Anybody ever use a pronge collar?

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:24 am

I just bought a prong collar for Zoey and was wondering if anybody had any experience with one?

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:29 am

there are two collars that fit that bill. one is usually called a pinch collar, or J.A.S.A. collar. it is leather with small brads on the inside. despite the sound of it, it works really well.

the other is the collar you can buy at Petco or Petsmart that looks a little like a choke chain, but has metal fingers or prongs that grab a dogs neck. that works good also.

either of these is much preferable to the standard choke chain that has been used for years, and which causes damage to the larynx. they require much less "snap" force by the user to get the desired reaction from the dog.

ever seen momma dog bring the kids in line? bite around the neck or the muzzle. not to hurt, just to tell them shape up. that is how these collars work.

easy does it.

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:51 am

I got her the one with the metal spikes on it. Looks pretty mean but I know that it won't hurt her.

I know she is supposed to smell everything in sight (she's a hound) but just taking her on a simple walk is a pain in the butt. Hopefully this will correct the problem.

Post by **kninebirddog** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:55 am

Trick with any training tool is how they are used...after trying many different kinds I have found the command lead with the HUntsmith methods and the e collars to be the easiet to convey not only to the dog i am working with but also helping a new handlers work with their dog
most prong collars people end up with a tendacy of letting the dog brace themselves against it..though the same can haapen with the command lead it is much easier to keep the command lead in the proper position so that bracing against doesn't happen..Once your dog is bracing themselves against the collar you have a dog not listening to you at that point..this is a point of frustration. if you know to identify with this then you can stop and take situations back to where you have control

have fun

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:13 am

knine is correct about that bracing thing. you should maintain a loose lead, and give short snaps or tugs to get the dog to pay attention, to heel, or to back off on the lead. if you let them pull against those collars, they become just like any other collar.

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:31 am

I was going to leave her with about 5' of slack and when she starts to breech it I will snap it back towards her. But these aren't choke collars so I shouldn't be snapping back as hard as I would with one of those, correct?

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:39 am

I like using the Delmar Smith wonder lead (may be the same thing as the Huntsmith command lead) for walks when a dog is pulling on the leash. With the wonder lead, which is basically just a piggin' string, the stiff slip rope slips up to two pressure points behind the dog's ears telling them to "stop pulling."

I've heard similar responses from people using a gentle lead, which seems to be some sort of leash/muzzle combo.

I like the metal pinch collar for teaching commands such as heel and woah. The pinch easily converts over to the nick of the e-collar. As such, I shy away from using it just to go on walks because I don't want it to lose its effect.

Post by **kninebirddog** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:47 pm

yes the lead I was speaking of is the Delmar Smith command lead

Vizsla Vince · Post by **Vizsla Vince** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:35 pm

Ayres wrote:
I like the metal pinch collar for teaching commands such as heel and woah. The pinch easily converts over to the nick of the e-collar. As such, I shy away from using it just to go on walks because I don't want it to lose its effect.

I have found the metal pinch to be very effective with "whoa" and "heel" also. Zoomie has learned very quickly not to pull on this collar. I usually let him pull on his fabric collar a bit though. This is good for strength conditioning, according to Delmar Smith.

llewgor · Post by **llewgor** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:01 pm

Command lead #1 for me.

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:32 am

WOW! What a difference in walking Zoey! At first she tried to work though the prong but quickly learned not to pull away from me. It has made my dog walking experience 100% better!

For the post above I will probably still use her nylon collar 2-3 times per week to let her do some strength training.

djswizz · Post by **djswizz** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:56 am

I also use the metal prong collar. The basics behind this collar are that it simulates a more dominant dog 'biting' the back of the neck, which causes the dog to slow down. Works like a charm.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:16 am

I was going to leave her with about 5' of slack and when she starts to breech it I will snap it back towards her. But these aren't choke collars so I shouldn't be snapping back as hard as I would with one of those, correct?

you don't need five feet of slack, just a little, and little pops. you have probably found that out by now.

you might consider getting a harness for pulling. a little easier on the dog, and nylon harnesses are dirt cheap and last forever

RabbitBeagle · Post by **RabbitBeagle** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 1:03 pm

Yeah I just give her a little tug when she tries to go offroading and pull me around.