, & wolverines. What size prong collar should I get? We are about to re home our two wire haired dachshunds due to out of control pulling. People would comment on how well-mannered she was on walks and after a few years, I didnt need the prong collar at all. 2, I think it can add a little stress during dog-to-dog interactions, especially if the other dog is aggressive. Slip leads and choke collars can do the same and cut off air supply. A Twitch star was temporarily banned from the live-streaming platform after zapping herself with a shock collar as part of a bizarre stunt. Does the prong collar hinder your relationship with your dog? Its important to understand your pup is still adjusting and pushing the limits. I have one dog that doesnt need it anymore, the other (our lab) is a constant puller without it. You lost me at suggesting a prong collar for a reactive dog! The state government will introduce legislation into parliament to end the use of pronged dog collars, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Sunday. Hi, I don't want to hijack Debi's post but would like to comment. And thank you for all you do. At this point, he rarely has to be corrected. I dont care what breed you have, how strong they are, or how small you are. Of course the length of time it takes for each dog varies. Agile_Zookeep 1 yr. ago. Also, try having your dog wear a cute bandana it covers the prong collar if you are self-conscious about it. However, some suppliers seem to be able to get them and sell them. My dog loves going on walks and he always wears a prong collar when we leave the house. We also tried the plain slip-chain/choke chain collar (per my Mother in laws recommendation), and found that she still pulled and choked herself despite us -trying- to use it responsibly and kindly, OR she would back out of it and completely slip away. Now he is under control and gentle. The prong is simply a tool as if to tap the dogs shoulder to get her attention. But every dog is different. I actually have a ton of experience with the prong collar with my own dogs and other foster dogs I have trained. I do agree positive reinforcement is key in fear based cases. These tools of control are often necessary, but we should remain alert to the diverse ways in which they can inhibit a dogs freedoms and the ways these devices can themselves be harmful to our dogs and to us. But do you suggest a prong collar for my Great Dane? Sometimes they dont even know this is happening. But I just wonder if I will ever experience joy in our walks. Taking in and training foster dogs takes a very special person! This was the same store I had been in days earlier with Bear and could barely hold onto him where he was now sitting next to me at the register!!!! It is much better than the flat collars we had tried since she doesnt pull now, her trachea isnt under pressure on walks. Most people wont dedicate themselves enough and likely dont have the right dog for this extreme of a transformation, but they can accomplish a lot more if they tried! Slowly, youll transfer all the leash to the harness or collar, and leave the prong collar on, but unattached (still for short periods please, and under constant supervision!) She introduced me to the idea of using a prong collar as a training tool which I initially had strong concerns about having never seen one in use and having just lost a dog to laryngeal damage issues. 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!! Will the collar help all that? A couple years of extremely hard work and amazing luck in happening upon a rescue dog with an incredible temperament and work drive, and my goals of having a pet to hike with turned into a lifelong passion for training dogs as a hobby and advocating for responsible dog ownership. So, out comes my trusty prong collar. I think, a prong collar, having the constant fear and discomfort creates a different situation for a smart dog, and when they dont have that worry or fear, they just drop all their training. I bought a Herm Spengler for my 3 year old 100lb. We make a concentrated effort to take him as many places as possible and have found some really great dog friendly parks, wineries etc. We started using the collars and the pulling has gotten so much better. I highly recommend following a couple of trainers online: https://www.facebook.com/MajorsAcademyDogTraining/ and https://www.facebook.com/SolidK9TrainingRI/ both of these trainers offer a lot of free advice. When the parents of a large dog (particularly, though small breeds are not exempt) raise the question of loose leash walking or stopping their dog from pulling on their leash, the subject gets heated fast. The prong is the best, the dogs pull much less, even with other dogs, cats and squirrels to distract them. Our goal should be to use these tools to facilitate access to a wide variety of positive physical and social experiences and to allow our dogs as much agency as possible so that they can control and make choices that suit them. This can create a scenario in which, at best, a dog doesn't offer any behaviors due to fear, and at worst, a dog who becomes more reactive, worried, and overtly aggressive, leading to bites.". BUT she does need help with socialization. But its illegal for individuals to import them. In fact, there is some evidence that the opposite is true.. Front clip harnesses that simply manipulates the dog into not pulling and does NOT FIX the pulling. The prong collar would be a way to inform the dogs that they have to pay attention to you when you say rather than when they find convenient. Good luck! Can you use the pinch collar on a 26lb puppy? He would drag me all over. The content in this post is a breath of fresh air. it seems ugly and embarrassing. Thank you so much for your story Terry! Thank you for this article devilifying prong collars. Reviewed by Jessica Schrader, "Collars are a vital part of dog ownership. According to a review article published by Gal Ziv, the results show that using aversive training methods (e.g., positive punishment and negative reinforcement) can jeopardize both the physical and mental health of dogs. A smart, quick, and gentle tug as he came at me, playfully, but vigorously and painfully, biting and scratching, caused him to halt and look at my face, asking me what I need from him, wanting to interact and please. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I signed up for obedience classes at a well known and reputable training center in our area and they recommended and explained prong collars to us. So, they write, if you think wearing a prong collar would hurt, imagine how your dog feels., Along these lines, Dr. Zazie Todd, who runs the Companion Animal Psychology website, notes, We tend to think that since dogs have fur they must be more protected from these things than us with just our skin. The former associates you as a good thing, the latter associates you with bad things.. So I will be finally , not without some reservations , be trying your collar, at least i feel that when walking the dogs , they will know when to stop yanking, rather than me pulling or yanking on them for control. But pronged collars have been a saving grace for both me and the problem walkers. She needs her exercise and fresh air and i will never deny her of that because of my own fears. Its about patience and consistency. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") He likes them, just not enough to be bribed by them. The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. The prong collar is not meant to instill fear. Not once. I will post my update soon! No matter what treats or happiness we used, she always found a way to push ahead and not pay attention to us at all. The warning said that they should be banned and included a photo of a dog with several lacerations on its neck, allegedly caused by a The use of these tools in any body of work (such as on police k9s) is not an excuse for you to use them on a pet dog. Also, as the author mention, there are huge differences in the quality of a Pet Smart pinch collar and a Herm Sprenger (the recommended brand). Just remember, the collar needs to be high up on the dogs neck, just below the ears. Jennifer Cattet, "Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools. P.S. This is a really simple. Dr. Jean Dodds. If you want to advocate for using aversive tools, thats fine, but lying and telling people that the prong doesnt hurt , only makes you look ridiculous . But with training he will learn. When we go for a walk he is well behaved- until he isnt. She is very sweet but its obvious now that she hasnt been socialized at all. Now I have an American Foxhound, and while she does pull a little bit at the beginning of a walk she settles right in with her harness pretty quick. Misuse covers : poor or Prongs are widely, widely misunderstood and consequently widely misused., The fact that a reward or a correction can only be given within 2 seconds of the action for either to be of effect means that your reactions have very slim windows to achieve their goal. Way to go Shadow!! I urge you to not shy away from the prong collar just because of what it looks like or what youve heard about it in the past. The answer may seem quite obvious, yet every day we choose option A via aversive devices like electric, choke, and prong collars for our companion dogs when successful, force-free alternatives are readily available. As in all different sorts of dog-human interactions, what's good for the human must be good for the dog. We have two dogs, both staffies, that are really bad on the leash. And ask yourself, is it better for your dog to drag you through your walk, choking himself on his flat collar or to have a peaceful walk with your dog walking next to you, enjoying the smells and scenery? Exhaust other options Fit it properly Use an experienced trainer (who admits what it is and how it works) Use as designed Pick a quality one (no rubber tips! Thanks. Are you supposed to leave the spike collar on all the time? We put it on her and it was like she was a different dog I could take her anywhere . This post is from the perspective of a dog owner (me) that has experience with all types of training techniques, and yes that includes reactive dogs, shy dogs, scared dogs, and happy go lucky dogs. It was life saving for me. Sweet dog who is highly, highly excitable and anxious. Used well, it gives dogs access to their world and can be a critically important freedom enhancer. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? He will begin to associate the prong collar with pain, which is something he is afraid of. Science Shows Positive Reward-Based Dog Training is Best, What and Who Dogs Want and Need: Love, Not Shocks, Living With a Dog Is Good, If It's Good for You and the Dog. Not ideal for small breeds. At what age do you recommend that people start using a prong Collar? This is why we often need to devote considerable time and attention to training dogs how to walk nicely when on lead. These collars have been the subject of controversy in recent years, with some people arguing that they are inhumane and should be banned, while others claim that they are an effective tool for training and managing a dog's behavior. . That collar changed the way Shadow behaved in an instant. Its important that the collar is snug around the base of the dogs ears, meaning high up on the neck. Psychology Today, January 29, 2019. I was stunned how quickly her behavior improved once I started using the prong collar! The pair review the recent Norwegian breeding bans on English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Marylands newly-passed prohibition on feline declaw surgery, and other recent legal changes in animal law. I have just had a 1 to 1 training session with a trainer and when he first suggested the prong collar I said NO straight away, but I put the collar around my thigh to see the effect. We are taking it really, really slowly and not forcing her to go anywhere for the walk as far as she is comfortable and I try to avoid triggers but its still stressful for her and I want her to feel more confident. After using it for a while youll notice taking on and off gets easier. No matter how prey driven, no matter how strong. I have won over a few of my clients here in Monaco & France re. A prong collar worked wonders on my hooligan, made her walk like a lady. The prong collar allows us to share our life with our dog and not just have a dog at home waiting for us to get back from our adventures. Dont be afraid to use it if your trainer suggests it. The San Francisco SPCAs website points out that the skin on a humans neck is ten to fifteen cells thick, whereas the skin on a dogs neck is only three to five cells thick. Yes theyre bad, because they have far too large an ability to be misused. I might regret asking this but can I get opinions please? (see Training Methods and Devices for more details) This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience, which means I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thanks for your advice and recommend!! Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, said the government is delivering on its election commitment to review the Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Im over that. Filter by 1 Inch Custom Hidden Prong Embroidered Collar $0.00. If you have a stubborn or strongly pulling dog, these collars can change a dogs behavior in literally one short session. Pssssst Every single image I could find on my stock photo provider was a prong collar being misused. Am thinking of getting a prong collar for my dog because he recently lunged at a cat he saw and pulled me over. Doing so exposes your dog to an inordinate amount of danger, damage and risks that just are not worth talking about. I may look into a Herm Sprenger. I have tried 2 different harnesses and if he gets really excited he can escape both.once after a groundhog, once when a farm combine crossed in front of us he escaped the harness only 4 times total in a year, but each time was dangerous. She is 14 mos. We tried for 3 weeks to loose leash train w/ the Easy Walk harness employing techniques learned w/ our last dog Jacksons dog coach. For example, shock collars, sometimes called e-collars or electronic collars, are banned in the United Kingdom, but they are legal in the United States. I personally would not recommend using a prong on a puppy younger than 5 or 6 months old. Disappointed by the bias. The prong collar has been a life-saver for so many dogs. I knew that I had to learn how to control him if I wanted to be able to walk him without it being a dangerous task. and links therein.) Weve tried all our trainers suggestions like carrying a stick shaped treat and letting her have a nibble when shes at our knee, spatula with cheese/peanut butter, hot dogs, treat sack at our hip and feeding while walking NOTHING worked. I dont see dog trainer in your credentials, but do see a link to a product which suggests you make money off of your recommendation. I dont recommend keeping it on 24/7. Additionally he pulled my husband to the ground one time. After 3 weeks of work with our 11 month old, highly excitable rescue dog we saw his behavior getting worse and no amount of treats of any kind could get his attention any more. 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 have a feeling you are going to wonder why it took you so long to try the prong collar. My Australian Shepperd is very very active and extremely loveable and he pulls like a German Shepperd. The collar is designed to create even pressure around the neck and distribute the correction so it can be considered kinder than a choke collar, choke chains, or slip leash alternative. I would not use a prong collar for him. I have a 60kg male rottweiler who got spooked by a kid on a scooter on one of our walks he lunged at the kid out of fear, one correction to my dog he snapped out of it place perfectly back into a heel position, I believe if I had a flat collar or a harness on that kid could well have a huge missing chunk out of his arm, thanks to the prong collar I was able to control my rottie and potentially saved that kids life and my dogs too. Wish us luck! No more shoulder injuries for me. Front-Clip Harness. ) Dont forget to train them off of it. Decided to use the old prong collar on a walk to the post office with Bow today ???? Shelby, I love your story! Thanks so much for sharing your story Jessica! Fine, but I promise you (challenge me if you want! WebWe're based in South Australia where purchasing a prong collar from outside Australia is illegal, however, it is not banned in some States, one of them being South Australia. The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage. Every time, with only a few sessions, the dogs became calm, happy and responsive. Thousands of trainers and Id wager millions of owners train their dogseasy dogs and challenging dogsand manage their behavior without any of this stuff. Check Latest Price. If your dog pulls you when trying to walk him or is leash reactive, I strongly suggest you consider using a prong collar. I love him to bits and am looking forward to enjoying our walks from now on. Until Jackson was 10 or so and slowing down did he really walk loose leash style even with a Gentle Leader head collar. We took our oldest daughters Welsh Pembroke Corgi to a trainer. We then moved and tried a force free trainer. Our dog seems calmer and more self-controlled and pays more attention than all the treats and tugs and words were able to do. I just switched him back to a no-pull collar, and its working much better w/ training him to stick around and not pull, especially w/ positive enforcement and treats. Good luck! There is no negative association for the dogs, and weve even been lucky and not have any people give us looks or comments on their collars either. 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. Have you had success on this type of dog which is bred to hunt rodents? I knew that if we kept at it, eventually the dogs would figure it out and be better behaved, but the fear of losing our pups made me feel we didnt have the time to be patient. 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. What have you got to lose? But when I have he mostly responds positively if he responds. My guess he was abused while wearing one or was constantly on one. Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools, Choose a Dog Trainer as Carefully as You Would a Surgeon, Dog Training's Dirty Little Secret: Anyone Can Legally Do It, what's good for the human must be good for the dog. I do actually have a prong collar, the trainers at his class suggested it. But, after attending a seminar with a balanced dog trainer and doing a lot of research, I realized what a great dog training tool the prong collar can be. Now that I understand what I was doing wrong, I have all the confidence in the world that Ill be able to correct the problem with my mini Aussie and cant wait to give it a try this afternoon. But I dont want to be cruel, OR injure him. Thank you, I dont have one, but found this in a Google search: Source: precisionk9training.com. By the way, the vet also said to only use the Herm Sprenger brand. And there are two much better alternatives, halters and walk harnesses https://positively.com/dog-training/methods-equipment/training-equipment/choke-and-prong-collars/. It's pretty effortless. Ive heard that putting a prong collar on an aggressive dog just makes them more aggressive. 4 months old is border line too young in my opinion.
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