Prong Collars, Good or Bad?

Let's dive into prong collars.

Purpose

Prong collars are a tool designed to discourage pulling. They are in no way a cure all and although a dog may stop pulling the moment you start using a prong collar it is still just a tool to help train, it is not meant to be the end game.

Just like with any other training tool or technique they can cause mental and physical harm if used improperly. In this post, I will dive into how you can use a prong collar properly and improperly as well as the dangers of using a lower cost prong collar.

Brands and Fit

Almost any pet store you go into likely sells prong collars. Most people won't notice the difference between a poorly made prong and high end one. Lower end prong collars are generally not built with the dogs best interest in mind. For example, the angle of the prong itself is usually pointing directly into their neck and the ends of the prongs are cut at a blunt end which can cause the ends to rub and cut the dogs skin. These poorly made prong collars are what give them a bad rap, and why many people are against them, because they're not buying the correct tool, and unfortunately most people don't know any better. So you might ask what kind of prong is the best to use on my dog then? Well, let's dive into that...

There is a company called Herm Sprenger, who makes their prong collars with unique attributes to protect the dogs skin. Herm Sprenger prong collars have a plate that is placed in the front of the dogs neck, protecting their trachea, rounded ends so there isn't sharp metal against your dogs skin, and perfectly angled prongs so that when you apply pressure, it is applied evenly to the sides of their neck and not to the front or back. Those are just a few reasons why I will always recommend people order a Herm Sprenger prong collar rather than a pet store prong collar. Now, even if someone uses a Herm Sprenger, many people still don't know how it should be placed and what size they need for their dog.

Often times, you will see people with big prong collars positioned very low, and sometimes dangling like a necklace. These are the most common mistakes made by people that truly don't know better. It's a common misconception that the bigger the dog the bigger the prong size when actually the prong size is dependent on the density of your dogs coat type. The average dog actually only needs a 2.25MM prong size but you usually see dogs with 3mm or bigger prongs. Unlike a normal flat collar, prong collars are meant to sit no lower than mid-neck, but preferably all the way at the top of their neck, like a show dog lead. The lower that the prong collar is positioned, the more likely you are to need larger amounts of pressure when your dog starts to pull. This is because they are less likely to feel small amounts of pressure because the bottom of their neck is significantly less sensitive than the top of their neck.

As for how tight it should be fitted, I know it can seem frightening but you do want them fitted pretty snug. They should not be able to slide down, although some dogs coat and skin type may cause problems keeping them up. If you feel that your dogs prong collar can go no tighter yet it is still sliding down I would recommend getting a 2-3" collar and positioning it directly below where you want the prong to go.

Overall, I generally suggest people buy a 2.25mm Herm Sprenger prong collar and position it all the way at the top of their dogs neck. If it is a Herm Sprenger, make sure that the plate is positioned over the dogs trachea. If it is not a Herm Sprenger, just make sure that the piece you attach the leash to(the chain part) is on the back of their neck.

Use

Now that you have the right type of prong collar, let's talk about proper introduction. First, does your dog understand leash pressure? If not, contact a trainer near you about how to teach your dog what leash pressure means. If your dog does understand what leash pressure means then you may be able to do this without needing a trainer.

Put the prong collar on and attach the leash to what is called the live ring, that will be the ring that is attached to a little swivel which is then attached to the chain. Find an area that has minimal to no distractions and take your dog out there. Whenever your dog's leash no longer has any slack, but before your dog is actually pulling on the leash, do what I like to call a "pop" with the leash (or if you ride horses, a half halt). Basically, you are quickly going to pull back on the leash a little, giving them a quick yet effective correction. I suggest starting with pulling back just enough to put a small amount of pressure on the prong collar for a split second, literally, count "1 one thousand". If that didn't work then next time try a bit more pressure. You want to make sure that you aren't constantly putting pressure even if your dog is constantly pulling. Generally, I give the dog only a hand full on "pops" before I will stop and ask them to sit.

If you find that you aren't understanding a part of using a prong collar or what you are doing is not helping at all, please consult a balanced trainer. If you can't find a balanced trainer in your area feel free to reach out to us here at NBK9. We may be able to find a way to give you some guidance remotely!