Practical Training
Prong Training Collars
If you are going to use them, get educated on how and use them correctly to provide the most practical ,effective, and successful way to train a dog
If you are going to use them, get educated on how and use them correctly to provide the most practical ,effective, and successful way to train a dog
The goal of this write-up is not to persuade anyone for or against prong training collars but rather debunk the myths and educate the public with truth and photos to show the proper and safest way they should be used.
It is all about SAFETY and proper Training Technique
A Study on Prong Collars was done in Germany:
(Information about above study taken from Anne Marie Silverton’s Seminar , a successful and nationally - known professional dog obedience trainer)
It is all about SAFETY and proper Training Technique
A Study on Prong Collars was done in Germany:
- 100 dogs were in the study. 50 used choke and 50 used prong.
- The dogs were studied for their entire lives. As dogs died, autopsies were performed.
- Of the 50 which had chokes, 48 had injuries to the neck, trachea, or back. 2 of those were determined to be genetic. The other 46 were caused by trauma.
- Of the 50 which had prongs, 2 had injuries in the neck area, 1 was determined to be genetic. 1 was caused by trauma.
(Information about above study taken from Anne Marie Silverton’s Seminar , a successful and nationally - known professional dog obedience trainer)
Prong collars are designed to correct a dog with even pressure all the way around the dog's neck in multiple small points to protect the trachea and other sensitive areas.
Prong collars were created by a veterinarian whose goal was to create a training collar that is safer to use then a choke chain. In 1942, Hans Tossutti wrote his book Companion Dog Training where he advocates for the use of the prong collar when training a dog. He writes the following about prong collars - "a well-thought-out, cruelty-preventing device which at the same time assists in systematic training," but felt that the choke collar, "though quite innocuous in appearance, is an instrument of torture in the hands of the beginner because of its unlimited choke."
Legality – Prong collars are legal in the United States, however, it is illegal in some states to use the prong collar to tether a dog. You should NEVER tether a dog or leave a dog unattended with a prong collar on. Any skilled professional trainer will emphasize to their client's that it is NOT how the collar is to be used.
Busting the Myths and Propaganda About Prong Collars!
1) They look like a "Medieval torture device"
Prong collars do look scary but don’t judge a book by its cover (or in this case, a tool by its appearance). The prongs are completely blunt and if you put one on yourself, you’ll soon discover they are nowhere near as “barbaric” as you may first assume.
2) They only work because they cause pain and fear.
Actually, the reality is quite the opposite – prong collars provide an effective correction without excessive effort or frustration from the handler. The prongs are spaced evenly around the dog’s neck, which means they cause no damage and are more effective than choke chains because they apply small pressure points to the neck, not a constant pressure all around and they do NOT pinch the trachea! This means that it takes far less force or pressure to apply an effective correction than it does with any other corrective training collar.
3) The prongs are sharp and puncture/pierce the dog’s skin
One thing you’ll notice straight away when you handle a prong collar is that the prongs are completely blunt and most definitely do not puncture or pierce the dog’s skin! Some anti-prong collar advocates show pictures of marks around the dog’s neck that look like puncture wounds, this occurs IF a collar is too tight and left on the dog ( never taken off) it could eventually cause irritation. That in turn causes infection, this has caused pressure necrosis and can even happen with flat collars,harnesses, bark collars or check chains that are left on for a long period of time allowing the collar to imbed in the dog’s skin. THAT IS NOT CORRECT USAGE OF THE COLLAR!!
4) People sharpen the prongs!
This is common propaganda often bought up when people are told or shown how blunt the prongs on the collar actually are. I’ve never seen any evidence that people sharpen the prongs, but if they did so, it would be clear abuse and nothing to do with the tool itself, but the person using it as a tool for abuse. Even if it were true, do you think banning prong collars would stop the people that would sharpen them from abusing dogs?
5) The dogs aren’t learning anything and it makes them shut down.
Prongs very commonly used in training for high end sports, such as Schutzhund, IPO, Mondio Ring, KNPV etc. To compete in such sports you need loads of drive, shut down dogs would not even make the start peg. Prongs do not take drive out of a dog or cause them to “shut down” even in dogs being trained as pet companions. There are many pet trainers out there that have great success using the prong on companion dogs with out any dog "shutting down". A dog that shuts down right from the start is most likely submissive to start with and has issues other than the collar. If a dog shuts down during training, it is possibly the "trainer" that isn't being fair to the dog in the first place and this would happen regardless of what training tool is being used.
6) Science proves that dogs learn better with positive reinforcement, tools like prong collars are unnecessary!
Dogs do learn with positive reinforcement, prongs are a tool to help add consequence to already learned but undesirable habits. When a dog would escalate to a high state of arousal, offering food, toys and praise is most times completely ineffective, so it becomes difficult to get them into the learning zone. Prong collars can help the handler control the dog’s level of arousal so the dog can stay in the learning zone and reward their dog when appropriate.
7) There are kinder tools like head collars
We don’t want to focus on comparing prongs to other tools, but as this is a tool that is often recommended as a ‘gentler’ and ‘kinder’ alternative to prong collars, we wanted to address some myths that are commonly put forward about head collars in comparison to prongs. This is a common argument put forward by anti-prong collar advocates, which we always find quite hypocritical.
Head collars are an aversive tool just like any other correctional aid, the plain and simple fact is that if they weren’t aversive they wouldn’t work. Head collars were designed based off the head halters used to lead horses, despite the fact that the placement of nerves and blood vessels in a dog’s face differs hugely from a horse's. The pressure applied to the face of a dog wearing a head collar can be quite painful and stressful to the dog, this is why you often see dogs have an extreme reaction when a head collar is fitted – clawing at their face, rolling on the ground, trying anything to get the head collar off. Head collar advocates will tell you that dogs need to be "desensitized" to the head collar – this can take weeks to achieve if at all. There is no doubt that head collars ARE an aversive tool. Head collars work when the dog pulls forward. The pressure on the face causes strain on the dog’s spine and neck trying to keep its head facing forward and not pulling all add up to pain and stress. Maybe giving you a dog that doesn't pull anymore, not because it was taught not to pull, but because if it does it is caused a constant discomfort and pain. It’s quite ironic, that the people who oppose using a prong collar quite often recommend head collars that cause more pain and constant discomfort.
It’s important to note that we are not interested in banning head collars or any training tool, we think that banning any implement is a slippery slope and does not address the important issues – banning a tool is not the answer, proper education on how they work, why they are used, and when to use them can better help people to better understand and make a fact based, informed decision.
8) Prong collars don’t train or teach dogs anything, and they go back to pulling or displaying bad behavior as soon as you take them off.
First let me say that prong collars don’t teach dogs to do anything, neither does food nor any reward or aversive. The handler / trainer teaches the dog and uses reinforcers to steer the dog away from undesirable traits and toward desirable ones. Even if it was the case that dogs went back to pulling, it wouldn’t be a flaw in the tool but a flaw in the training application.
9) People who use prong collars abuse their dogs
If you replace “prong collar” in the above sentence with “check chain, halter, flat collar, clicker” the same can apply.
People who use prong collars properly do not cause pain to their dogs and most importantly, do not abuse their dogs. Any tool can be use to abuse a dog, including flat collars and leashes! We’ve never seen a prong collar abuse a dog or cause it pain without there being an idiot on the other end of the leash willing and ready to abuse their dog regardless of what collar is on the dog.
Abuse is the user, NOT the training tool!
10) They should only be used as a last resort
The problem with that approach is that you should be using a tool that is most appropriate for the dog and handler rather than going through a variety of tools and methods that don’t work, only for the dog to learn that if he persists, he can win. Every time you apply a different tool or method without success the dog becomes that much more resistant to training. It is by far better to address the problem quickly and correctly, with whatever tool will be the most effective and practical for the dog and handler using it.
11) Prong collars are just to give harder more painful corrections.
They can be used this way for sure, again so can any tool, but they have a greater impact. When working with a client who has an out of control dog and it is deemed in that circumstance that a correction collar is needed, many times a prong is the most practical and effective over any other training device simply because it allows the user to deliver an effective correction with minimal force. The handler ends up being less frustrated that they are no longer struggling with their dog.
12) Prong collars cause harm!
Quite simply, prove it! There is no evidence anywhere to say that they have caused harm when properly used. Hearsay, pictures of complacent people who leave collars on their dogs while tied out indefinitely and rumors of people sharpening prongs isn’t proof. Personal feelings and opinions aren’t proof either.
The propaganda picture (below) of the holes from a prong collar are frequently circulated by "anti-prong" and "100% positive reinforcement" circles, falsely advertising that “all prong collars are dangerous”. Let me be clear – this does not happen in one use, this does NOT happen while training, this doesn’t even happen overnight. This is a dog who was likely tethered with the tight fitting prong collar and left on the dog for weeks to grow into the skin. The same thing can happen with your everyday flat collar (top right) or "Gentle Leader" for dogs similar to the style of a horse head halter, which is what anti-prong people like to use instead. The bottom photo is of the outcome of a harnesses that was embedded. All of these are undoubtedly cruel animal abuse, but it isn't the training tool of a prong that is abusive it is misused. Gentle Leaders can cause just as much if not more damage due to how they are placed.
Prong collars were created by a veterinarian whose goal was to create a training collar that is safer to use then a choke chain. In 1942, Hans Tossutti wrote his book Companion Dog Training where he advocates for the use of the prong collar when training a dog. He writes the following about prong collars - "a well-thought-out, cruelty-preventing device which at the same time assists in systematic training," but felt that the choke collar, "though quite innocuous in appearance, is an instrument of torture in the hands of the beginner because of its unlimited choke."
Legality – Prong collars are legal in the United States, however, it is illegal in some states to use the prong collar to tether a dog. You should NEVER tether a dog or leave a dog unattended with a prong collar on. Any skilled professional trainer will emphasize to their client's that it is NOT how the collar is to be used.
Busting the Myths and Propaganda About Prong Collars!
1) They look like a "Medieval torture device"
Prong collars do look scary but don’t judge a book by its cover (or in this case, a tool by its appearance). The prongs are completely blunt and if you put one on yourself, you’ll soon discover they are nowhere near as “barbaric” as you may first assume.
2) They only work because they cause pain and fear.
Actually, the reality is quite the opposite – prong collars provide an effective correction without excessive effort or frustration from the handler. The prongs are spaced evenly around the dog’s neck, which means they cause no damage and are more effective than choke chains because they apply small pressure points to the neck, not a constant pressure all around and they do NOT pinch the trachea! This means that it takes far less force or pressure to apply an effective correction than it does with any other corrective training collar.
3) The prongs are sharp and puncture/pierce the dog’s skin
One thing you’ll notice straight away when you handle a prong collar is that the prongs are completely blunt and most definitely do not puncture or pierce the dog’s skin! Some anti-prong collar advocates show pictures of marks around the dog’s neck that look like puncture wounds, this occurs IF a collar is too tight and left on the dog ( never taken off) it could eventually cause irritation. That in turn causes infection, this has caused pressure necrosis and can even happen with flat collars,harnesses, bark collars or check chains that are left on for a long period of time allowing the collar to imbed in the dog’s skin. THAT IS NOT CORRECT USAGE OF THE COLLAR!!
4) People sharpen the prongs!
This is common propaganda often bought up when people are told or shown how blunt the prongs on the collar actually are. I’ve never seen any evidence that people sharpen the prongs, but if they did so, it would be clear abuse and nothing to do with the tool itself, but the person using it as a tool for abuse. Even if it were true, do you think banning prong collars would stop the people that would sharpen them from abusing dogs?
5) The dogs aren’t learning anything and it makes them shut down.
Prongs very commonly used in training for high end sports, such as Schutzhund, IPO, Mondio Ring, KNPV etc. To compete in such sports you need loads of drive, shut down dogs would not even make the start peg. Prongs do not take drive out of a dog or cause them to “shut down” even in dogs being trained as pet companions. There are many pet trainers out there that have great success using the prong on companion dogs with out any dog "shutting down". A dog that shuts down right from the start is most likely submissive to start with and has issues other than the collar. If a dog shuts down during training, it is possibly the "trainer" that isn't being fair to the dog in the first place and this would happen regardless of what training tool is being used.
6) Science proves that dogs learn better with positive reinforcement, tools like prong collars are unnecessary!
Dogs do learn with positive reinforcement, prongs are a tool to help add consequence to already learned but undesirable habits. When a dog would escalate to a high state of arousal, offering food, toys and praise is most times completely ineffective, so it becomes difficult to get them into the learning zone. Prong collars can help the handler control the dog’s level of arousal so the dog can stay in the learning zone and reward their dog when appropriate.
7) There are kinder tools like head collars
We don’t want to focus on comparing prongs to other tools, but as this is a tool that is often recommended as a ‘gentler’ and ‘kinder’ alternative to prong collars, we wanted to address some myths that are commonly put forward about head collars in comparison to prongs. This is a common argument put forward by anti-prong collar advocates, which we always find quite hypocritical.
Head collars are an aversive tool just like any other correctional aid, the plain and simple fact is that if they weren’t aversive they wouldn’t work. Head collars were designed based off the head halters used to lead horses, despite the fact that the placement of nerves and blood vessels in a dog’s face differs hugely from a horse's. The pressure applied to the face of a dog wearing a head collar can be quite painful and stressful to the dog, this is why you often see dogs have an extreme reaction when a head collar is fitted – clawing at their face, rolling on the ground, trying anything to get the head collar off. Head collar advocates will tell you that dogs need to be "desensitized" to the head collar – this can take weeks to achieve if at all. There is no doubt that head collars ARE an aversive tool. Head collars work when the dog pulls forward. The pressure on the face causes strain on the dog’s spine and neck trying to keep its head facing forward and not pulling all add up to pain and stress. Maybe giving you a dog that doesn't pull anymore, not because it was taught not to pull, but because if it does it is caused a constant discomfort and pain. It’s quite ironic, that the people who oppose using a prong collar quite often recommend head collars that cause more pain and constant discomfort.
It’s important to note that we are not interested in banning head collars or any training tool, we think that banning any implement is a slippery slope and does not address the important issues – banning a tool is not the answer, proper education on how they work, why they are used, and when to use them can better help people to better understand and make a fact based, informed decision.
8) Prong collars don’t train or teach dogs anything, and they go back to pulling or displaying bad behavior as soon as you take them off.
First let me say that prong collars don’t teach dogs to do anything, neither does food nor any reward or aversive. The handler / trainer teaches the dog and uses reinforcers to steer the dog away from undesirable traits and toward desirable ones. Even if it was the case that dogs went back to pulling, it wouldn’t be a flaw in the tool but a flaw in the training application.
9) People who use prong collars abuse their dogs
If you replace “prong collar” in the above sentence with “check chain, halter, flat collar, clicker” the same can apply.
People who use prong collars properly do not cause pain to their dogs and most importantly, do not abuse their dogs. Any tool can be use to abuse a dog, including flat collars and leashes! We’ve never seen a prong collar abuse a dog or cause it pain without there being an idiot on the other end of the leash willing and ready to abuse their dog regardless of what collar is on the dog.
Abuse is the user, NOT the training tool!
10) They should only be used as a last resort
The problem with that approach is that you should be using a tool that is most appropriate for the dog and handler rather than going through a variety of tools and methods that don’t work, only for the dog to learn that if he persists, he can win. Every time you apply a different tool or method without success the dog becomes that much more resistant to training. It is by far better to address the problem quickly and correctly, with whatever tool will be the most effective and practical for the dog and handler using it.
11) Prong collars are just to give harder more painful corrections.
They can be used this way for sure, again so can any tool, but they have a greater impact. When working with a client who has an out of control dog and it is deemed in that circumstance that a correction collar is needed, many times a prong is the most practical and effective over any other training device simply because it allows the user to deliver an effective correction with minimal force. The handler ends up being less frustrated that they are no longer struggling with their dog.
12) Prong collars cause harm!
Quite simply, prove it! There is no evidence anywhere to say that they have caused harm when properly used. Hearsay, pictures of complacent people who leave collars on their dogs while tied out indefinitely and rumors of people sharpening prongs isn’t proof. Personal feelings and opinions aren’t proof either.
The propaganda picture (below) of the holes from a prong collar are frequently circulated by "anti-prong" and "100% positive reinforcement" circles, falsely advertising that “all prong collars are dangerous”. Let me be clear – this does not happen in one use, this does NOT happen while training, this doesn’t even happen overnight. This is a dog who was likely tethered with the tight fitting prong collar and left on the dog for weeks to grow into the skin. The same thing can happen with your everyday flat collar (top right) or "Gentle Leader" for dogs similar to the style of a horse head halter, which is what anti-prong people like to use instead. The bottom photo is of the outcome of a harnesses that was embedded. All of these are undoubtedly cruel animal abuse, but it isn't the training tool of a prong that is abusive it is misused. Gentle Leaders can cause just as much if not more damage due to how they are placed.
Fitting The Collar – The collar should fit high under the ears at the base of the skull and the highest part of the front of the neck. If the collar is too loose or the links are an incorrect size, this can cause it to be ineffective. Seek PROFESSIONAL assistance by a dog trainer that uses prongs first before putting a prong collar on your dog. There are different size links and regarding what size to use is dependent on your dog. Just because you have a huge mastiff doesn't mean you need excessively HUGE links.
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Seeking a professional trainer that is versed in the correct way of using a prong collar will help you avoid causing problems with your dog. There is a right and wrong way to make corrections and a time to apply them. A collar correction should never last longer than a split second. The correction is a quick snap and release motion of the leash. The leash is never to remain pulling tight on the collar. Timing and technique is a big part of training with a prong collar and it should be taught by a professional.
Some Information above gathered by K9 Pro, the K9 Professionals and Tameesha VanEtten of Valorzen Canine Training
A word from Wolf Pack Dog Training & Animal Care.
Of the well over 3000 dogs I have trained, many if not all have been with prong collars, ( my own dogs included). Not one has ever been injured or traumatized by the method in which I train. All dogs from various ages, sizes, temperaments and breeds have successfully been trained with a prong collar. From my professional and experienced standpoint after using many different training methods, the one I come back to, the most practical and successful way for training, has been with the prong collar and praise for a job well done. If I had to put myself in s category I guess I would be considered a Balanced Trainer. What is a Balanced Trainer? A Balanced Dog Training refers to any approach to dog training or behavior modification which involves the use of both reward ( verbal and physical praise in my method) based techniques, and aversive consequences ( collar corrections). In other words a trainer shows the dog that their choices and behaviors have consequences resulting in either pleasant or unpleasant results. There have been some dogs that in no way within the 2 weeks of training the dogs were scheduled for would any "Purely Positive" or non-aversive based way of training have worked due to the dog’s temperament. There are dogs that just don't have the right temperament to respond to "Purely Positive" methods when the environmental distraction is greater than the "Reward". Those that truly understand the psychology of canines know that they learn quicker from an aversive correction based on how dogs interact with each other and "correct" unwanted behaviors between themselves. Whether it is a mother nipping a mischievous pup in a litter, litter mates biting each other, or another dog with in a group of dogs, they can get quite physical (aversive stimulus). The prong collar correction , in a lighter manner, simulates what dogs are genetically wired to understand in regards to natural behavior modification. Therefore, those that completely disregard the use of a prong or aversive way of training have limited themselves in the dogs that they can successfully train due to the fact that NOT all dogs have the drive or temperament to respond to "purely positive" methods. In their “anti prong” campaigns they anthropomorphize dogs and base much of their disregard of prongs on personal feelings and opinions, instead of facts and understanding dogs don’t perceive things the same as we do. What might seem a harsh way to correct a dog to “pure positive trainers” is nothing to a dog in retrospect to how dogs bite each other during play.
Through my experience I have found that dogs end up more consistent on and off leash with responding to commands the first time they are asked, they aren't only working for a "treat". They are respecting the relationship that is formed during the training with fair corrections of the prong collar. Dogs end up much better behaved all around even when the prong is taken off. Even the most novice of owner ends up being able to correctly handle and enjoy their well trained, happy dog.
Reference link Leerburg on Purely Positive Podcast of Practical training from Leerburg Other educational articles of Practical training Nitro K-9 LLC
Of the well over 3000 dogs I have trained, many if not all have been with prong collars, ( my own dogs included). Not one has ever been injured or traumatized by the method in which I train. All dogs from various ages, sizes, temperaments and breeds have successfully been trained with a prong collar. From my professional and experienced standpoint after using many different training methods, the one I come back to, the most practical and successful way for training, has been with the prong collar and praise for a job well done. If I had to put myself in s category I guess I would be considered a Balanced Trainer. What is a Balanced Trainer? A Balanced Dog Training refers to any approach to dog training or behavior modification which involves the use of both reward ( verbal and physical praise in my method) based techniques, and aversive consequences ( collar corrections). In other words a trainer shows the dog that their choices and behaviors have consequences resulting in either pleasant or unpleasant results. There have been some dogs that in no way within the 2 weeks of training the dogs were scheduled for would any "Purely Positive" or non-aversive based way of training have worked due to the dog’s temperament. There are dogs that just don't have the right temperament to respond to "Purely Positive" methods when the environmental distraction is greater than the "Reward". Those that truly understand the psychology of canines know that they learn quicker from an aversive correction based on how dogs interact with each other and "correct" unwanted behaviors between themselves. Whether it is a mother nipping a mischievous pup in a litter, litter mates biting each other, or another dog with in a group of dogs, they can get quite physical (aversive stimulus). The prong collar correction , in a lighter manner, simulates what dogs are genetically wired to understand in regards to natural behavior modification. Therefore, those that completely disregard the use of a prong or aversive way of training have limited themselves in the dogs that they can successfully train due to the fact that NOT all dogs have the drive or temperament to respond to "purely positive" methods. In their “anti prong” campaigns they anthropomorphize dogs and base much of their disregard of prongs on personal feelings and opinions, instead of facts and understanding dogs don’t perceive things the same as we do. What might seem a harsh way to correct a dog to “pure positive trainers” is nothing to a dog in retrospect to how dogs bite each other during play.
Through my experience I have found that dogs end up more consistent on and off leash with responding to commands the first time they are asked, they aren't only working for a "treat". They are respecting the relationship that is formed during the training with fair corrections of the prong collar. Dogs end up much better behaved all around even when the prong is taken off. Even the most novice of owner ends up being able to correctly handle and enjoy their well trained, happy dog.
Reference link Leerburg on Purely Positive Podcast of Practical training from Leerburg Other educational articles of Practical training Nitro K-9 LLC