Prong Collar

[MyBoyLogan]

prong Collar - VERY confused

I read the article about different collars and I noticed that the prong collar said not to use on puppies. How old should they be or how much should they weigh before you use one? Thanks

 

[courtney323]

I believe this issue is banned from being discussed here at Boxerworld?

I also believe that Boxerworld only promotes positive reinforcement methods, and prong collars are considered cruel.

I'm sure someone else can give you more info.

Good luck

 

[MyBoyLogan]

I thought that too, and was avoiding using one. However, I just went to an article written in here and it was listed on there. http://www.boxerworld.com/training/collars
That is why I was so confused. I didnt think they were deemed appropriate to use or discussed, but then wasnt sure when I saw it listed in the article. Im very confused now. I was under the impression they were ok because they were discussed in the article. I dont know much about them. Any help here would be great!!

 

[gmacleod]

Well, I would not recommend that you use one at all. There is nothing that a prong collar, or any other corrective device, can do that can't be accomplished with good consistent training and the use of a standard flat buckle collar.

Just to clarify the rules here:

Topics inappropriate on this site include:
__discussion of deliberate use of devices or practices that cause or have the potential to cause physical trauma to a dog. Boxerworld does recognise that people do have genuine questions regarding training tools (prong collars, mousetraps etc) and methods, but we support and promote wholeheartedly positive training and behavior management, that is, teaching the dog what to do by using positive methods, not teaching a dog what not to do by causing it discomfort and pain. Any threads which appear to promote "negative" training and methods will be closed.

Yes, the existance of such collars is shown in that article, but that is for illustrative purposes (no point in pretending they don't exist) - it does not imply endorsement. In short, if you want to ask questions about why coercive devices shouldn't be used, or about better training methods, then you're welcome to do so. However, prong collars are certainly a device that works by causing discomfort and pain to the dog. As such, their use cannot be promoted on this site.

Here's a similar thread that you may find answers your questions: http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64158

 

[MyBoyLogan]

Apology

Thank you very much. I was just asking people how to contact one of the moderators. I am just asking about them, I train my little boy to walk by using treats and positive reinforcement as used in his puppy training class, which stricly forbid negative reinforcement. I did not intend to discuss any inappropriate topics or offend anyone. I apologize if I have done so. I really enjoy this website and it has helped me in so many ways to grow and happy and healthy pup. I apologize again. Thank you

 

[copper]

Sollution maybe

Just wanted to say that Copper is six months old and had quite the pulling problem. I bought a Halti collar and it has worked wonders. You should look into it. He hated it for the first couple of times but now he acts like it's not even on. I tied a knot in the back so it would fit copper and as he has grown I have adjusted it while keeping the knot in. It's a great device. Now when I put Copper on his regular flat collar he doesn't pull at all. Hope this helps.

 

[beaner]

Harness?

Our Java as a pupy had a "pulling problem". No matter what kind of collar we used it seemed she just always pulled as hard as she could on it.

Then I tried a harness instead of a collar for walking her. Being a pup, she couldn't pull on it because the harness, being attached between the shoulder blades, would lift her if she pulled and prevented her from having any grip.

She's now almost a year old and I can go for a walk with her and there's even almost always a loop of slack in the leash. She doesn't get strangled, she doesn't get any discomfort and she doesn't pull. It really worked well for us.

Just my opinion...

 

[sherri0121]

Not that I used one with any of my babies. When I had taken Sophie last year for training classes at my local kennel club they allowed the prong collars, but choke collars were definately not allowed. I just thought that strange, I actually thought prongs were worse than chokes. Weird.

 

[gmacleod]

And I'll just add to that that neither the choke collar nor the prong collar actually require abusive force to be applied by the handler for physical trauma to the dog to occur. A dog that pulls whilst wearing one (and a great many do) will experience the same degree of trauma and pain it would if it were the owner doing the pulling. And what do you think happens when a Rover spots a bunny and surges after it? Same physical effect as if the handler had given a violent tug on the collar. Tracheal and spinal trauma.

Sure, the same applies if Rover spotted his bunny whilst wearing a flat buckle collar (and that's actually a strong argument for using a harness or head collar instead) but since a flat collar doesn't tighten and isn't a thin chain, the force is spread out over a greater area and has far less potential to do damage.

More to the point, there is absolutely no need to use either device. With patience and good consistent training, anything that can be achieved with the use of coercive devices can be equally achieved without them. I would suggest that you find yourself a trainer and/or class that teaches you how to train your dog without relying on such devices as a crutch to enable you to control the dog.

We at Boxerworld choose to use and promote positive training methods only - and that does not include the use of "corrections" (better known as physical punishment) or devices like choke or prong collars designed to deliver such corrections.

 

[Roll tide]

Thanks for all the great info...