We have read numerous articles and watched dog training videos. I dont want my dog to fear me or become aggressive towards other people or dogs. Prong Collars | RSPCA 2. Like I said, he is very well behaved, until he is not. Mary writes, "I've seen situations like this more times than I can count at local dog parks and trails. Being rather small in size at 5 he darn near out weighed me so it was nearly impossible for me to stop him. It is up to you to do your research and make your own opinion. 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. 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 certainly would not work if you kept yanking on it all the time. ID tags should not be put on a prong collar, and your dog should not be left in one for long periods of time. Thank you so much for sharing. Chains, Prong Collars, and Other Aversive I have won over a few of my clients here in Monaco & France re. This is why we often need to devote considerable time and attention to training dogs how to walk nicely when on lead. 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. I did not have prong collars on them, but I am confident if I had, it would never had happened. The studies seem to show that choke collars are dangerous but not prong collars. haha. Thinking it looked barbaric and painful, and not wanting to subject my dog to torture, I put it on myself and gave it a tug before I ever used it on him. We have been trying positive reinforcement with him but he goes over threshold quickly if were out on a hike. This isn't the case in England, where they're legally allowed to be used without restriction. A word of caution thoughif you do use one expect criticism from others. Hes my service dog now. You need to correct the behavior at that point. The answer may seem quite obvious, yet every day we choose option A via aversive devices like electric, choke, and prong collars for our companion dogs when successful, force-free alternatives are readily available. 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. My only complaint is that it is a bit of a bitch to put on and take off. She was a once in a lifetime soulmate of a dog. I just want him to be the perfectly trained dog I know hes capable of becoming. Prong Advocacy Kit - SF SPCA But yesterday I had to take my dog, an 8 year old 84lb rottweiler, to the vet. He is amazing on it, but I dont always use it because Im worried about what people might think. What size prong collar should I get? 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.". As soon as the GSD would hear the prong collar, he would sit and wait for it to be put on for his walks and never tugged on me ever again. On walks, sometimes he pulls on leash, other times does not. Hes actually spit them out when he hes determined to get to something else. We took different routes, different scenery with woods walks and hikes vs. in the neighborhood nothing helped. Leashes restrict dogs' ability to have control of their lives and to make choices. Make sure to check back in, cant wait to hear your success story. I tried to walk her and i actually just was dragged. I get it, I thought the prong collar was cruel at first too, but quickly learned its the exact opposite. 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. Whilst the product is clearly quality, and I love that they actually give you most of this information the information is rather buried. Prong He lunged once and never did it again. At first, she thought it was OK, but she had a bad feeling about it. I might regret asking this but can I get opinions please? Anyone else has used it on large dogs? 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). She is passionate about helping puppy parents get things right, right from the start. My daughter took him out today on a prong collar and she said he did good. It in fact dates the police academys training techniques back to the 1990s, along with their computer systems and their approach to the law is that something you really wish to stand with?, The My dog loves his prong, and gets all excited when he sees it is simple classical conditioning, such that your dog recognises that means training or walkies, that doesnt mean that they feel positive about the experience when the prong tightens around their neck., I mean, I can train your dog to see a lemon and think its the best thing in the world it doesnt mean theyll like the taste of lemon.. Legislators cited prong collars violated their Animal Welfare standards by using pain as punishment.. And there are two much better alternatives, halters and walk harnesses https://positively.com/dog-training/methods-equipment/training-equipment/choke-and-prong-collars/. This is the worst tool you can use for a reactive dog. We could tell it was simply because their want to chase after whatever they saw was stronger than their want for treats. You dont use it to punish, you use it to guide. Thanks for sharing this article. This also could be possible. 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. Thank you for telling your story Melanie. He is a rescue who was only 77 lbs when he came to live with me. 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. Once I started using a prong collar on my girl (along with the time commitment of training! The bans on them are sad as so many people jump on the band wagon without fully knowing the full story. A petite woman in her mid-40s walks her 100 pound rottweiler with some difficulty. Thank you for sharing your story Lindsay! Theres a lot of myths and a lack of information because it all comes from a passionate place. I am still hesitant to give a little correction tug. Controversial prong dog collars were recently banned by the government of Australias most popular tourist destinations, Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef Its a tough call. Its helped ensure that MY dog is well controlled and attending to me. Doing this is utterly unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional. Thank you! He is a pretty stubborn dog (my understanding is that the breed tends to be that way). Got a wonderful lab mix last summer; believe he's never been trained or on a leash. Where do we draw the line? 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. The prong collar has always been a life-saver for me and my dog! Do not be afraid to try a prong collar. Inevitably inaccuracies get thrown around and overall? Im over that. Familiarise yourself with canine body language, particularly stress signs. He already knew all basic commands, house broken and crate trained. I bought a Herm Spengler for my 3 year old 100lb. She wore a harness. Now we're loose leash and enjoying our walks and adventures. We look forward to walks now!! HELP: What European Countries Ban Ecollars? : Do the ends really justify the means? I may look into a Herm Sprenger. Will the collar help all that? A smart, quick, and gentle tug as he came at me, playfully, but vigorously and painfully, biting and scratching, caused him to halt and look at my face, asking me what I need from him, wanting to interact and please. We put it on her and it was like she was a different dog I could take her anywhere . Pay no attention to the idiots who prescribe for your dog without knowing either you or it. Even with a prong? Could you post a video or picture of what you are recommending to do? Therefore you are communicating with your dog when using these tools and the dog will understand what type of work it is going to be doing by recognizing the piece of equipment that you fit ie if you fit a tracking harness the dog will know that it is going to be doing tracking work. He is a happy go lucky great dog. I have a year old Great Dane mix. Thats awesome Joe! It has been a life-saver. Although I am thinking I need to do a research project with every type of collar available on the market today! WebHidden Prong Collars. He pulled on his leash and barked aggressively at other dogs and people when using a standard flat collar. And Herm Sprenger agrees. We worked with a balanced trainer to begin with and we saw some improvement but didnt want to use a prong because of their reputation. Still a long way to go but this collar has put us on the right tracks. Those who support a ban on shock collars hope that more countries will follow suit. I went into the city to give him some new experiences besides our boring suburb walks and didnt use the prong collar. Or will we always have to use the prong collar? A prong collar is a device that has metal fang-shaped prongs on it that is worn around a dogs neck. Many trainers advise against these types of collars altogether, in part because the risk of injury to dogs is significant. The Truth About Prong Collars (Is It Safe) - Simply For Dogs Flat collars can cause tracheal damage. Good luck with your future training of your puppy! We put it on in the house about half an hour before taking her for a walk to make sure she was comfortable with it on. Its better than a choke collar but any pulling gets old on a 2 mile rugged walk. I used it as you explained back in 1999, maybe for 3 months and periodically as needed over a years time. I recently entered the world of dog ownership by adopting a rescue. Its been a life-safer for so many dogs! Physical Damage Choke and Prong Collars: Health Concerns Call for Equipment Change in Dog Training 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 know that I could have accomplished this with positive reinforcement but it would have taken me another year and based on his size I did not have the luxury of time. 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. The training program we used 20 years ago used a choke collar, so that is what we were used to. With his prong collar, I barely even have to hold the leash. We sometimes will put a bandana on our dogs to cover the prong collar. Thanks for the information. Im so glad you were able to keep your dog! We just have to apply it. Controversial dog collars to be BANNED in Queensland as they 'use pain as punishment', https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10794119/Queensland-Govt-ban-pronged-dog-collars-state.html, Tagged: #veterinary, #veterinarian, #dvm, #vmd, #veterinarymedicine, #vetmed, #veterinaria, #vettech, #veterinarytechnician, #vetlife, #vettechlife, #vetstudentlife, #vettechproblems, #vettechstudent, #vetschool, #cvt, #lvt, #rvt, #cvpm, #podcast, #veterinarypodcast, #vettechpodcast, #pets, #petparents, #dogs, #cats, #animalpodcast, #petpodcast, #vetstudent, #practicemanagement, Prong Collars Banned in Queensland Australia, Gossip in Veterinary Practice: The Good, Bad, and What to Do About It, Chernobyl Dogs Update with Dr. Jennifer Betz. Psychology Today, January 29, 2019. Its practitioner-correlated.". Like anything Im sure using it wrong or without training can be bad but using it as training tool correctly can be a great benefit and my dog has responded amazing to it., I just started training with the prong collar, I immediately see a difference in my pitt/boxer mix. This collar is used to treat injured dogs. Try keeping him on a leash inside the house for a while. Weve even had comments from people about how well behaved our dog is. Veterinary Q&A: Prong collars are safe fact or fiction? I bought a prong collar for my 12-year-old unfixed rescue dog, pitbull. Shell lunge right onto a road sometimes which is so scary for me. Hi.i have asweet female bullmastiffnamed VODKAPlease guide me when n which sized prong coller fits my VODKA? Again 99.9% of the time he is a joy to walk & im walking him and my other dog which could greatly overpower me. Some people My latest furbaby the half boston/half lab was so smart that all the positive training methods only trained him to misbehave. I just started using one. it seems ugly and embarrassing. He did bite me once but that was clearly situational and hasnt happened again. The RSPCA deems them to be cruel. 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. 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. I finally gave up on my fears, and holy cow I was in control. 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. With some dogs prong collars are a great tool! Thats what they were built for, is to learn. (If youre struggling to teach a loose leash, this is for you. The Your comments are spot on that trainers are obsessively against this collar so fear there will be no where for me to go to get training if I were to purchase. Can a pinch collar be used on short face dogs such as French Bulldogs,Bostons or Pugs? This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. My personal stance? 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! Wish more people would stop and educate themselves to see the value in them! We are switching over to a 1 on 1 trainer very soon hoping it will help with his other problems we are having at home. WebThere are two recommended sizes of prong collars for dogs. No collar will permanently fix a dogs bad behavior. Alot of times, he walks ok, but not great. I just switched him back to a no-pull collar, and its working much better w/ training him to stick around and not pull, especially w/ positive enforcement and treats. Good to read something siilar to mine! Good luck, I wish you all the best. But are prong collars cruel? 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. I truly appreciate your blog for its resources and insights. Thank you for this article. The Prong Collar, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Rescue Dogs 101 She needs her exercise and fresh air and i will never deny her of that because of my own fears. Hopefully that has changed. And yes I do earn a small commission when someone purchases from one of the links on this page, this commission is tiny and doesnt cost you anything. 100% agree if they were hurting the dogs they would be yelping none stop when walking them. We are about to re home our two wire haired dachshunds due to out of control pulling. And if you genuinely feel like thats the case? Russian/West Germany working/showline. Shes a 5 year old Great Pyrenees cross that Ive had the joy of owning for a year now. I want to share a story about a prong collar and how it changed my life. Right now. 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? On our first walk, with a 20 minute session he was heeling, sitting, and responding to down and stay commands like never before. I would also suggest finding a good behaviorist trainer in your area that can help you one on one. My question is if the prong collar would scare him even more, causing more distrust, or if the boundaries of the collar would actually make him feel safer? But your points make sense to me. Just started using one and he is very easy to walk with one hand. So yes, I agree, if used properly no issues, in the grand picture it gave her ultimate freedom in living her best dog life. Anna, if used and fitted properly, the prong collar is going to be a life changer and youll wander why you waited so long to try it! Oftentimes, breed is an excuse Oh, hes a German Shepherd, he needs a prong or hell be out of control well no thats not really true is it? More sophisticated behavior modification and management technology that is without any violence has been widely disseminated. My question is I know it can be good for walks but can it also be used in training my dog to stop jumping and biting? Two, Find a trainer that will work with you and the prong collar. Yes. (See "Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well.") She is a quick learner with all the usual commands and is due to graduate her first round of puppy training classes this Sunday. It is so inspiring, it brought tears to my eyes. Oh! WebDog keeping regulations in Germany 1. Prong Collars: Everything you need to know (2023) - Rebarkable I despise using harnesses because I find they ALWAYS encourage pulling. In addition, although positive punishment can be effective, there is no evidence that it is more effective than positive reinforcement-based training. She jumped up to greet Mary and her owner shocked her for jumping while she was trying to say hello. 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. This is an awesome example of how great of a tool the prong collar can be under the right training. Once your dog proper leash etiquette with the prong collar do you have to use it from here on out? Prong and choke collars are typically placed on dogs with serious pulling issues. She chatted with me about the prong and said we could try it to see if it helped. Im not a fan of harnesses, as they provoke pulling. I found the prong collar to be far more humane than say a shock collar, a flat collar, or even an ill fitted harness. 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 needs to be done with good training. After our trainer introduced us to the prong collar walking with him is a joy. The pain and discomfort of of a prong collar isnt going to beat out the bad behavior. Karen. Look into Ed Frawley with Leerburg-has many articles, videos, and you can ask his wife Cindy questions, she is a trainer too. For instance, our sweet River does so well with other dogs and people at the dog park, but once shes on the leash shes much more reactive. And it absolutely does!!! I have a question about prong collar fit- do the prongs need to go all the way around the neck circumference? My dog has been going through training to be my service dog and I have been researching weather or not its ok to continue using my prong collar with her. (It is really hard to stay positive and calm when your shoulder and arm are being ripped away from your body!) The prong collar would be a way to inform the dogs that they have to pay attention to you when you say rather than when they find convenient. Im not finding anything in the ADA that says anything about these collars ( any collars for that matter). Leashes and collars are tools of control and should be used very carefully, In Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible, Jessica Pierce and I write that while tools of control are often necessary, we should remain alert to the diverse ways in which they can inhibit a dogs freedoms and the ways these devices themselves can be harmful., Research tells us that the use of force via aversive equipment is not only ineffective but can be psychologically and physically damaging. It does not work by causing pain when used properly. We finished the class and we both learned so much from it. I never wanted to try a prong collar because of the negative connotations, especially with a pit bull that people are already afraid of. 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. When we first adopted Bear he had no leash manners at all. Ran into the road? 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. 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. No amount of chicken, ham or hotdogs were getting our dogs attention when she reacted. It is not allowed to permanently keep a dog in a box; only two hours per day at the most. Although it is of course immediately effective, I fear hell go back to jumping, etc when not wearing it. But every dog is different. Is it worth it to subdue and suppress behavior, to use the threat of pain to train a dog? 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. The use of any electrical devices for disciplinary purposes (electrical fence, anti-bark, collars with remote control) is not allowed. Pulls a lot, lunges after wild rabbits and some other dogs etc. Prong collars are still legal in the US, but are highly And thank you for all you do. I spent a year night after night, hours in all weathers, trying thresholds etc to help our dog and while we saw improvement she was still had some reactivity issues. Is to figure out how to communicate with them. The prong is simply a tool as if to tap the dogs shoulder to get her attention. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? It is made up of a metal hi,,, we got a herm sprenger collar yesterday, it was recommended by the owner of the daycare center. I probably am going to get blisters all over my hands, I had to work so hard to keep him from pulling me. They also wondered if this could have long-term "trust issues." Give it a light tug if necessary and the unwanted behavior is over. Our dog is very responsive to positive training with treats, but he is also food aggressive which makes me nervous to use around my son (and he is sometimes so excited about the treats he cant pay attention to training). Reviewed by Jessica Schrader, "Collars are a vital part of dog ownership. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society. We got her at 8 weeks old. 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 . It has been 4 years since I had my last beloved dog. The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs: A Review. Needless to say Shadow and I were able to participate in class and he wasnt the class clown he was in the first class. Forget a regular collar she did nothing but choke herself out the entire walk. Dr. Jean Dodds says choke or prong collars are not recommended as they can easily injure the delicate butterfly-shaped thyroid gland that sits just below the larynx and in front of the trachea. Prong collars are legal to use in the UK, but they are not typically recommended by behaviorists or trainers. Would the place where the lead clips on end up under the neck and, thus, drag on the ground on a long lead? | rebarkable.comPrivacy Policy|Terms and Conditions, This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. 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? This is deliberate! Thank you so much for sharing your story! Many civilized countries have outlawed prong collars, recognizing the harm they can do! You lost me at suggesting a prong collar for a reactive dog! ), All you have to do to unlock that? How to Use a Prong Collar on Dogs: 9 Steps (with Pictures) We rescued a 14 month old, 80 pound, muscular, untrained male doberman and walks with him were impossible. I recommend using a carabiniere for a back up just in case the links come apart. After 5 years we still must put it on him when in public even though we still do training in private with him frequently to get him to behave on a regular collar. It's always good to remember that a dogs neck is delicate and can be injured by violent jerks on a neck collar and even, presumably, by sustained hard pulling. Shock collars have been banned in many states of Australia after considering the damaging effects of these e collars on dogs.