Other Training Collars See how the water can get murky? The collar LOOKS severe. Some of our favorite dog harnesses to help stop dogs from pulling on their leashes include: Each of the above harnesses are available for purchase on our website and can be ordered in your dog’s particular size. —Jennifer Cattet, " Choke collars, prong collars or flat collars are harmful training tools.") It features adjustable chains that are total 22 inches in length. This is not a correct test, as a prong collar … For more information about the actual pros and cons do a www.google.com search. When dealing with a dog who is a heavy puller, you may need to undergo some leash training with your dog to help him relax during walks so the experience can be more enjoyable for the both of you. Many people have never seen a prong or pinch collar properly used in dog training. In addition to these ordinary precautions our walkers will now wear a new pair of sanitary gloves for each appointment. Dog Citronella Collar – The Pros and Cons. Dog board and training services are generally in-depth and might include a few training sessions in one single day. 0. answered 2015-12-02 22:21:11 -0600. The pros for traditional training are: great reliability, dogs are more respectful and attentive to you when there are rules. In order to help your dog stop pulling on walks, you must first try and understand why he is pulling in the first place. This is why front clip harnesses and Halti harnesses work so well. How Does It Work? Posted by Esther Johnson | Training & Behavior | 0 | Because training is a long process of learning the right techniques to correct, motivate and reward pets, many of the tactics for training have been called into question over the years. Pros and cons of pinch or prong collars. Reminder, not all prong collars are created equal. The collar … However, if your dog is pulling due to being overstimulated, under-exercised, or due to anxiety then you will need to implement additional training into your routine walks. Share. Herm Sprenger brand (this is the exact one I have). With the prong collar, we’ve been able to quickly train him not to pull on our walks. But since prong collars do seem to work and work quickly many owners and trainers continue to use them. Prong Collar Pros And Cons Pros: Can be effective for dogs who pull, inexpensive and convenient. As a reward-based training company here in Pasadena, we at My Dog Spot certainly have our opinions about the use of aversive training equipment, but should prong collars, choke chains and shock collars be banned altogether? Add A Comment . In fact, dogs who are already reactive on walks and who already suffer from leash anxiety were found to become more anxious and agitated upon prolonged exposure to uncomfortable and painful prong and choke collars, with the collars leading to greater stress in dogs and therefore leading to a higher risk for potential aggression and bites on owners. Without getting heavily in to the pros and cons which you will find on other sites, I personally have found a prong collar to be an invaluable tool when walking dogs, a prong will stop any lunging and pulling behavior. Many dogs have a natural instinct to pull against a harness that is putting pressure on their chest or back. The design limits the collar from continuously closing in on the dog’s neck in the way a typical choke collar does to prevent actual choking and the prongs serve to add a knee jerk reaction from the dog to heel as the prongs provide a pinch. For more information on your pet and COVID-19 read our current blog: Your email address will not be published. Personally, I am against using prong collars, choke chains and e-collars. I personally never used a prong collar before being introduced to it a couple of years ago. You may have pure positive trainers tell you there are more humane ways to control your dog. 3 Answers Sort by » oldest newest most voted. They make this determination because the dog is not crying out. This model from super is a little different though. However, this is usually very wrong! Using the above equipment to get your dog to stop pulling on leash will certainly help, but it may not solve the problem entirely. Join us as we take an objective look at the pros and cons of aversive training versus reward based training and discover how prong collars work, why they are still recommended by some trainers, and what science has to say about their overall effectiveness and safety for our four-legged friends. Info. stimulations, vibrations and ‘shock waves’. It is our ongoing policy to wash hands and use sanitizer between each visit. 3. Cons: Safety concerns as above. To view the pros and cons of please visit the respective section of our BarxBuddy Guide to Dog Training. If you’re unsure of which harness would be right for your dog, don’t hesitate to reach out to My Dog Spot’s founder and dog trainer Lily Reiche to get her professional opinion. There are back clip harnesses, which promote pulling (think about sled dogs). These pros have made these dog training collars famous and popular among the users. Well, this is where the controversy arises. Prong collars work by putting pressure on a dog’s throat which can lead to severe injuries of their thyroid glands and trachea. Each type delivers a distinct stimulus to deter unwanted behavior. Many positive reinforcement trainers, animal rights activists, and amateur dog enthusiasts have come together to petition for a ban on using aversive training equipment on dogs, including the use of prong collars. This results in discomfort and sometimes even pain depending on the strength of your dog’s pull. Both shock collars and pinch collars work in the same way as Haltis – they pair the action of pulling with an unpleasant consequence. In full transparency, we do use the prong collar for our dogs. The prong collar is a great training and restraint collar for dogs while walking on a leash. The prong collar training gets a lot of attention from pure positive or force free dog trainers. He pulled his previous owner down their porch steps! The choke collar is placed just behind the dog’s ears and constricts or tightens when the trainer pulls on the leash. It is up to you to do your research and make your own opinion. The harnesses we recommend are all harm-free, reward-based, and backed by positive reinforcement experts who understand the psychology of dogs and why they behave the way they do. According to a study done by the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, aversive training methods using punishment and pain were actually found to harm dogs not only physically, but mentally as well. These breeds will also suffer far more fro breathing problems when using a collar. I have tried a few with our foster dogs, and they never truly work. But I am also aware of how other people view the prong collar. These trainers believe that the prong collar is cruel and should be banned. It’s easy to want to judge a dog owner who places a scary looking device around their dog’s throat especially if you are pro positive reinforcement and don’t believe in aversive training. Why? These collars should only be used for training and should not be used as an everyday type of collar. Shock Collars: Pros and Cons. It can cause problems for fearful or aggressive dogs and again, should be used under supervision. Because prong collars do indeed stop dogs from pulling. This can lead to other serious health problems down the road like hypothyroidism, weight gain, ear infections, hair loss, skin issues and even organ failure. I once had a dog come to a private session because the owner complained the dog yelped when she pulled on the leash and collar. If your dog pulls you when trying to walk him or is leash reactive, I strongly suggest you consider using a prong collar. It is, after all, a better alternative to not walking and exercising the dog at all. As a Chewy affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. Pros and Cons of a Pinch Collar - YouTube. So now let’s ask another important question. If you own a dog that annoys the entire neighborhood with his nuisance barking, than you might already have spent some time searching for that magic solution and eventually come across some web sites featuring dog citronella collar as the most humane and most effective anti bark collar. Safety and cleanliness have always been a top priority at My Dog Spot. In order to work … This allows you to add or remove links to adjust to your dog’s size. Rescue Dogs 101's Natural Remedies Reference Guide. And if you feel you would like more extensive help with your dog, feel free to reach out to us. I’d love to hear about your success stories on using the prong collar. It is unfortunate that some people just aren’t willing to see past that book cover, and see what the prong collar really is… a very humane dog training tool. Now, the cons are that most people can't train with any tool, period, and that ANY adversive tool in such hands - from a verbal "ah-ah" to an e-collar to a squirt bottle - tends to result in a dog that is stressed with no behavioral improvements and none of the learning that you want to take place. Studies have proven that aversive tools like this can cause physical and mental problems in dogs. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society. That said, prong collars have become widely villainized in recent years in spite of their success. For example a dog owner with a strong and anxious dog may feel it is safer for everyone (the dog included) to wear a prong collar on walks as opposed to risk not being able to control the dog and have the dog become aggressive towards another person or pet. The dog quickly learns commands off the leash and away from the trainer’s direct control, which is especially useful for dogs who are unresponsive to voice or sound commands. Generally speaking, prong collars do not fit small, more sensitive dogs. What are the pros and cons of them? Harness Pros Often, it only takes a few shocks to alter and improve a dog's stubborn or unwanted behavior. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. P.S. But is this pain and discomfort caused by the collar humane and safe? The training program we used 20 years ago used a choke collar, so that is what we were used to. It does NOT damage the trachea when properly used. Prong collars, or pinch collars, have prongs or spikes on the inside of the collar. The difference here is that, while a prong collar has an endpoint of pressure, a choke collar can continually tighten the more a dog pulls, which can lead to a potentially unsafe or even deadly situation if the dog becomes stuck or trapped. Recent studies have confirmed that the use of prong collars, choke chains and shock collars are emotionally damaging to our canine counterparts and are not only therefore a danger to them, but also to us. It has been a life-saver. Despite their cruel appearance, prong collars can be effective training tools when used properly. If you own a Pug, Frenchie or similar dog with more protruding eyeballs then due to the increased pressure that a collar can cause when they pull, collars should be avoided as a risk of causing damage to their eyes is an added problem. And ask yourself, is it better for your dog to drag you through your walk, choking himself on his flat collar… or to have a peaceful walk with your dog walking next to you, enjoying the smells and scenery? Try using positive reinforcement and reward based training that focuses on rewarding the behavior you do want from your dog rather than the behavior that you don’t want. This is because a prong collar uses momentary pain to stop unwanted behavior. Is It Safe? Give it a chance, try it out and see what a difference it can make with your relationship with your dog. But the prong collar is a great training tool to communicate with your dog. 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. Other trainers might turn to training tactics based on coercion to get quick results, or even use choke collars, shock collars or prong collars. At My Dog Spot, we recommend using harnesses that help reduce a dog’s instinct to pull and harnesses that promote a healthy relationship and the ability for your dog to learn how you want him to behave on his walks.