Do you know what a prong collar for dogs is? Have you thought of buying one? Maybe you already own a prong collar and want to understand how they work.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, read on as we uncover the myths and facts about prong collars, and how they actually work.
If you have never seen a prong collar, and are just seeing one for the first time, you may have a lot of questions so let’s get you some answers!.
What Is a Prong Collar?
So what is a prong collar for dogs, exactly? A prong collar if used correctly is actually a training collar used to communicate with your dog on a walk.
This collar is used for training purposes, commonly used if you have a dog who is a heavy puller on leash.
Prong collars come in a variety of different sizes and are all covered with prongs, which are little bars that sit on your dog’s neck.
The main use of the prong collar should be to create another line of communication between you and your dog. We’ll go more in detail in down below.
Clearing The Myths
Before we go on to how the prong collar actually works, let’s clear up any myths pertaining to the prong collar.
The prong collar for dogs has gotten many misconceptions in recent years due to the fact that they look scary, and being misinformed.
Myth 1: Prong Collars for dogs are Cruel and Inhumane.
The main myth that we always encounter is that prong collars are cruel and inhumane.
Many of these claims come from individuals who look at the prong at face value, and have heard of “horror stories”.
The issue is that at face value, the prong looks scary, especially with many people already giving this tool a negative stigma.
Too many owners who have used this tool, just put the prong collar on their dog and expect the collar to work like magic.
You actually have to teach your dog how to respond and use the collar.
Without the proper knowledge on how to use the collar how can one ensure you benefit from using one?
the lack of knowledge leads to many owners misusing the prong collar in a manner that it was not intended.
Myth 2: Prong collars are not safe
The truth: The prong collars for dogs is one the safest collars you can have on your dog if you know how to properly use the prong collar.
The design of the prong collar was created to be one of the safest training collars compared to other collars.
For instance, when you look at other collars, such as flat collars, slip leads, and choke chains, you actually see that they can cause more harm to your dog than a prong collar can.
The reason for this is if you have a dog who is a heavy puller on a flat collar, you’ll notice that all the pressure is applied directly to your dog’s throat or trachea.
What Makes The prong Safer
The reason the prong collar for dogs is safer than the rest of the collars is
The
As safe as the prong collar is we have to remember all training tools in the wrong hands can be misused and you first have to understand how to use a tool properly to reap its full benefits.
How The Prong Collar Actually Works:
Now that we have uncovered some of the myths regarding prong collar for dogs,
The prong collar can be used to create great communication between you and your dog.
For the purpose of this blog *
– When I refer to “tension”, I am referring to the pulling on the leash.
– When I refer to “pressure”, I am referring to your dog feeling the tightening of the collar.
The way the prong collar works is by tightening around your dog’s neck anytime your dog either pulls or you apply tension on the leash
Pressure is applied to your dog in one of 2 ways:
- Your dog applies pressure to himself by the tension on the leash when he’s pulling.
- Pressure is applied to your dog when you apply tension on the leash.
- If there is no tension being applied to the leash, there is no pressure on your dog’s neck.
Now that we understand the relationship between the tension of the leash and how pressure is applied
Let’s look at sizing and fitting the prong collar.
Prong Collar Sizing and Fit
You want the prong collar to fit nice and snug around your dog’s neck.
You don’t want it too loose where the prong collar slides down to the bottom of your dog’s neck. and you don’t want it too tight where your dog feels pressure.
You want the prong collar to sit high on your dog’s neck preferably behind the ears that way you have more control.
The lower the prong gets on your dog’s neck the more control your dog has and the more power your dog has.
How To Use The Prong Collar
We now know that pressure is applied to your dog only when we apply tension on the leash in a given direction or when your dog pulls.
The first thing we have to teach your dog is how to respond when he feels the collar tightening because it’s probably a new sensation to your dog.
What response are we looking for? What are we trying to teach your dog you to ask?
What we are trying to teach your dog is how to shut off the discomforting pressure your pup feels when you apply tension on the leash, or your dog pulls.
In simple terms what we want to teach your dog is that when your pup feels any tension on the leash, the way responds and shut off the minor discomfort is by walking in the direction your pulling on leash and following your body.
Essentially we want to show your dog that the moment he follows the leash, all the discomfort stops, and all the tension and pressure are released.
If you have a dog that is a heavy puller, your pup has probably made a bad habit of pulling in the opposite direction that you want to go.
This is where teaching your dog to follow you in order to stop the pressure and discomfort comes in.
Guidelines
- The only time you apply any tension on the leash will be when you are trying to communicate with your dog in what direction you want to go. Otherwise, the leash is loose with tension.
- You only want to apply tension on the leash toward the left or right side of your dog, never directly down there spine (remember we are using the collar to communicate in which direction we want your dog to walk in left or right.
- Be consistent and patient
- If your dog is walking while there is tension on the leash, you are teaching your dog to pull, and that is not the goal.
Prong Collars We Use
The prong collars we use are made by Hermsprenger and come in a variety of different collars and sizes the ones we tend to use are the 2.25 mm for dogs as big as 60 lbs if you have a dog bigger than that you may need a bigger one.
Conclusion
The prong collar for dogs is a great tool for communicating with your dog non verbally, be able to provide your dog with direction and have your dog walk politely on leash without pulling.
That’s our ultimate goal, isn’t it?
To be able to communicate with your dog having your pup respond and take direction not only from you but the leash as well.
Remember, to consult with a professional if you still lack the confidence to use the prong on your own!
To awaken your dog’s true potential contact us here or Give us a call!
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