It depends on the severity of his fearfulness. It could be killedalong with the child flung into the windshield as her mother hits the brake. If it works to stop a behaviour, it must be because the animal found it aversive (if they liked it or didnt notice it, it wouldnt reduce the frequency of the behaviour).". I want to make sure that they wont get hurt when using the collars that I will buy for them. You are truly saving lives. personality. Thanks for this article. They certainly can be if misused. My dgt promised to do all the walking and caring for the dog. I dont care what breed you have, how strong they are, or how small you are. I never wanted to try a prong collar because of the negative connotations, especially with a pit bull that people are already afraid of. I used it as you explained back in 1999, maybe for 3 months and periodically as needed over a years time. Lets join this trend!. I havent used the collar since. Its a good thing I work out because I can reign her back in but I fear one day shell dislocate my shoulder!! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Before he never watched me. Your email address will not be published. Prong collars are still legal in the US, but are highly So many people think the prong collar is terrible, yet the flat collar is okay? Please see our, how to train your dog to walk loose leash, How Much are Teacup Puppies? Being rather small in size at 5 he darn near out weighed me so it was nearly impossible for me to stop him. I raised him w/ a no-pull harness, and he quickly out grew that behavior. Just remember, the collar needs to be high up on the dogs neck, just below the ears. I am still hesitant to give a little correction tug. Huge mistake, he was so overwhelmed he was pulling nonstop on our hour walk around the park. 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. I can get away with taking her to off leash parks sometimes but I dont always have the time to drive there as Im also mom to 3 kids. I weigh less than 120 pounds and did not consider prong collars until we got a giant dog. It is like an airbag, you hope it never has to deploy, but when you need, it better be there! This is always very stressful for me and I get there praying there wont be another dog in the waiting room. My guess he was abused while wearing one or was constantly on one. Eye contact, "follower" state was much fasterI was connecting with him like his real mother would. I recently entered the world of dog ownership by adopting a rescue. No more choking off the trachea. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Just train the right way the first time and dont seek shortcuts.. Its all about communicating with the dog, not about pain at all. But I now see how wonderful they are in training my dog. Also, we wear a 2 wide flat collar on our Dobe with the prong so that the prong stays high on his neck where it belongs. I signed us up for an obedience class. 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? Its important that the collar is snug around the base of the dogs ears, meaning high up on the neck. Whilst I dont agree with them, that doesnt mean you have to. When we go for a walk he is well behaved- until he isnt. 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. The prong collar helps keep his focus on me and makes it a positive experience for both of us. Shelby, I love your story! So glad you found a trainer to guide you! Would the place where the lead clips on end up under the neck and, thus, drag on the ground on a long lead? Also, try having your dog wear a cute bandana it covers the prong collar if you are self-conscious about it. _____. 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. OSPet Dog Prong Collar. I dont think the fear is based on the leash, but something else. The prong collar is NOT cruel, it saves dogs lives. Sometimes they dont even know this is happening. Karen. 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. Hi, I have a 90 lb intact lab that I adopted a week ago. WebIn this Q&A I address the important question:What do I think of countries that ban e-collars? It is cruel to these dogs for them to be abandoned over and over again, adding to their unsuitability as pets, by people who believe themselves humane, when a gentle training session with a prong collar can turn those wonderful dogs into the kind of pet the owner dreams of. And dogs can be abused even without physical contact, so Im leaving out cases of abuse here). I have tried several different collars and leads to stop him from pulling. Did not work at all. That means that you have failed in training your dog and have taken a shortcut instead of learning to understand and work with your dog., I mean zookeepers train tigers. What the dogs were bred for has absolutely no relationship to their bad manners (which you have inadvertently taught them). The pulling she used to have has almost been eliminated by the training techniques my trainer taught us. We took different routes, different scenery with woods walks and hikes vs. in the neighborhood nothing helped. You need to correct the behavior at that point. Could the use of the collar be creating more fear and anxiety in our already anxious dog? Among Scandinavian countries , Sweden bans e collars. A prong collar is a device that has metal fang-shaped prongs on it that is worn around a dogs neck. I dont want her to listen to me just because she fears what comes if she doesnt. Now he is licking me instead of biting, watching me and interacting with me. Or must you be on the side of the dog on a short lead? 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. Prong collars have been banned in many countries that have announced them as illegal. According to a review article published by Gal Ziv, are better for both human and dog is overwhelming. Debi, this is a wonderful article, thank you. You will need to read the dogs body language. You wont ever get to this stage, because youll be practising a loose leash long before theyre large and unruly! After our trainer introduced us to the prong collar walking with him is a joy. What a life changer. The prong has been like the cherry on top a great tool if everything else is in place. Another point that is important to stressa larger systemic issue facing dogs, their guardians, and dog trainersis that there is no regulation in the dog training industry. I went on vacation and decided to send him to dog training school to try to correct some of his bad behaviors and the trainer brought him back and showed me how to use the 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'm just afraid I'm going to lose the arm muscle I built up from all that pulling! 4 years ago I would have never used it, until my dog trainer trained my dog on it. but the fallout can be significant. If it werent for the prong collar, our super sweet 70+lb lapdog would not have been able to stay with us. The rescues and shelters are full of dogs that were not trained properly by their owners and so were abandoned. The collar is not designed to hurt the dog, but get the dogs attention. Try this post, and if you need more help? (See "Do Dogs Hold Grudges?" 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. Im certain it must at least in part be me. You wouldnt have any control at 20+ The prong is really meant for a quick snap of the leash not pulling or nagging on the leash. She is a quick learner with all the usual commands and is due to graduate her first round of puppy training classes this Sunday. I have never been more grateful for this training tool, I love my dog and have put a lot of work and money into training him. It was suggested that we use the prong collar on our 3 month old Bichon/Shih Tzu who just started training. From tracking to bite work (agitation work), and even an every day harness! You lost me at suggesting a prong collar for a reactive dog! You can get the standard size: https://amzn.to/2Hwnbzp. They allow pet parents to walk their pup on a leash and they provide a place to hang ID and vaccination tags. Viewfinders, what do you think about the ban on prong collars? (See "Choose a Dog Trainer as Carefully as You Would a Surgeon" and "Dog Training's Dirty Little Secret: Anyone Can Legally Do It."). The Also we may all live to see tomorrow. Patty, its worth a try. Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It is amazing!! 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. . 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. Wish us luck! Leashes restrict dogs' ability to have control of their lives and to make choices. Specifically, they state that prolonged or extreme pulling of ANY collar can lead to damage. No more shoulder injuries for me. Due to the lack of oversight and requirement for education, certification, or professional standards, as well as the often ambiguous language used by various dog trainers, many well-meaning dog guardians who just want the best for their dogs are being misled and often talked into using force, fear, and pain to train. She would pull so hard then entire walk with her two front feet in the air. Even with a prong? He pulls when i walk him half the time. Prong Collars, Choke Chains, Flat Collars, Harness, etc, are all part of your training tools and should therefore be used for that purpose only (they are not ornamental, although many believe that they are). A prong collar worked wonders on my hooligan, made her walk like a lady. 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 had it too low on the neck and much too loose. Got a wonderful lab mix last summer; believe he's never been trained or on a leash. Ali has won multiple awards for her dog training, and has had her blog (this blog!) By: Evelyn Konopik, RVT He is clearly lacking in socialization and his behavior and demeanor are indicative of prior abuse. What a great story Donna, thank you for sharing. and it is big and clunky. 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. He pulled his previous owner down their porch steps! Yes, Yes, Yes!!! I may not have a certificate as a dog trainer, but I have attended more training sessions with dog trainers than I can count. Are just such huge 2000 2022 Rebarkable LLC. I have a smart medium drive 5 1/2 month old GSD male pup. Its good to note that a dogs neck is 3x more sensitive than a human neck, so we really do not need to use much pressure. Loved this post! Most of the citys bylaws carry a $240 fine for infraction. Did you know that there is research showing head halters could jerk a dogs head, causing neck or spinal injuries? Ran into the road? I did not have prong collars on them, but I am confident if I had, it would never had happened. Very good training tool. We have been trying positive reinforcement with him but he goes over threshold quickly if were out on a hike. I always enjoyed walking my dog because I love him and I like to get out and walk, but now walking him is sooooooo much better. 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. Picking up a prong collar tomorrow. Unfortunately, people really just dont understand these collars and that they can actually help prevent damage or injury, and help owners bond and communicate better with their dogs. Is that this information gets shared, lots. I recommend prong collars, but only after consulting a certified dog training professional. Make sure to check back in, cant wait to hear your success story. It is up to you to do your research and make your own opinion. _____. I have a strong 100 pound GSD. The prong is simply a tool as if to tap the dogs shoulder to get her attention. Numerous people who choose to share their lives with a dog also choose to use various types of collars, including electric shock collars (e-collars), choke collars, or prong collars that are connected to different sorts of leashes, both of which give people varying degrees of control over their canine companions. That is so scary. We adopted a 7 month old lab/pit/Brittany spaniel mix from our local rescue shelter. Lab. As you go through the article, see if you can tell why theyre wrong. It means that youre not in control. What appealed to me the most in your blog is when you talked about how safe prong collar dogs are because they cant damage your dogs trachea given that they are going to be properly used. Those who support a ban on shock collars hope that more countries will follow suit. Some of the above is excerpted from Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible. 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Some dog breeds tend to be wanderers, and an intact dog or girls in heat can be problem too. I truly appreciate your blog for its resources and insights. 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. If fitting is not the problem, then next review the way you are correcting his pulling, do not pull or nag on the collar, it should always be a quick tug or snap of the collar. Small prong collars are for dogs with necks up to 12 inches, and medium prong collars are for dogs with necks 12-16 inches. At first, she thought it was OK, but she had a bad feeling about it. You may have pure positive trainers tell you there are more humane ways to control your dog. 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? Hi Carol, the prong collar is known to come apart at the most inconvenient times. Just read some of the success stories in the comments. 3 months is too young for a prong collar in my opinion. The veterinarian was ultimately able to save the dog's eye. Legislators cited prong collars violated their Animal Welfare standards by using pain as punishment.. 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. He will begin to associate the prong collar with pain, which is something he is afraid of. Its all a matter of dog and what the owner is comfortable with! No one ever claimed it so it became our shop dog and because I opened and closed the shop regularly I was the one in charge of walking him. I may look into a Herm Sprenger. Our campus officially banned prong collars on January 24, 2017. Hes pretty good on walks but pulls to the point of choking himself. I actually have a ton of experience with the prong collar with my own dogs and other foster dogs I have trained. With the prong collar, weve been able to quickly train him not to pull on our walks. My daughter took him out today on a prong collar and she said he did good. Actually he has never gagged, choked or shown any discomfort to prong where Ive had dogs gag if they pulled hard with flat collar. 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). 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. Putting a prong collar on him that would make him uncomfortable or hurt him would further harm him mentally. People would comment on how well-mannered she was on walks and after a few years, I didnt need the prong collar at all. Watch videos, learn how to use the collar correctly ( I wish YouTube had been around when I trained my first dog in 1995!) Every walk we took Bear was pulling me so hard no matter what I tried and sadly, I was seriously considering returning him to the shelter. I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. For example, in the state of California, prong collars cant be used to tether a dog. 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. I have walked him w/ the prong collar here at home several times since our session and he is not pulling or lunging. Not that it wont work, but because he is still young enough to teach him not to pull without it. He eventually started showing extreme aggression towards dogs including my other two rescues. Thank you, the bandana is a good idea. I asked him why not? He went on to tell me theyre known for breaking dogs necks. This will then tighten around the dogs neck while he is hanging and obviously suffocate him to death (I am sure that you do not wish this upon your family pet). Can you tell me why theyre being misused? Will a prong collar help? Of course, if you see regression, then make sure that the previous training method is reverted to., This is a really subjective question. I was having a hard time finding others. 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. Negative experiences that they have learned to problem solve with looking mighty scary, scare the other dog away, and then safety is restored. The bans on them are sad as so many people jump on the band wagon without fully knowing the full story. Thanks for sharing this. But we all need to know the truth about prong collars before passing judgment. Lindsay Lowe, "5 Ways Collars Can Harm Your Dog". I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. After our outing I realized how overwhelmed he still gets with new scents and experiences. Leash pulling is certainly one of the most frequent points of contention between human and dog, and it may be one reason that many dogs dont get walked: It can become a real headache for someone to try to walk a dog who constantly tugs and pulls and strains. After using it for a while youll notice taking on and off gets easier. I finally bought a Herm Sprenger collar and it was moderately helpful. But I also believe that most people that are dead against the prong collar never experienced a dog with any severe reactive behavior issues. Thats what they were built for, is to learn. (If youre struggling to teach a loose leash, this is for you. The prong could help with the jumping and biting if used correctly. 3. He will be an 80 pound dog. The biggest pup I fostered (who was also a tripaw) did really well with a prong collar but when it was first recommended to me I didnt want to try it. On the other end of the spectrum, there are also dog trainers who are force-free and rewards-based who lack the education and knowledge base to be effective concerning choices of neck restraints. The instructor is set against prong and choke collars. We just started with a trainer for our 16wk Lab/Shepherd puppy that uses the Herm S prong collar. 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 follow Jeff Bellman and Skype with him occasionally and love his transparency & honesty about the training tools he uses. The one linked in the article above fits dogs with up to a 18-inch neck. Especially for a breed that everyone seems to be initially wary of. 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. We dog sat for a friends dog last week that has no leash manners, and the way he pulled on his flat collar scared me! 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. Thanks for your wonderful training resources. The dog will be much happier in fact. Once I started using a prong collar on my girl (along with the time commitment of training! You noted that you have used these devices for a quick fix when you need foster dogs to walk along side yours You also made notes about how to introduce the dog to the prong collar, and with the use of reassuring gestures and being patient with the animal, along side the use of treats why would the prong collar be needed? I trained my German Shepard/Siberian Husky mix using a pinch collar, got tips on training from a gal who trained duck hunting dogs, she taught me hand signals and all. Toronto (Canada) attempted a ban on prong and choke collars, and it passed, but was then turned over within the next month. Ive come to the conclusion that the people bashing the prong collar never had a dog like yours. Lauren, thank you so much for sharing your story. I spend more than 40 hours a week writing, researching and helping dog owners, I can not do it for free and still feed my family. Every interaction made me terrified someone would try to get our dogs kicked out of the neighborhood, especially since staffies are technically dangerous. What have you got to lose? Have a read of how to train your dog to walk loose leash. Positively, constructively and with an open mind) theres a positive solution you can take to achieve the same goal. Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. Thank you for this article! 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. 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. 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. I have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. Shock collars have been banned in many states of Australia after considering the damaging effects of these e collars on dogs. You are doing everything right, just take it slow. That it appears on google when people search Prong collar for my dog and they have the opportunity to learn. But theyre not.. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") A trainer can help with that. And trust me, my dog knows how to communicate if he doesn't like something. The guardian did not want to lose control of her dog, so she pulled him back toward her and continued to do so until the dog across the street was out of sight. Thanks so much for sharing your story Jessica! I didnt even know what that really was until the first week of taking her for 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. Thanks! With some dogs prong collars are a great tool! Diana, I love your story, thank you so much for sharing! with kid number two on the way in just a few weeks). Try keeping him on a leash inside the house for a while. Thank you Melanie for sharing your story! And in the mean time the poor dog is confined to his home? 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. Reminder, not all prong collars are created equal. He was a bully breed mutt and 100 +lbs. Virginia transformed her into an absolutely normal dog. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. My energy is much more calm and I sense his is as well. This merely trained him to bite me, then sit back and wait for a treat when he quit. I am also convinced, after having tried every other gentle alternative, that these are a) not effective and b) not kind, because walks with my dog are miserable for us both. Yes that is the entire purpose of the prong, to use it as a training tool. Really? After class the instructor told me that she would bring a collar to the next class that should help with him and asked that I come a little early so she could show me how to use it. My dog loves going on walks and he always wears a prong collar when we leave the house. I cannot just take the opinions of others because the day WILL COME that I will be challenged by someone out there who tries to bust people for passing their dogs off as service dogs, when indeed, they are not. This sort of state is not a state where learning can occur, its a state where all their options have been removed., The analogy used by a lot of people is imagine your worst fear, and then someone sitting there and forcing you to face it., Prong collars are not suitable for anything fear-based, which is where reactivity falls., Regardless of my training preferences.
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