the prong collar - painful and unnecessary
I'm surprised the prong collar is still used so often in dog training. On top of the fact the prong collar hurts dogs (with the possibility of seriously hurting them), it is also not as soundly designed as other dog training equipment. The prongs on a prong collar bend over time and they are always at risk of unexpectedly falling off your dog. If you are trying to stop your dog from pulling, jumping, scavenging etc. there are three types of equipment I would recommend and they are:
1. sensation harness - This is my favorite piece of dog training equipment. It doesn't hurt dogs, is amazingly effective and dogs do not seem to mind it. It can be used for a dog who pulls, a dog who jumps and or for a dog who is perfect on the leash, in place of a collar.
2. gentle leader - The gentle leader is one of the most used pieces of equipment for dogs who pull but there are things to be wary of with it. Over use of the gentle leader can lead to both neck and eye problems. The gentle leader is meant for dogs who either bite, lunge and or scavenge but I would try and not use it long term. I would more recommend using the gentle leader as a negotiating tool for teaching a term, like "no bite", "drop it", etc..
3. halti - The halti is very similar to the gentle leader with the difference being the gentle leader is lighter and dogs seem to like it better. What you as an owner might like is that the halti has a clip that attaches to the collar for added safety. But if the gentle leader is sized correctly it shouldn't never come off. The halti is meant for dogs who pull, scavenge, bite and or lunge.
Labels: nyc-dog-trainer-tips, product-service-complaints-reviews
posted by Rotty-Seinfeld at
10:43 AM
3 Comments:
this is animal cruilty in france these are about the only leads they sell in most shops
really? hmm, that's too bad - there are so many good pieces of equipment these days
Please educate yourself.
When used correctly, they neither cause pain nor pose a significant threat of injury to a dog. In fact, they are one of the safest tools you can use with your dog.
Harnesses, for one thing, encourage pulling by placing pressure across the strongest part of the body. The dog is recieving mixed signals - the straps of the harness say "pull" but the uncomfortable sensation he recieves contradicts that. To me, that is much crueler than any prong collar.
Head halter pose a SERIOUS threat of injury to dogs who lunge/pull. They can seriously injure a dog's neck and spine by jerking the dog's head around if the dog hits the end of the lead suddenly. Not to mention the fact that most dogs absolutely hate them, including my own. It absolutely ruined her walks - when we pulled the Gentle Leader into view, she tucked tail down and sat wherever she was, despite our conditioning her with treats and trying to make the halti a positive experience.
On the contrary, she runs eagerly toward the prong for her walks, with no treats involved. Her demeanor is drastically improved. Not only that, but I purchased my prong collar AFTER my dog was trained to heel, so it was not a "training crutch" as many claim. I chose it because it poses no threat to the dogs trachea/soft tissue, and allows for the greatest level of finese between owner and dog while on a leash. It also places even pressure around the dog's neck through small points, which mimics a mother dog's mouth around the neck of a puppy. It is a much more natural way to communicate with a dog, other than pushing him off balabce with a corrective harness, or pulling his head around with a halti.
Not ever collar is for every dog or every handler. The prong collar may not be for you or your dogs, but the fact remains that it is an extremely valid and humane tool for training a dog when used correctly.
And if you really think it hurts, fit it PROPERLY around your upper arm, and give it a pop. I've done this and did not find it painful at all. My dog has much thicker skin on her neck than I do on my arm, too. That and I rarely ever "pop" the prong collar; just a squeeze on the leash will do.
You are sorely uneducated on prong collars and their use, and it's a bit sad.
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