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Prong collar

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Bigeye74 | 15:30 Tue 27th Mar 2007 | Pets
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I have previously stated my opinions on shocking collars (which don't agree with the majority) however....

Is a prong collar an effective product when used correctly?

Please don't answer with comments like "what kind of people would use such a device".

Bigeye
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Maybe if it was used on you.

Lisa.
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Thats the first 'constructive' answer, I reakon i'll get about 9 more like it from muppets. I was under the impression that a normal choke chain caused more damage to the neck.
'when used correctly'

The majority of people DO NOT KNOW how to use these collars correctly.

The following article is useful to read (but you must read it all the way through). This trainer says at the end that the prong collar is not her first choice of collar and that she rarely uses one (when she does it is often fastened in a way that it cannot tighten) and she NEVER puts it high up under the ears of a dog.

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/prong.html

I would not advocate the collars use, as with the shock collar, I feel that only a very small minority of people could use them in a correct way to be effective.

I feel that more harm than good could be caused by using them in the wrong way on the wrong dog.

As the article says, you should not have to use them for any length of time with a dog.

Training, building a bond with and understanding your dog is a far better option.
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Kita, thanks for that answer. I believe that my dog may be a candidate for one. The choke chain has little effect in some situations. Her recall is very good now and I just want to improve her on the lead. I will look at alternative though.
Have you not tried a halti?
i always struggled to walk my Samoyed a she is not good at all on a lead unless my partner walks him, but with a halti, he is no problem?
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The halti is a propasition but i was put off having seen a mate lab do back flips with one on. And I think she'd just end up facing me (can that happen?). The other thing is I like her to be able to defend herself properly if she gets attacked (happened twice, once with an escaped husky and the other I posted about earlier).
Hello,
I have a husky and without the choke chain at first i would have been going through hell. I was shown how to use it properley however and how to get control and how to notb use it against her. I dont actually have to use it now as she has become pretty good on the lead.
Personally i think that it is up to the person and what kind of dog they have etc. Some dogs are clearly more powerfull which need extra control so maybe these are options. I suppose unless you try you will not know.
I tryed a halti with Holly and she kind of jumped walked all the way to the park, i am sure she thought it was a parachute harness.
Hope this helped.
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I haven't been shown how to use the ch.chain apart from keep it high up the neck. Any tips?
I use a check chain (they are only choke chains if used incorrectly) on a Rottie bitch who I would not be able to hold if she decided to pull me. Provided it is put on the correct way round (! ) you would be amazed how many people do not know how to do this, then it will only tighten whilst the dog is pulling, if you teach the dog to walk correcty then it hangs loose. You should only need to 'correct' the dog a few times before they get the message. This is far better than allowing them to constantly pull on an ordinary collar or put their back out by pulling upwards on them in a harness.

Haltis only work whilst they are on, they do not teach the dog not to pull. Most dogs hate them and fight against them, sometimes slipping out of them and they usually ride up and rub their faces. I do agree that they work if used correctly, but as I said, only when they are wearing them.

I have handled many large strong dogs, but would NEVER use a prong collar, as they dig right into the neck/throat of the dog. This does not teach it obedience, it teaches it to be frightened of the person who is on the lead, and can easily injure it.

To use a check chain correctly, drop the chain through one of the rings. Let it form a letter 'P' (as opoosed to a number '9') i.e. with the loop on the right as you look at it.
This 'P' stands for 'putting' it over the dog's head as you face it. Place the loop over the dog's head and if you walk the dog on your left, the chain should run across the top of the neck towards you. If you put it on wrong the chain will come up from the underneath of the dog's neck. The difference is that it will loosen if you have it on correctly, but will remain taught if it is on wrong. Try it on your wrist first!
Sorry ran out of space - have the chain as far up the neck as you can and you should only have a couple of inches of spare chain (just enough to get it over the head), other wise you will be holding chain in your hand rather than lead. Draw the dog in close to you and if it pulls ahead bring it back to your side with a command such as 'heel', or 'close', and as the dog is back by your side the chain will be loose on it. this is usually enough for most dogs to realise what you want. Most people allow their dogs to pull without actually telling them or showing them where they want them to be. Of course it is best if you do not let them pull in the first place, but with a strong dog even a well behaved one can sometimes pull when you are not ready for it.
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lankeela, thanks for the advice, though i have read articles that conflict with what you say about prong collars and the throat.
My dog has a long cone shaped neck and i find that the chain drops down to the thicker muscled part which she could hand off all day when being checked. I might look at getting an adjustable half choke and sitting it quite high, what do you think?
I would recommend a half check (often called a combi collar) in most cases except the really strong dogs. They give just enough 'leverage' to allow the dog to be brought back to heel whilst not allowing the handler to overtighten the collar (provided again it is fitted correctly). They should be fitted so that the chain forms part of the collar and makes a triangle of chain when the slightest pressure is put on it. If it is not fitted right then it will not tighten at all, and you might as well use a flat collar.

I use half checks from everything from the little Heelers to the biggest Shepherds, and as I said before the check chain is only used for the Rottie as I am only a little short *rse and she can take quite a hold. My dogs are shown in them, as well as worked.

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