Excellent post!! The use of any type of restraint, whether a collar that goes around a dog's neck or a front-clip harness, is elective. She is slowly getting used to our house and noises but has a very difficult time with walks (shes afraid of everything car, people, loud sounds). It seems like the use of collars is a readily accepted part of dog guardianship. Misuse covers: poor or incorrect placement on the dog. poorly fitted collars or incorrectly sized. incorrect timing of corrections allowing dog to self correct. used in the car (especially to secure in the car) worn in a crate Attempting to solve incorrect problems with a prong long durations wearing a prong when used on the underaged when used on shy dogs when used on scared dogs when used on aggressive dogs when used whilst not defined training sessions when used whilst unattended when used with anything other than a short leash. Good luck! The pulling can be very tiring and tiresome. Dog lovers are fighting to extend this ban to prong and choke collars as well. Applying pressure to the windpipe is not good for any dog but can be especially serious in brachycephalic dogs who already struggle to breathe.. A Twitch star was temporarily banned from the live-streaming platform after zapping herself with a shock collar as part of a bizarre stunt. Thank you for sharing your story Darci! That would be my goal. Putting a prong collar on him that would make him uncomfortable or hurt him would further harm him mentally. Adding in a prong collar and correcting their fear (aka. Im not sure you have the experience to recommend this nor have the dogs best interest in mind. What and Who Dogs Want and Need: Love, Not Shocks. Even with a prong? At the moment, different regions are working She is passionate about helping puppy parents get things right, right from the start. I have used every kind of collar for the pups Ive fostered and adopted. When used correctly the prong collar will immediately stop your dog from pulling you. You will need to read the dogs body language. A quick, gentle tug is all thats needed. Hes the sweet dog I knew him to be. A dog has to have the following floor space available: Regular collars allow the dogs to hurt themselves if they have no leash manners, and Ive personally seen this many times choking, damage to the neck, etc. Our campus officially banned prong collars on January 24, 2017. Should e-collars, prong collars, or choke collars be banned? My dgt promised to do all the walking and caring for the dog. So, out comes my trusty prong collar. Without leashes, dogs wouldnt be able to go many places with us. collar No amount of chicken, ham or hotdogs were getting our dogs attention when she reacted. I'm just afraid I'm going to lose the arm muscle I built up from all that pulling! with kid number two on the way in just a few weeks). Im sure it was the pressure of the flat collars during walks that was causing the problem, and I can only imagine how bad it might have become over time. I have a now 2yr old Jack Russell (he's my 5th one)but he's my first reactive, leash aggressive one I've had. This is something that I will be sure to remember because Im planning to buy handmade dog prong collars for my dogs at home. Every dog and situation is unique. Thank You!!! A short time later, Mary saw the puppy and guardian re-enter the park, with the puppy wearing an e-collar. Their use is discretionary, optional, or voluntary. As a super strong pitty, he can yank a full sized adult over in a half a second to randomly lunge at a person or dog or squirrel. He likes them, just not enough to be bribed by them. If hes really excited treats have no value, even hot dogs. Ummmm not so fast. That creature is way stronger and way more dangerous than a german shepherd so why keep perpetuating the same rubbish?. Walking on a leash is not a natural behavior for a dog, and indeed it goes against their natural instincts to run and explore. Ill let you know how our first walk goes! Im over that. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society. Recently we were able to do a board and train with an old coworker of mine for a very reasonable price and she told us that she combines positive and negative reinforcements in her training. I know you said you have to be careful with how hard they pull with the prong collar Im just worried my dog pulls too hard and may injure himself because my dad even has a hard time walking him. So please Herm Sprenger! I am so happy you found a way to change the path of you and your dogs life. Required fields are marked. As for the comment about it causing pain, no one has ever mentioned their dog cries out, winces in discomfort. Give it a chance, try it out and see what a difference it can make with your relationship with your dog. I have tried regular collars, a harness, e collar now my last resort is a prong collar. Sarah, I totally understand your hesitation. Be patient and give your dog the ability to learn. It depends on the severity of his fearfulness. He is a rescue who was only 77 lbs when he came to live with me. The Ray Allen multi-function harness is designed with a lot of sports in mind. They allow pet parents to walk their pup on a leash and they provide a place to hang ID and vaccination tags. 2. They out weigh me, so its important to have them under control. He was getting worse and worse out of control. Then, when they do something right, or are questioning themselves, the fact you dont pop the leash means that they get a rush of relief. Three jurisdictions in Australia have now banned the use of these collars: Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland, under their Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. I was stunned how quickly her behavior improved once I started using the prong collar! Or can eventually she go off it and into her normal collar/ no leash? (See "Is Your Dogs Collar Dangerous?") PostedApril 25, 2019 You may get evil looks from other dog owners that just dont understand the power of the prong collar. We have two dogs, both staffies, that are really bad on the leash. 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. Would a prong collar work on a 20-30 lead on a trail? Knowing this and caring about our dogs, we should be looking for the option that most quickly trains the dog not to pull. It also helps me correct her and keep her focused. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. Debi McKee is a mom of three kids, three dogs and the creator of Rescue Dogs 101 where she guides you in your journey of adopting and raising a rescue dog every step of the way. Walks were ok, except if he saw a squirrel or a cat or another dog or wanted to drag me to the park etc. My hope? 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. This is a really popular question, and it's something that a lot of dog owners ask me - because there's a lot of conflicting information out there. Kennel Club The Halti works great to end the pulling but the lead runs on the ground between his legs so he steps on it. Is it normal to have a few inches of chain that dont have the prongs, and does that work as well? You have to interpret the action, and tell your arm to move at a certain speed/pace/whatever else and deliver it quickly, or else your dog will not understand what youre correcting., If that window is that small and you make a mistake, would you prefer to be delivering confusing rewards, or confusing punishment?, No. Most of us have seen dogs straining so hard against their collar in their excitement to move forward that they can hardly breathe and sound a bit like Darth Vader. 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. Eventually you can stop using the collar, once she understands pulling is not acceptable. The prong collar made the below photo possible my 10-year-old daughter riding her bike with our 95lb yellow lab, Bear. Front clip harnesses that simply manipulates the dog into not pulling and does NOT FIX the pulling. and know that the collar is the least likely choice of training tools to hurt your dog. I was a bit taken aback, as I didn't expect it and thought it was cruel. He had good manners (or so I thought) and was very very love able. To find out what size prong collar your dog needs, you will need to measure their neck. My dogs immediately focused on me rather than being ramped up and anxious or hyper. Not all prong collars are created equal, the cheap versions can have sharp points and break. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt. The rescues and shelters are full of dogs that were not trained properly by their owners and so were abandoned. I can't buy one here in Australia so will have to take a chance of ordering from overseas and hope it doesn't get stopped by Customs. You are doing everything right, just take it slow. I think thats what gets so many people especially with e-collars or prong/choke collars, they just get it thinking it will be a quick fix and have no idea how to use it. ) Dont forget to train them off of it. 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! We mediate and control access to the physical and social worlds of our dogs quite a bit. WebThank you for downloading the San Francisco SPCAs Prong Collar Advocacy Kit. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My dog loves going on walks and he always wears a prong collar when we leave the house. Collars Now he is under control and gentle. Hes large for the breed. She is happy and waiting for me to put it on. He responds instantly better when a prong collar is put on him. Thank you for most educational article on pinch collar. She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. No matter how stubborn. After I brought him home I tried to take him for walks but he would literally drag me down the street at a pretty fast pace. It does not lend them any credibility. 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. Living With a Dog Is Good, If It's Good for You and the Dog. Thanks for this article. Stay strong and be confident in knowing you are doing everything right! This one is really important, before you use any tool with your dog that you understand how they work and why your dog will respond to it especially when they cannot communicate their needs or feelings clearly. You can do it with patience and guidance.. 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. Its about patience and consistency. Aversive collars are unfortunately just one side effect of antiquated dog training practices and lack of regulation in the industry. Whilst Herm Sprenger advise that 5-6 months is the minimum? haha. For this reason, more and more trainers and veterinarians are recommending that a dog be walked or run on a chest harness. Physical Damage Choke and Prong Collars: Health Concerns Call for Equipment Change in Dog Training Where are prong collars banned? Like really easily. But for a stubborn dog, he may decide the pressure of the prong pulling on his next isnt enough to not go after the rabbit. Thanks Karen for sharing your story. We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. I have a 140 BRT, and he is only 14 months old. I have a 36-pound mini Australian shepherd who is an epic puller and leash reactive to a ridiculous and, I must say, embarrassing degree. My 3 year old 70 lb pit bull has always been difficult and stubborn. Our canine companion is usually a part of our life that we love, and humans tend to show affection with a cuddle, An escape artist dog or a hound-ini is another kind of dog that is really stressful to care for. Although I am thinking I need to do a research project with every type of collar available on the market today! And dont be a jerk and pull on it. In the end, I realize the prong collar is very controversial, but please do not bash it unless youve had experience with a dog that pulls so hard you can not walk him. He came to the pound as a stray but you can tell he has had some training..he can sit, shake, etc. The absolute best feeling was able to have a family trip to a busy seaside and she walked calmly through crowds, passed dogs, runners and cyclists and she was good as gold. What a great testament to what a life changing training tool the prong collar can be. But since I invested so much money in this trainer I figured I'd give it a try. Like I said, he is very well behaved, until he is not. A jerk on the leash to suddenly, quickly restrict airflow as the teeth of the prong squeeze the neck, often misappropriated as a mommy bite Ill discuss that one another time) actually just reinforces the idea that they were right to be scared of the oncoming threat., Over time? Discussion] Prong Collars, they're Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I have a strong 100 pound GSD. And a Gentle leader or head collar that goes around a dogs muzzle is that really comfortable for your dog? When shown attention, she licked human hands and dog faces with something that could only be described as joy. My friend who also trains dogs showed me how to use it properly and it changed our lives! However they are illegal here so its very difficult to promote them in a public way. PRONG And not to mention all that pulling also affects me stresses my joints and feet, strains my wrists, has caused me to slip and fall in icy or muddy conditions, and makes me dread walking these problem dogs. He was supposed to be in a down but got up when my son went by with a musical toy so I gave him a small correction back to his down. She nearly pulled my partner off her feet in the first week. When she looked down, her dog's eye had prolapsed. 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. Why? A petite woman in her mid-40s walks her 100 pound rottweiler with some difficulty. He did well about 75% of the time but at some point he figured out that he was bigger and stronger than me and started to lung at people and other dogs (he loves people and dogs what can I say). I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. There are many other options to try before using a prong. The state government will introduce legislation into parliament to end the use of pronged dog collars, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Sunday. A prong collar must be placed around a dog's neck in a specific manner to be safe and helpful for training purposes. I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. As soon as the collar goes on I have total control over him. It could take months or years, depending on your training. I bought the collar at Petsmart. Then, watching YouTube videos last night, I came across Solid K9 Training (Jeff, above in this blog) and discovered that I was using the prong collar ALL WRONG even on my first dog. Thank you for this article! Oh! The prong collar is NOT cruel, it saves dogs lives. 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. He was really a wonderful dog that I wouldnt have enjoyed with out that collar. Weve been using a Ray Allen Brand, the prongs go only partially around his neck/the collar. Shes a 5 year old Great Pyrenees cross that Ive had the joy of owning for a year now. This is a really simple. I trust my trainer completely but every single person in my life is telling me my specific dog does not need the prong collar. 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. I laughed out loud and proceeded to tell him how straight front harnesses cause soft tissue injuries to dogs shoulders over time. Did you know that there is research showing head halters could jerk a dogs head, causing neck or spinal injuries? 3, It definitely forces you to pay attention as youre concerned about pulling too hard but that /should/ be the case no matter what you use. I have exacty the same story! The links and ads are a way for me to cover my expenses. 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. I have a 48 lb Whoodle who would wear the gentle harness on our walks in our old location (CT) where wed go 3-4 miles on a weekend and was great exercise for both of us. All seemed to be going well with the prong except his reactivity to other dogs while on leash seemed to get worse. I exercised and walked my new buddy for 3 weeks using no prong collar. My first dog was a female shepherd-mix rescue and I used a prong collar on her to amazing effect. We found out that her dog, while on a choke collar, started pulling when he saw another dog across the street, so much so that his paws came off the ground. During the first class Shadow had his own agenda and set out to personally meet and greet every student in the class. In addition, although positive punishment can be effective, there is no evidence that it is more effective than positive reinforcement-based training. He is doing well but, as he is getting older, he is pulling toward other dogs and people. 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 . Its important to understand your pup is still adjusting and pushing the limits. We have been working at it for 5 months now and occasionally I will just use his regular collar.he pulls every time! Are shock collars banned in Europe? When you adopt a dog that pulls so hard you can not walk him, then come talk to me do you want to go through a 6-12-18 month (or more) positive-only training program so this dog can finally take a walk in a public space? WebDog keeping regulations in Germany 1. Thanks for sharing! You need to measure her neck. Web1.England 1. Im thinking about buying for my dog a prong collar so your article is very helpful to me. Is that this information gets shared, lots. I have a 2 yr old Havanese and have had him since he was 8 weeks old. 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. Collars As a trainer, Mary sees many dogs struggling with fear, reactivity, and aggression toward unfamiliar people and dogs. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") There are other ways to train a puppy to walk nicely on a leash. We were very skeptical at first because it does look a bit barbaric. A video of the electrifying banned A prong collar should sit right behind the ears and Thats not how the tool works and thats not the humane way to go about it. We have read numerous articles and watched dog training videos. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this. It is amazing!! That is so scary. 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. About 4 mths ago I enlisted the help of an amazing young woman who is a dog trainer and with her help my dogs behaviour on leash has improved 10 fold. 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. Honestly, I know, Ive taught a great, reliable loose leash (even without the leash) a lot with all sorts of dogs, all sorts of breeds. I have since gone on to do board and train with dogs on the side, have taken in numerous problematic foster dogs and trained them for easier placement, and intend to continue doing both so that I can help dog owners and their dogs live calmer, happier lives. They dont hurt them at all to train them. Why was CodeMiko banned? Jennifer Cattet, "Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools. But according to a new study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, there is no credible scientific evidence to justify electronic collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs.. I want to share a story about a prong collar and how it changed my life. Humane Society, PETA, & SPCA all speak against prong collars. There are back clip harnesses, which promote pulling (think about sled dogs). But after reading your points and the testimonies of other people here, I feel a little more confident that I can find a safe and humane way of using this tool when doing further training. Prong Collar We only introduced it after 31/2 mths at which point Ive learnt to read my dog and I have the knowledge how to manage him and descalate his triggers etc. This is the information I'l looking for also. I noticed early on that other dog owners or even people who have seen a dog somewhere in their lifetime, have become experts on how to care for MY dog, irrespective of how theyre known me! But your points make sense to me. But yesterday I had to take my dog, an 8 year old 84lb rottweiler, to the vet. Gentle leaders and the like can cause serious neck injuries like whiplash. So I started on this years path of advice from experienced rescue owners, 1:1 sessions with a personal trainer ( But this got expensive and she made me feel like i was a big part of the problem by not being able to get over my anxieties when we walked by people, dogs etc) I know I have some work to do there and I am trying. Thank you so much for sharing. Immediately the two dogs got ready to lunge at one another. He pulled his previous owner down their porch steps! The straw that broke the camels back was after her pulling so much with her front-clip Halti harness that she rubbed her armpit bald. Ive noticed several times that ours become lodged and arent connected all the way, leading to it easily being able to break apart when the dog pulls. We just started with a trainer for our 16wk Lab/Shepherd puppy that uses the Herm S prong collar. Worked fine for a month then he saw a dog and jerked And the collar broke and went flying and he attacked the dog. I had a guy ask me yesterday, as my dog and I were riding the bus, why I had a prong collar on him. Were hoping its a temporary training tool only, but Im still happy to have found this. But I dont want to be cruel, OR injure him. Privacy Policy|Terms of Service |Disclaimer |Contact, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"f3080":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"f3080"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"f3080"},"poiuy":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"f83d7":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"f3080"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)"},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__. Prong collars have been banned in many countries that have announced them as illegal. When I am conducting group training sessions I introduce the prong collar to each and every one of my classes and I properly fit it around my own bare leg and give it the correct pull as if I were training a dog to demonstrate to my groups how safe and non-damaging the prong collar is. 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. A strong dog actually puked while I was walking him from the pressure on his throat. 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.". Will a prong collar help? Thanks for your wonderful training resources. He would drag me all over. My boy is a saint bernard mix too. She brought to class a prong collar and instructed me how to fit it and how to use it. However, if used in the wrong way, collars can lead to serious or even fatal injury." The only barbaric thing here Lora, is the human mind. The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important energy channels in the body. I am worried about how my dog owning friends will react to me getting one of these collars, but having seen how easy and gentle yet effective it can be I have decided that I would be silly not to get one, both for her safety and mine, in certain situations. I have used prong collars before with fantastic success. It is like an airbag, you hope it never has to deploy, but when you need, it better be there! I want my dog to be off leash if we move there. He already knew all basic commands, house broken and crate trained. Thank you for saving a dogs life! We rescued a super sweet lab mix from down south a few months ago. We would like to try one more time to change their walking behavior. I heard a trainer once describe the prong collar as power steering for dog training, which I think is a great analogy. Decide which equipment you would like your dog to walk on, and grab a double ended leash, like a halti training leash, and clip the prong to one end of the leash, and the harness or collar to the other., As your need for corrections lessen, allow the balance of the leash to lean towards the harness, and away from the prong.. I am in your same boat. Choke Chain Collars A choke chain collar is another inhumane training tool. Furthermore, it is downright dangerous to leave either choke chain or prong collar on dogs if not working. This must never happen. He pulled so hard to the point of choking himself and pulling me over. No, Prong collars are not banned in the UK. It was a lifesaver for me and he was a true angel to walk with it. 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. All of the images in this post contain dogs who are wearing prong collars incorrectly. Awe Rachel, this is great news! And How To Ethically Find One, Ray Allen Multi-Function Harness An Honest Review, Ray Allen Nomad I.H.S Harness An Honest Review, Should I Cuddle My Dog? I am trying to gain more knowledge and be a responsible dog owner (esp.