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. 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. What can A shortcut that compromises too much for me to feel comfortable using one or recommending one when there are tried and tested methods that dont require one. Below is a step-by-step guide outlining the steps we took and the timeline we used as we worked toward our prong collar ban. Picking up a prong collar tomorrow. Psychology Today, January 25, 2018. Started training obedience day 1 (8 weeks of age)he (was) a nervous jrtnot fearless at all. But I now see how wonderful they are in training my dog. Unfortunately, I think the rescue society I got her from downplayed the leash issues. 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. I have a 120 lb Great Dane Mastiff mix. She nearly pulled my partner off her feet in the first week. Every interaction made me terrified someone would try to get our dogs kicked out of the neighborhood, especially since staffies are technically dangerous. Used well, it gives dogs access to their world and can be a critically important freedom enhancer. Prong Collars Hes pretty good on walks but pulls to the point of choking himself. The collars are brutal due to the fact that they typically lack a quick release mechanism. 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. They say it should redirect them, and that worked for a little while, but not well enough, apparently, since she figure out that she could push through it anyway. Possibly causing neck/throat problems. Try this post, and if you need more help? I can see how someone would see it as dangerous or harmful. It is your responsibility to use the amount of training force necessary to eventually produce instant obedience in public. This harness is one of few that is genuinely military spec and is still useful for regular pet users. 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. I asked the vet if she could give me some gentle tranquillisers to use on such occasions, just to calm her down, but the vet was very reluctant to do this. I have a large, leash-reactive male German Shepherd. So now its up to you to decide what you are comfortable using to train your dog. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! We have a 4yo female rescue GSD. What theyre made to do, and what theyre not made to do.. WebPerhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away. 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. Will that be a problem when he wears the prong collar? WebAustria, Germany, maybe Netherlands and some scandinavian countries. Hi Carol, the prong collar is known to come apart at the most inconvenient times. Hes large for the breed. Woodrow doesnt mind it at all. Though they are legal in the U.S. Whilst I know that the potential for misuse is not a reason to call something bad, its mainly a method of training that I see no reason for.. You may get evil looks from other dog owners that just dont understand the power of the prong collar. Two, Find a trainer that will work with you and the prong collar. Can you tell me why theyre being misused? COLLAR So no, in theory it should not need to be used for ever. I tried to walk her and i actually just was dragged. I dont care what breed you have, how strong they are, or how small you are. Any training resources or advice you can provide would be very helpful! And although I knew they were just barking and pulling because they wanted to investigate and make friends, staffies barks tend to be quite scary, which Im sure intimidate my neighbors. 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? Thank you! If you are just using it to train not to pull, there is no need to keep it on all day. I dont recommend keeping it on 24/7. 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. After our trainer introduced us to the prong collar walking with him is a joy. Train with your brain, not with 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. I have a question about prong collar fit- do the prongs need to go all the way around the neck circumference? I used a pinch collar on Chester and he and I were happy walkers for 10+ years. Tried the front clip harness but she would still pull so hard she would flip herself over and on to her side how does that not break ribs?! This is a really simple. I guess Im an animal abuser from what I read, but I would put the care and loving I provide to my dog above 99.9% of what most humans receive. Not once. With some dogs prong collars are a great tool! So I would not recommend the prong in your scenario. He was much better with not pulling for a period of time when I would take him on a walk, but then he went back to his old ways and now pulls like crazy now even with the prong collar. At first, she thought it was OK, but she had a bad feeling about it. Thanks for this article. The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important energy channels in the body. After using it for a while youll notice taking on and off gets easier. People who have untrained GERMAN SHEPHERDS ALWAYS ask medo you train dogs?how much would you charge i will pay you well ALWAYSwhy you askwell because my gsd is sooo well trained.he is off leash trained 100% I take him into public stores.around other dogs.etc and he heels.directly on my side.no matter what.out of control dogs pulling on therr leash trying to attack him.etc it doeant matter.he wont maKe a move unless approved by me..how did i do this you ask?..well this is the formulaso get your pen and paper ready..first a WHOLE LOTTA LOVEsecond A WHOLE LOTTA TIME.third MORE LOVE..FORTH A SPRENGER CORRECTION COLLARwithout it you will never train a german shepherd manners.bigj reward training.petco trainingetc etc..etc DOES NOT WORK YOU ARE WAISTING YOUR TIME.SPINNING YOUR WHEELSwhen it comes to training your german shepherds.you cant do your own thing.you must follow a tried and true/proven training program.this is how the nazis trained them.this is how the police train them this is how the military trains them..AROUND THE WORLDstop the stupidity.if you dont use it.you will fail in training your dog will become a nuisance and your dog will ultimately pay the sad price.a well trained dog has a great life.sees the world ..a poorly trained dog sees the backyard sees the shelter and sees the euthanasia needle. Im thinking about buying for my dog a prong collar so your article is very helpful to me. I have physical disabilities and any pulling from my 62 pound Labradoodle will hurt me. Did not work at all. We finished the class and we both learned so much from it. WebProng collars arent banned in Australia. I have yet to find anything in writing that says this is ok. Top 10 Reasons Not to Use - SF SPCA I truly appreciate your blog for its resources and insights. At this point I dont care at all what people will think of me if they see a prong collar on her. The dog must learn to pay attention and do exactly what you sayfor your sake and its. I admit I was not paying full attention to him was conversing with a neighbor. It is very helpful. Pay no attention to the idiots who prescribe for your dog without knowing either you or it. After our outing I realized how overwhelmed he still gets with new scents and experiences. England Shock collars are banned in Wales, but with the help of a new proposal, the cruel devices may be banned in 2. There are no quick fixes, and training is not a one time and done type of thing. Great, checked that off the list. However, I am afraid of breaking a wrist or worse; & I have some balance problems. The other thing to remember is the way it works. Decided to use the old prong collar on a walk to the post office with Bow today ???? We decide when they eat, what they eat, when and with whom they play and also decide when, where, and for how long dogs get to be outside each day and, perhaps more subtly, by imposing the physical constraints of collars and leashes, which guide the speed and direction of a dogs movements. And thank you for all you do. Diana, I love your story, thank you so much for sharing! from his dog trainer) and immediately she ceased the pulling. Prong Advocacy Kit - SF SPCA Ali has won multiple awards for her dog training, and has had her blog (this blog!) If you find that its not working because of the lack of a neck try using a slip lead. 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. The prong is the best, the dogs pull much less, even with other dogs, cats and squirrels to distract them. We are taking things really slow, but Im concerned if we take them too slow, we will actually be reinforcing behaviors learned from the abuse, i.e. We just have to apply it. He was a bully breed mutt and 100 +lbs. Dogs that I thought were a lost cause QUICKLY cease pulling and are walkable again! So far, only a handful of countries have moved to ban shock collars. So many people misuse them, but when used correctly theyre very good tools. With the prong collar, weve been able to quickly train him not to pull on our walks. Three jurisdictions in Australia have now banned the use of these collars: Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland, under their Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. The fact is, the prong collar, when fitted properly, is designed to be the most humane way to train and to NOT harm your dog. Do not allow any pulling from now on. I was going to buy a front clip harness (for more control as she is either following her nose without listening to me or tries to run away from scary things) but after reading your article Im wondering if a prong collar would be better?. with kid number two on the way in just a few weeks). he wont make eye contact, has to be taken out of his kennel, has to be carried inside after be letting out to go to the bathroom, etc. Leashes restrict dogs' ability to have control of their lives and to make choices. I felt like his regular collar was causing him pain because he was pulling against it so much. 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. Why? 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. I just want him to be the perfectly trained dog I know hes capable of becoming. I recommend prong collars, but only after consulting a certified dog training professional. He is a pretty stubborn dog (my understanding is that the breed tends to be that way). Do not be afraid to try a prong collar. Quebec will institute a ban on choke, Whilst I would hope youd use it right (though, I dont think I would trust myself to use it right consistently over long periods of time), it also doesnt surpass the fact that you can probably achieve your loose leash walking goals way easier than banishing your pup or dog to this device., No, they are not suitable for use on a puppy. Teaching pressure & release is fast, easy, and helps build the dogs confidence. Actually he has never gagged, choked or shown any discomfort to prong where Ive had dogs gag if they pulled hard with flat collar. ID tags should not be put on a prong collar, and your dog should not be left in one for long periods of time. But pronged collars have been a saving grace for both me and the problem walkers. Note: I just received an interesting email asking if it's possible that some dogs hold grudges against their guardians and trainers who mistreat them with aversive collars and "other abusive training techniques." We mediate and control access to the physical and social worlds of our dogs quite a bit. In large, older, strong, and/or strong-willed dogs, this would point us to the prong collars. I may not have a certificate as a dog trainer, but I have attended more training sessions with dog trainers than I can count. The prong collar helps keep his focus on me and makes it a positive experience for both of us. Prong Collar Ultimately, a leash is simply a tool, a kind of umbilical cord between human and dog that can be used well or poorly. I swapped over to a prong collar, and got him to behave, and pull and run after other dogs less, but it doesnt stick when I put him on another collar. Then we started a balanced training class, and they showed us how to use the prong collar. I know my dog and one day well eventually work away from the prong collar but hes not there yet. It makes all the difference and Blu seldom pulls or lunges. People would comment on how well-mannered she was on walks and after a few years, I didnt need the prong collar at all. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Got a wonderful lab mix last summer; believe he's never been trained or on a leash. You should be exhausting other means before resorting to a prong collar.And I know that sometimes it can feel like you have done so, but typically? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Herm Sprenger HS Ultra Chrome Metal Prong Dog Training Collar 162.25mm New Nice at the best online prices at eBay! It totally changed our lives!!! I was stunned how quickly her behavior improved once I started using the prong collar! prong I laughed out loud and proceeded to tell him how straight front harnesses cause soft tissue injuries to dogs shoulders over time. I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. collars Doing this is utterly unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional. We look forward to walks now!! Since the incident he has been mouthing our son a lot more. The links and ads are a way for me to cover my expenses. 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. What have you got to lose? Ill bet you prong collars and strategic sharp jerks will have your dachshunds (or your wolfhounds) respectfully leaving their leashes slack within the week. All dogs will show signals that he is about to lung or go after prey, such as excitement, whining, eye contact, etc. And remove links for smaller necks. Its an adaptation of choke chains, the links become larger and there are teeth on each link that encircle the neck. I had held out at first because I was skeptical, but as I said, once I started using the prong collar it was like night and day! Should the collar only be used while walking? I was having a hard time finding others. Gentle leaders and the like can cause serious neck injuries like whiplash. personality. Like I said, he is very well behaved, until he is not. 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. She is 14 mos. However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt. Excellent post!! 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. Negative experiences that they have learned to problem solve with looking mighty scary, scare the other dog away, and then safety is restored. You have that. Needless to say Shadow and I were able to participate in class and he wasnt the class clown he was in the first class. The use of any electrical devices for disciplinary purposes (electrical fence, anti-bark, collars with remote control) is not allowed. Why did I need to try all those tools? Whilst the product is clearly quality, and I love that they actually give you most of this information the information is rather buried. I agree 100%, the right collar and training are essential. 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. Teacup puppies are incredibly trendy, because of their small size and cuteness. PostedApril 25, 2019 She is passionate about helping puppy parents get things right, right from the start. I havent used the collar since. Its crazy how the internet is overwhelmed with posts claiming how dangerous these collars are when I find they have done wonders for both me and the dogs Im walking, all without hurting them. Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well. Prong Collar So glad you found a trainer to guide you! Our shih-poo is VERY smart and learns quick so we know it isnt an intelligence issue. Aversive collars are unfortunately just one side effect of antiquated dog training practices and lack of regulation in the industry. Thanks so much for sharing your story Jessica! Some people So, the reason he has to be carried into the house is that he wont move when he has a leash on. And trust me, my dog knows how to communicate if he doesn't like something. The prong collar is a life saving tool for many dog owners. Sure someone could use it to hurt a dog if they want to pull tight and nag on the dogs neck. I didnt outweigh him by much. Lately, I am getting hounded on social media about responding to a post saying it was a great tool for training. Im sorry to hear that you havent found a trainer that will work with you. While establishing a governing body regulating the dog training industry is essential and necessary now, it will take time. This is deliberate! Truly modifying behavior takes time and consistency. Ive seen collar covers that disguise the prong. Consequently, its my advice to not use corrections because theyre too easy to miss. It should be something a little louder and prouder on their site. Her classes are pure chaos, as nobody has any control with head halters, harnesses and flat collars. I walk him 4-6 miles a day, am in obedience & he generally does really well. Prong collars are legal to use in the UK, but they are not typically recommended by behaviorists or trainers. 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. There are many other options to try before using a prong. Prong Collars A TWITCH influencer has stunned her fans and was temporarily banned from the platform after a terrifying video. I think hes smart enough to realize that hes in control, if he doesnt pull, his collar is comfortable for him. 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. 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. And harnesses? You could have taught a loose leash without a prong. Sincerely Brian Kelly. I am emigrating to Germany next year and i do not want to be taking a dog with me that is going to drag me through the streets, barking and being hyper and scaring everyone by giving the impression hes aggressive which he definitely is not.. This collar is used to treat injured dogs. It does not work by causing pain when used properly. Ive compensated by going out during less busy times and the latest which has been driving to off leash dog parks as she is sooooo much off leash. I went into the city to give him some new experiences besides our boring suburb walks and didnt use the prong collar. Free shipping for many products! I want my dog to be off leash if we move there. I used a pinch collar 3 times and he learned that quickly and never pulled out of the leash again. Dogs will definitely be verbal if they are uncomfortable or in pain!! Controversial prong dog collars were recently banned by the government of Australias most popular tourist destinations, Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef and Gold and Sunshine Coasts. He has someone home with him 24 hrs a day and has all the love and attention he could want. 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. Many years ago, I had our dog and a foster dog go after another dog when it was icy out and I went flying down on my butt. I saw a short article on a dog training Facebook page, about prong collars. He was also extremely leash reactive and aggressive towards other dogs in general. We'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. For small dogs you can get the 2.25 mm. I really wish I had started using it early in his training program. There is certainly a lot of misconception around the prong collar, and I feel the only way that will change is when people have a dog like yours and experience how it can be such an invaluable training tool. BTW the trainer only recommended this after understanding the extent of our dogs A.D.D. I am certain it will help others that are struggling. After reading the article on prong collars, went and bought one. 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. Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. 3 months is too young for a prong collar in my opinion. Ill let you know if youre right! My teenage daughter begged me to adopt a pitbull puppy. Walking on a leash is not a natural behavior for a dog, and indeed it goes against their natural instincts to run and explore. And there are two much better alternatives, halters and walk harnesses https://positively.com/dog-training/methods-equipment/training-equipment/choke-and-prong-collars/. As in all different sorts of dog-human interactions, what's good for the human must be good for the dog. The prong has been like the cherry on top a great tool if everything else is in place. I had to give him a couple of sharp tugs but after that he soon got the message that if he pulled I would tug him back My views of these evil looking collars has changed and I had got to the stage of not taking Sam out for daily walks as I was scared of being injured myself or him injuring or frightening other people. Our campus officially banned prong collars on January 24, 2017. He came to the pound as a stray but you can tell he has had some training..he can sit, shake, etc. 4. 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!) Nothing worked until I found this site and started using a prong collar. If we love our companion animals so very much, the call to treat them kindly should be paramount, and there's no reason why these devices shouldnt be banned in favor of readily available and less aversive force-free alternatives. CodeMiko posted in her Discord yesterday, sharing that she was suspended on Twitch for her use of a shock collar on herself during her Sunday, Feb. 26 stream. Good luck! Just started using one and he is very easy to walk with one hand. I have yet to see a dog injured by normal use of a prong collar (of course I only use Herm as well. Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? But when I have he mostly responds positively if he responds. I get it, I thought the prong collar was cruel at first too, but quickly learned its the exact opposite. 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. P.s. We are the first time adoptive fur parents of a Yellow Lab Mix. I am trying to gain more knowledge and be a responsible dog owner (esp. Shock collars She is a pretty assertive dog, gets plenty of outdoor time and exercise, and still she is totally happy and excited when we pick up her collar to announce a walk. Hi there, I totally agree with you on prong collars. He didnt need to or want to. 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? My dogs immediately focused on me rather than being ramped up and anxious or hyper. Psychology Today, December 4, 2017. Twice have hurt my back holding him, and I also have tendonitis in both hands/wrists, so holding on to him when he is distracted can be really painful. I'm just afraid I'm going to lose the arm muscle I built up from all that pulling! He would pull so hard that I wound up on the ground a time or two and injured just by walking him. What We Can Learn From European Dog Culture - The New York Could you post a video or picture of what you are recommending to do? What Countries Have Banned Shock Collars? - The Dog Central 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. It is unfortunate that some people just arent willing to see past that book cover, and see what the prong collar really is a very humane dog training tool. The collar is not designed to hurt the dog, but get the dogs attention. Do you think these changes are happening quickly enough in the US? It was suggested that we use the prong collar on our 3 month old Bichon/Shih Tzu who just started training. There are other ways to train a puppy to walk nicely on a leash. Patty, its worth a try. 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. We just rescued a 2 year old (they think) GSD mix this past Tuesday. No trainers want to work with me because I have him on a prong. But I am also aware of how other people view the prong collar. We pull out the prong collar and he come and sits patiently for us to put it on..hes excited knowing hes going for a walk. You wont ever get to this stage, because youll be practising a loose leash long before theyre large and unruly! I did read Netherlands. Now, at age 6 it doesnt seem to be as effective. Is it because it works so rapidly and they don't care what the dog thinks and feels?". I recently entered the world of dog ownership by adopting a rescue. You are doing everything right, just take it slow. I bet Sam is looking forward to enjoying his walks with you just as much as you are! Thanks for this info. Hes pretty good on our boring suburb walks with a regular collar, but any new experience he is almost uncontrollable. The rescues and shelters are full of dogs that were not trained properly by their owners and so were abandoned. But in some situations all that goes out the window. Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. And if you genuinely feel like thats the case?
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