Prong Collar

I would never ever use a prong collar on ANY dog, certainly not a sheltie and not even my headstrong lab. There are so many other methods to try depending on the problem.

My trainer is a big one for head collars. When I first started at her club she suggested I use a halti with Cadbury, which I did, and subsequently we have shifted to just using an ordinary collar. Cadbury was a bad puller, he had me over once, he was very excitable and could get out of hand. Some might have advised a choke chain or prong collar. I would have told them only if I could use it on them first.:wink2:

Without using either of those devices I have a sensible, sane dog who walks well on his lead and who I can control even if he does decide to do kangaroo leaps when he sees his best friend:rolleyes2:

My trainer has taught me how to use my voice for praise and correction and now a simple 'Oi!' will usually stop him from doing something naughty. I love my dog too much to put spikes around his throat even when he was at his worst (and that was pretty bad!)
 
Shelties are the only dogs that I've ever owned so I'm hesitant to criticize the use of prong collars on all dogs. I think in the world of dog training there is probably a place for them, assuming people are trained to use them on their dogs correctly. I think that Petstores should probably sell them in a different way. They should be in a glass case and should only be sold with a manditory 1 hour training session with a proffesional dog trainer, at the very least.

That being said, I think they are WAY to harsh for the average sheltie. I've never considered one for any of my dogs. I haven't had any issues significant enough to require that level of correction. This is just my experience, everyone's dogs are different.

I think if I had another breed that was hard to handle, I'd only look into a prong collar after exhausting all other options.
 
I wouldn't use one on a sheltie, not only because they are sensitive - but also because I would worry about it getting caught in their hair! I feel that owners know their own dogs best though, so I wouldn't be preaching them how to do it - they know how their dog reacts to it and knows if their dog can handle it.

I hate head collars...I think that they make it very difficult to ever transition to a regular collar because they are so different. Many people that use them are stuck using them forever, unless they very consistently work hard to switch back over.

I feel with pulling dogs it is always the goal to get them back to a flat buckle collar.
 
Coming from the horse world, where gadgets are very common, I feel as if a prong collar is a shortcut. The same results can be achieved without one, if you're willing to put in the time and work.
I've had pullers. BAD pullers. Have I used a choke collar? No. I've gone back and trained them NOT to pull.
 
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Oh, I'd be open to using a prong collar on other breeds. A GSD, for example. Though I'm a believer in positive reinforcement training, I do have a couple of choke chains around if I need them. But personally, I'd never use a choke chain or prong on a Sheltie unless the dog proved to actually need it and would not shut down when the prong was used. Most Shelties are too sensitive for those sort of correction collars.
 
I have used prong collars, not on my shelties, on my guide dog puppies. I think they are a great tool for a stubborn dog if used correctly, but of course that goes for all training tools.
I know a lot of people ar positive only, but when you have a young child that is trying to train a sixty pound dobe puppy not to pull, the prong collar can really help with not only the dog but the childs frustraion.
 
JessicaR said:
I have used prong collars, not on my shelties, on my guide dog puppies. I think they are a great tool for a stubborn dog if used correctly, but of course that goes for all training tools.
I know a lot of people ar positive only, but when you have a young child that is trying to train a sixty pound dobe puppy not to pull, the prong collar can really help with not only the dog but the childs frustraion.
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uhm, what would a young child doing training a dog, let alone a Dobe?? :eek2:

I know where you are coming from regarding it as a tool, if correctly used... as I said I worked in protection with a Schutzhund crowd... but now I am personally starting to lean towards the school of thought that KIND of says you can NOT do punitive correction if you are training positive reinforcement.. it doesn't work... you either ONLY reward good behaviour or you use corrections... I am not there yet myself to be honest, since I still use 'uhuh and NO' etc, and been known to also use a regular buckle collar as correction/guide... It's an awesome and interesting debate tho, but of course we all know you get ten dog trainers/handlers and ten different methods for a similar result, lol

All I know that I am open to any train of thought, and I respect all the great advice in here, and take what works for me and my dog :)
 
JessicaR said:
I have used prong collars, not on my shelties, on my guide dog puppies. I think they are a great tool for a stubborn dog if used correctly, but of course that goes for all training tools.
I know a lot of people ar positive only, but when you have a young child that is trying to train a sixty pound dobe puppy not to pull, the prong collar can really help with not only the dog but the childs frustraion.
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Why is a young child walking a 60 lb. Doberman in the first place? Especially if that dog will be a guide dog.
 
For now Smudge has a buckle collar. Among other things he's learning how to walk on a leash. It's amazing how a treat in front of him will make his mile long ears perk up and cause him to follow me. :biggrin2:
 
vicky2 said:
Why is a young child walking a 60 lb. Doberman in the first place? Especially if that dog will be a guide dog.
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because it is his 4-h project that is not only supported by his trainer (who is the 4h advisor), but also Pilot dogs. My son, who is now 14 has raised (he started at 9 years old), with our help of course 5 puppies. 1 poodle, 3 dobermans, and 1 lab. He has done a great job with them. My second son who turned 9 in June is responsible for the training of our newest puppy Max the boxer. It has taught my kids responsibilty, caring for those less fortunate, and the difference in training different breeds.


Not only has my son trained guide dogs he also trains his own sheltie in obedience, conformation, and agility.


We have used different training tools for the dogs. all training equipment we have used was directly approved by Pilot dogs before we used it. We started with the chocker, it didnt have any effect at all, next we went to a halti it worked at first until the dog learned all she had to do was stiffen her neck muscles up and she could pull all she wanted. Finally we went to the prong collar after a few self corrections she no longer pulled. He worked with a trainer one on one and after a few months she was able to walked on just a choker, which is what they wear once they graduate.

I dont know if you have trained a dobe, but they are definitly not shelties!!! They are smart and stubborn they need a leader and will walk all over you if you let them. Which is why when Pilot dogs places them with the blind they will only place them with experienced handlers.
 
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