Mastering Dog Training: Should You Use a Prong Collar

Prong Collar Dog Training

A prong collar, also known as a pinch collar or training collar, is a type of dog training tool that consists of a series of interlocking metal links with prongs on the inside. When used correctly and responsibly, we believe that prong collars can be effective for training certain dogs. Here are a few reasons why we consider them effective. This page contains affiliate links that provide us with a small commission for purchased items at no cost to you. These small commissions allow us to continue helping dogs and dog owners with training and education.

Communication

Prong collars are designed to provide clearer communication between the handler and the dog. The prongs gently press into the dog's neck when pressure is applied, simulating the way a mother dog might correct her puppies. This can help convey commands more effectively, making it easier for the dog to understand what is expected of them. My colleagues and I have discussed a possible theory that the prong collar helps a dog feel controlled and relaxed by reminding them of the leadership their canine mother bestowed upon them while being reared. This is similar to how we feel when we smell our mother's perfume, it provides a nostalgic sense of comfort.

Control

Prong collars can provide better control over dogs that have a tendency to pull or exhibit unruly behavior during walks. The slight pressure from the prong collars action can discourage pulling and encourage the dog to pay attention to their handler's cues. When we have more control as dog owners or trainers, we are able to break unwanted behavioral loops and create better habits. At METAK9 we often say, "a habit made is a habit to break and everything we do or don't do, creates a new habit."

Immediate Feedback

The prong collar offers immediate feedback to the dog when they are exhibiting unwanted behavior. This can help dogs quickly associate their actions with the resulting discomfort, aiding in behavior modification. These powerful tools will help manage a dogs impulsivity and arousal. Dog's often act without thinking which can get them into trouble. By brining down their excitement we can enhance their engagement and help them problem solve more effectively. As trainers we have found that it is much for effective to use a combination of positive reinforcement and gentle corrections to shape a dog's behavior once they have entered the correction phase of training. Learning, distraction, correction, and maintenance are the four phases of training.

Gradual Learning

When used correctly, prong collars should not cause pain or injury to the dog. Instead, they rely on a light pressure to guide the dog's behavior. With proper training techniques, dogs can quickly learn to avoid this sensation as it becomes associated with pulling or lunging, leading to more positive behaviors. While the majority of our training is positive reinforcement, we have found that it is next to impossible for the average person to maintain their dog's training around real world stimuli by only using food and toys. In our opinion this is a safety hazard for both our clients and their dogs. We have found that teaching our clients how to properly utilize professional dog training equipment greatly increases the quality of life for both dogs and their people by providing a greater level of freedom via a greater level of control.

Effective With Proper Technique

Only use Herm Sprenger collars

All dog training tools including leashes, food, and training collars can be used correctly and incorrectly. It is very import to fit a prong collar properly, utilize its action fairly, and only correct in the proper context. All pinch collars should be fitted snug behind the ears, just like a slip lead. The idea is we want to control the muscles around the dog's head and neck, because where ever the head goes, the body will follow. Make sure you find the right size collar for your dog's mass. The thickness of the prong ranges from 2.25mm for small dogs all the way up to 4.0mm for larger breeds. Pulling a prong collar that is not fitted correctly from the wrong angle can scratch your dog's neck. While the edges are rounded smooth and not sharp a loose collar can flip up and put unbalanced pressure on just one side of a couple prongs, creating an edge. Contrary to what many believe, the prong collar, when used correctly, does not hurt a dogs trachea. It is actually much safer than a standard ID collar. A flat or ID collar not only helps teach them to pull through an opposition reflex, but will injure their neck overtime as there is no action to teach them not to pull. A prong collar distributes pressure evenly around the neck thus preventing too much force from being applied to any one area. There is a reason they have been around since the late 1800's. As mentioned before, using a prong fairly is very important. A dog that has just learned their commands and hasn't yet generalized them or practiced them outside of the home should never be corrected. This would not only be cruel, but would likely diminish your dogs motivation to work. If you don't have professional oversight we recommend using them in a more passive manner. That is if your dog lunges, pulls, or tries to leave your space they will self correct at the end of the leash. This will aid in teaching your dog good leash manners without the negative side effects of using this tool incorrectly. If you need to get your dogs attention and they are ignoring your verbal cues, give a very slight pop of the prong collar. Make sure you reward them for looking up to mark the behavior as this will encourage the probability of it happening again.

Avoiding Leash Reactivity

One of our favorite things in life is to help clients with leash reactivity. The only thing worse than owning a reactive dog is the anticipatory anxiety that comes with it. Every step outside with your dog becomes stressful and overtime your dog's world becomes very, very small. Now, there are some dogs that simply don't like to be around those outside of their pack. However, most dogs we encounter with leash reactivity are either under socialized, not provided with enough structure which creates a bodyguard complex, or they were walked with improper training equipment. Using a well fitted slip lead or prong collar helps avoid many behavioral issues. There are a lot of different reasons why they help, but we're just going to nail down a few. When a dog is pulling while wearing a thick ID collar or harness it revs them up and "activates" them through excitement and frustration. There is a reason they are the primary tools used to build up drive in working sled and protection dogs. The more you pull back the harder they pull forward with arousal, now sprinkle in some dogs or people around while out on a walk and you have a recipe for disaster. They then associate this frustration with the stimuli around them and new habits are created that can be quite difficult to break. Even if you change equipment at this point it may not help as they have already committed this behavior to memory. Another reason prong collars help avoid reactivity is they make you a point of focus and keep the dog from the lead position on walks. In just about any formation from humans to animals whomever is in the front takes charge. The prong collar allows you to regain their focus when they get distracted which reminds them of who will keep them safe. If you are out in the world and your dog is surrounded by distractions and things that may make them nervous, carrying around a spiral ham will only get you so far. This is especially true for dogs that are aggressive, fearful, or have suffered trauma. Eating takes vulnerability and a dog that is scared for its life doesn't want snacks, it wants a leader to protect it. Think on how sometimes as humans we feel weird eating around people, this is our survival instinct kicking in to make sure we are not overexposed.

Photo curtesy of https://www.tarheelcanine.com

If you're considering using a prong collar for your dog, it's crucial to seek guidance from a professional dog trainer who is experienced in their use and can teach you how to properly fit and use the collar. Additionally, be sure to prioritize your dog's comfort and well-being, and always monitor their behavior and reactions closely during training sessions. Don't forget there are four stages to training: learning, distraction, correction, and maintenance. Start by using the prong collar passively in conjunction with high value treats. Master training at home and then move on to the parks, malls, and places you will frequent most with your pup. Your goal should be to motivate them to want to think and problem solve in high distraction environments. When they have graduated to this level of training use a prong collar to GENTLY keep them on track and maintain the integrity of their training. Always remember that training should be fun and mentally stimulating. Don't forget to pay them for their work with love, affection, and tasty treats, nobody wants to work for free!

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