Do you have difficulty controlling your dog on walks? Do they bark, growl, or lunge at other dogs or people when they walk past? Have you thought about using a prong collar for dogs but you’re not sure if it is the right thing to do?
This post will look at what a prong collar is, how it works, and why there is such a divide amongst people on whether a prong collar for dogs is a good idea.
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What Is A Prong Collar For Dogs?
A prong collar for dogs, also known as a pinch collar, is a metal collar made of connecting links with protrusions that rest on your dog’s neck. In some versions of the prong collar, the protrusions are covered with plastic. In others, the prongs are either slightly pointed or they can be blunt.
How Does A Prong Collar For Dogs Work?
When your dog wears the prong collar, you connect your leash to the attached ring. While you are walking your dog, if they pull in any direction, the prong collar will tighten up, causing the prongs to press into your dog’s neck. Since dogs do not like this feeling (who would?), they cease the pulling behavior.
Some prong collars have two connections: an inside ring and an outside ring. The outside ring allows you to use the collar like a traditional collar, while the inside collar activates the tightening of the prong collar.
When Should You Use A Prong Collar For Dogs?
For those who opt to use a prong collar, they should only be used when training your dog.
Prong collars are not meant to be worn all day long or in place of a regular collar. It is meant for training purposes only.
If your dog has difficulty walking calmly on a leash, that is when you would use the prong collar – during walks only.
Why Are People Against Prong Collars?
For those people who are against using prong collars for dogs, they feel it is cruel to the dog.
Using a prong collar causes unnecessary pain to your dog from the prongs pressing into their neck. Not only does it cause pain, but it can also cause choking and neck injuries.
The prongs can also pinch and pull on your dog’s fur, causing more pain and discomfort.
People also tend to pull their dogs back when they act reactively on a leash, leading to more unnecessary pain.
All of this can lead to more aggressive behaviors in your dog due to heightened fear and anxiety.
Those against prong collars feel this is a form of negative reinforcement, as opposed to positive reinforcement. If you were using positive reinforcement when training your dog, they would not only stop the behavior, but they would have their attention drawn and refocused to something else. This would correct the behavior without causing any undue discomfort to your dog.
Using positive reinforcement not only stops the unwanted behavior, but it also allows you to correct it, unlike a prong collar, which just stops the unwanted activity.
Do Prong Collars Calm Dogs?
Prong collars are not known to calm dogs. In fact, prong collars are more likely to cause increased anxiety, fear, and aggression in dogs.
If you were to walk your dog and they pulled or became reactive towards something and you happened to pull them back to you, the collar would press into their neck. Yes, this will make them stop the behavior, however, you pulling on the leash in addition to the normal action of the prong collar can cause them increased pain.
This pain will cause increased fear in your dog, leading to also feeling anxious about when it will happen again. This can also lead to your dog acting more aggressively.
Do Prong Collars Help With Pulling?
According to those who are for using prong collars for dogs, prong collars can help with pulling when it is used properly. It is important not to yank on the leash when your dog pulls. The pressure from the prongs should be enough to stop your dog from exhibiting the behavior.
Do Prong Collars Cause Anxiety?
Prong collars have been known to cause anxiety in dogs due to a heightened sense of fear that your dog may feel when a prong collar is used.
What Is The Best Way To Use A Prong Collar?
If you decide to use a prong collar on your dog there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Measure Your Dog Correctly. When fitting your dog for a prong collar, make sure to measure them first. Measure behind the ears and under the jaw. This is where the collar should be placed. It should not be around your dog’s neck. Add 2 inches to your measurement. Two fingers should fit underneath. You can always add or take away links to adjust the size.
- Never put a prong collar over your dog’s head. You will need to unhook the links, put the collar on your dog, and then reattach them when it’s around their neck. If you put a prong collar over your dog’s head, you risk poking your dog in the eyes and pulling on your dog’s hair.
- The collar should fit snugly. It should not be too loose or it will slide down your dog’s neck, causing it to be in the wrong position.
- Only use it when training or walking. It is not to be worn all day long.
- Pay attention to the shape of the prongs. Look for blunt tips. Sharp tips or plastic covered tips can either be too sharp or pull on your dog’s hair.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Prong Collars?
There are both pluses and minuses to using a prong collar for your dog, depending on which side of the prong collar debate you fall on.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Stops your dog from exhibiting unwanted behaviors.
- Makes your dog easier to control on walks.
Cons:
- Can hurt your dog, especially if it is not used correctly.
- It does not correct your dog’s behavior in a positive way.
- Can cause increased anxiety, fear, and aggression in your dog.
- Using a prong collar does not allow you to offer an alternative to the unwanted behavior.
Best Prong Collar For Dogs
If you are going to get a prong collar for dogs, the most popular brand is Herm Sprenger. There is a large variety of collars available. The prongs are blunt and you can easily add and remove links to adjust the size of the collar to best fit your dog. Authentic Herm Sprenger prong collars are Made in Germany.
Check Price At: Amazon, Chewy, Walmart, Herm Sprenger
What Type Of Dog Collar Should I Use Instead Of A Prong Collar?
If you decide that prong collars aren’t for you, there are other options that are more humane and do not cause any increased pain or discomfort to your dog.
You can try a martingale collar or a head halter such as the gentle leader.
A martingale collar is similar to a prong collar in that it will tighten when your dog pulls, however, it doesn’t have prongs that can press into your dog’s neck. This is a good option to use if your dog tends to back out of their collars, as it does not allow them to do so.
A head halter attaches to the upper portion of your dog’s snout. When your dog tries to pull, they in turn face another direction. This redirection prevents them from pulling.
Using a prong collar for dogs is a decision only you can make. Those for the prong collar feel it does not hurt your dog. Those against the prong collar feel it causes undue harm to your dog, leading to fear and aggressive behavior.
If you opt to use the prong collar, please do so responsibly, fit it properly, and do not yank on your dog’s collar if they pull.
If you feel the prong collar is not for you, a martingale collar or head halter is a good alternative that does not cause any discomfort to your dog and also allows you to correct the problem behavior instead of just stopping it.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.