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Hi Im 19 and have a 4 month old Great Dane and he is almost 70Ib I started him out in obedience puppy classes and the trainer there recommend to get a harness but he grew out of it so quickly that wasnt able to train much with him but even with the harness he was very difficult to walk because he pulls so hard and he chews on his leash like he wants to walk himself. The proper positioning for a prong collar is right at the top of the neck, where the skull meets the neck muscle as this is the most vulnerable part of your dog, where the prong collar will yield maximum effect for training and consequently the desired result. A good behavior trainer is best in situations like this. Offering him a toy when he attacks me, biting and scratching me, only taught him to attack me in order to get a toy. Recommended just for you: Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Dog for a Walk. 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. Best thing ever and very very safe when used correctly! Started training obedience day 1 (8 weeks of age)he (was) a nervous jrtnot fearless at all. Thanks for your advice and recommend!! 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. At first, yes once you take the collar off, he will pull. Hopefully that has changed. I havent used the collar since. Prong and choke collars are typically placed on dogs with serious pulling issues. I was overjoyed when I was handed the leash and he did so for me as well!! WebE-Collars & prong collars are banned in several countries in Europe. I was having a hard time finding others. I am a 12 year veteran of professional canine training and hands-down a prong collar is absolutely the safest most efficient way to train your fur babies!! We are in 80s and vet says pinch collar will save our lives. No amount of chicken, ham or hotdogs were getting our dogs attention when she reacted. I dont want her to listen to me just because she fears what comes if she doesnt. A prong collar is a device that has metal fang-shaped prongs on it that is worn around a dogs neck. Hes actually spit them out when he hes determined to get to something else. 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. Why would he still be so excited to go on walks if the prong collar was so terrible? 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). Your timid poodle may never need one. Good to read something siilar to mine! And if you follow my guidance with pupdates? But are prong collars cruel? For some dogs it is more than just patience. Its very common for puppies to go through several fear periods throughout the 2-9 months of life. Our 90 pound puppy who gets excited and pulls on walks. I have a 150lbs St Bernard mix, I cant walk her she is stronger then me. Science Shows Positive Reward-Based Dog Training is Best. 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. Sarah, I totally understand your hesitation. This isn't the case in England, where they're legally allowed to be used without restriction. I have a smart medium drive 5 1/2 month old GSD male pup. 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. The dog will be much happier in fact. Immediately Im an abuser, bla bla bla. I personally never used a prong collar before being introduced to it a couple of years ago. I love this link you provided. My wife bought the plastic" command collar" it did have immediate results, but i cannot get past the fact that they are all plastic. 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!) 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. 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. He is only c. 30 lbs., a puggle, but very strong. Please see our, how to train your dog to walk loose leash, How Much are Teacup Puppies? 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 have a reactive dog when out, other dogs, cars and people but an absolute gent when in the home. But your points make sense to me. 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. . A short time later, Mary saw the puppy and guardian re-enter the park, with the puppy wearing an e-collar. Prong collars have been banned in many countries that have announced them as illegal. I have won over a few of my clients here in Monaco & France re. Why do so many people choose to use various devices that make direct contact with a dog's neck and are known to inflict stress, discomfort, and pain, and potentially have long-term negative effects on dogs? Could the use of the collar be creating more fear and anxiety in our already anxious dog? If you use the prong collar correctly and correct your dog BEFORE he takes off for the rabbit, then yes. And in the mean time the poor dog is confined to his home? Sometimes it is NOT the owner, but the dog that needs this collar. A trainer can help with that. He already knew all basic commands, house broken and crate trained. I bought a new prong collar suggested by person at HS site. We tried for 3 weeks to loose leash train w/ the Easy Walk harness employing techniques learned w/ our last dog Jacksons dog coach. 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. 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? He is a happy go lucky great dog. If you decide this is your right path, just make sure that youre going into this as prepared as you can, because you owe it to your dog to do so. It is up to you to do your research and make your own opinion. Hes pretty good on our boring suburb walks with a regular collar, but any new experience he is almost uncontrollable. I bought the collar at Petsmart. Not once. I used to be someone who thought the prong collar was evil and harmful.. until I met a former LEO K-9 trainer who taught ME how to use one, properly, on a GSD. There are other ways to train a puppy to walk nicely on a leash. In fact, there is some evidence that the opposite is true.. 3 months is too young for a prong collar in my opinion. She is passionate about helping puppy parents get things right, right from the start. Will a prong collar help? Of course the length of time it takes for each dog varies. 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? And remove links for smaller necks. I have found your article online about using prong collars.. well, i am at my wits end with my darling Border Collie. I may look into a Herm Sprenger. 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. Thank you for saving a dogs life! I had an English Bulldog and, true to their bullheadedness, when a puppy on our first walks would pull out of his collar and leash and take off. I broke down and bought a prong collar for my girls (18 month old pitbulls) theyre the sweetest dogs but pull like crazy especially when they see a person or another dog they want to play with. 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. A prong collar must be placed around a dog's neck in a specific manner to be safe and helpful for training purposes. They certainly can be if misused. I love a system, and the Ray Allen Manufacturing designed Nomad Interchangeable Harness System really does the trick. This is the worst tool you can use for a reactive dog. Once we took her out I was amazed! They are simply NOT necessary; there are better ways to train! Pulls a lot, lunges after wild rabbits and some other dogs etc. Thank you for sharing your story Darci! I have one dog that doesnt need it anymore, the other (our lab) is a constant puller without it. Our dog seems calmer and more self-controlled and pays more attention than all the treats and tugs and words were able to do. Ill let you know how our first walk goes! Prongs could help so many dogs and the misinformation out there is terrible. With this volume of no-nos its so freaking easy to get wrong that can cause damage to your dog physically, mentally, or just to the bond between you and your dog. But when it came down to either his discomfort or my injuries I agreed to try it. A Twitch star was temporarily banned from the live-streaming platform after zapping herself with a shock collar as part of a bizarre stunt. Just saw the first video about how to put it on -on your website. That would be my goal. If I did not get his behavior under control I would have to re-home my dog, if I could not walk him that would be cruel and if he hurt me or someone by lunging that would be even worse. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. WebE-Collars & prong collars are banned in several countries in Europe. We took our oldest daughters Welsh Pembroke Corgi to a trainer. It minimizes the drag strain of the harness and is an ideal alternative to prong collars. Growing up I had a Doberman who couldnt be walked without it! If you do try the prong collar, make sure its high up on his neck, just below his ears. We rescued a super sweet lab mix from down south a few months ago. 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. How Can I Find a Dog Trainer? He pulls when i walk him half the time. My dogs get excited when they see the prong collars come out, it means they are going for a walk and cant wait to get the collar on! WebThank you for downloading the San Francisco SPCAs Prong Collar Advocacy Kit. What is Positive Punishment in Dog Training? After using it for a while youll notice taking on and off gets easier. My teenage daughter begged me to adopt a pitbull puppy. We have dogs in training classes with prong collars, slip collars, harnesses everything. We rehomed a 8 month old GSD who was full of anxiety and nervousness. 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. But a dogs neck is a very sensitive area. He hates them all except treats, of course, but they have zero effect on his lunging and pulling. Just put it on when you are getting ready to take a walk. Controversial prong dog collars were recently banned by the government of Australias most popular tourist destinations, Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef Many people have never seen a prong or pinch collar properly used in dog training. 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. I know that he understands what I want him to do when I tell him to walk close and he does it on occasion, but is too wired and easily distracted even at three years old to maintain a loose leash. Give it a chance, try it out and see what a difference it can make with your relationship with your dog. Collars are known to be associated with whiplash, fainting, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, crushing of the trachea, partial or complete asphyxiation, crushing or fracture of the bones in the larynx, dislocation of the vertebrae in the neck, bruising of the esophagus, damage to the skin and tissue of the neck, prolapsed eyeballs, and brain damage. I am still hesitant to give a little correction tug. In addition, although positive punishment can be effective, there is no evidence that it is more effective than positive reinforcement-based training. This is why we often need to devote considerable time and attention to training dogs how to walk nicely when on lead. I have physical disabilities and any pulling from my 62 pound Labradoodle will hurt me. Hell jump at people and dogs who walk by because he wants to visit, he thinks everyone is his friend. Research showing that force-free, positive reinforcement-based techniques are better for both human and dog is overwhelming, so much so that there is a growing list of countries that have banned shock collars, for example, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovenia, and some territories in Australia. Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? In these places, it is illegal to sell or use shock collars on dogs. I am certain it will help others that are struggling. 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. Why? I have yet to see one that stops a dog from pulling. Psychology Today, January 25, 2018. Im sorry to hear that you havent found a trainer that will work with you. There are no quick fixes, and training is not a one time and done type of thing. 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. And dogs can be abused even without physical contact, so Im leaving out cases of abuse here). Shock collars have been banned in many states of Australia after considering the damaging effects of these e collars on dogs. Yes. We rescued a 4 month old 50 lb Anatolian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix 5 months ago. Diana, I love your story, thank you so much for sharing! I have exacty the same story! Being rather small in size at 5 he darn near out weighed me so it was nearly impossible for me to stop him. When we adopted our 95 lb lab, he had no leash manners at all. If youre going to miss something, would you rather that your dog misunderstood a reward, or a punishment? Thank you for this resource. 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. 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. Victoria, you and your pup are a perfect example on how the prong collar is such a life-saver! Many dogs will still pull, despite the discomfort, and are at risk of injury to their necks. He lunged once and never did it again. So, out comes my trusty prong collar. Dogs become reactive (largely) through fear or excitement. Anyone else has used it on large dogs? Ive heard that putting a prong collar on an aggressive dog just makes them more aggressive. . Ziv, Gal. It is made up of a metal Summary of eRumor: This warning about the dangers of pronged collars, a tool used for training dogs, appeared on social media. Thanks Karen for sharing your story. Doing this is utterly unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional. In other words, the use of violence in dog training is not correlated with particular dogs or with particular behavior problems. Shadow received an award at the end of the class for Most Improved. Lindsay Lowe, "5 Ways Collars Can Harm Your Dog". Thank you so much for sharing your story! It literally saved his life. Dr. Jennifer Cattet notes, "A study of 424 dogs seen by chiropractors revealed that 91% of them who had neck injuries were pullers or had experienced jerking on the leash by the guardian (Hallgren, 1991).". This essay was written with Boulder (Colorado) force-free certified dog trainer, Mary Angilly, who, in December 2017, started a campaign to ban shock, choke, and prong collars in the city. Choke and Prong collars have been used to discipline dogs, usually larger and more aggressive breeds. Oh! 4 months old is border line too young in my opinion. It means that youre not in control. So many people think the prong collar is terrible, yet the flat collar is okay? We recently attended a three week intensive training program for our 4 year old, 50 lb lab mix. I admit I was not paying full attention to him was conversing with a neighbor. My only complaint is that it is a bit of a bitch to put on and take off. The prong collar is not punishment or pain. Sometimes they dont even know this is happening. This is an awesome example of how great of a tool the prong collar can be under the right training. 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). 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. We just got a new 5 month old Australian shepherd last week. 2, I think it can add a little stress during dog-to-dog interactions, especially if the other dog is aggressive. I am a 56 year old woman with a mild case of MS that affects my balance. As a Chewy affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. Watch videos, learn how to use the collar correctly ( I wish YouTube had been around when I trained my first dog in 1995!) 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. I used it for training and going for walks. We then moved and tried a force free trainer. He was a bully breed mutt and 100 +lbs. 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? Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! I felt like his regular collar was causing him pain because he was pulling against it so much. Prong collars are designed to be on your dog for the duration of training only. They got lucky. WebProng collars arent banned in Australia. I have a feeling you are going to wonder why it took you so long to try the prong collar. if you think wearing a prong collar would hurt, imagine how your dog feels. Youre welcome ! I have a large, leash-reactive male German Shepherd. When presented with alternative methods, many dog guardians are not only readily willing to discontinue the use of force, but relieved to do so. Im not sure you have the experience to recommend this nor have the dogs best interest in mind. He responds instantly better when a prong collar is put on him. As we were completing this essay, Mary told me the following story that horrified me. You dont need a prong collar. And I could say there is enough research that shows a flat collar and head halters cause more damage than a prong collar.