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Post by ShariMurphy on Aug 28, 2014 21:31:51 GMT -5
Over the last few years, I've been asked many questions about shock collars, prong (pinch) collars, and choke collars. They ask me about these devices because someone has told them how they are a “miracle fix”. It must stop bad behaviors on the spot. Truth is, it doesn't help stop bad behaviors or pulling on the leash because they are never used properly! It creates aggression, anxiety and breaks the trust your dog has for you. Why do these tools create problems instead of fixing them? It's because most people use them incorrectly. If your dog can't trust that you are going to keep them safe, how can you have any kind of relationship with them? How can they respect you if all they know is pain from you? It's a viscous cycle for both of you. For the price you would pay for a shock (electric training collar), you could enroll yourself and your dog in a group class with a respectable trainer. My group classes cost $40 less than the least expensive shock collar that large pet store chains sell. So what's the better investment? It seems obviously clear to me but I'm the type of person who can commit, whole-hardheartedly, to my dogs and myself. Most humans decide to give up than to keep going when they think they've hit a brick wall. I'm not saying that no one should use these devices as I've issued them to students and clients before. The difference is, it's a per-dog/per-owner basis. I have to feel comfortable with the client or student enough to trust that they are going to use it carefully, exactly as I have instructed and trained them to do.
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Post by icewhisker on Aug 29, 2014 22:52:13 GMT -5
I have used a prong collar wrong with my own dog way back in his earlier years. He had trouble walking on a leash and my mom and I were just looking for a "quick fix". We thought the prong collar would do just that. And it worked, at first. But Bruiser became desensitized to the feeling around his neck, and eventually associated the pain or uncomfortable feeling of the prong collar on walks with other people and dogs coming towards us. He was stressed and lashed out. I only learned what we did wrong later when I met Shari. Instead of yanking my dog around with the prong to teach him to walk properly, I should of looked for help from a trainer. Prong collars are used for correctional purposes only accompanied by rewards for good behavior performed from the dog. It doesn't have to be stressful and all negative. They are not to be used for "strangling" a dog nor to yank around your dog like a rag doll. There are many other ways to correct your dog without using the prong collar. Gently stepping on a leash or walking them to a quiet room for a "time-out" from the pack for 30 seconds are other ways to do that. It's not cruel. It's the same as putting a human child in time-out for 5 minutes when they have acted out and crossed the line. They get time to settle down and try again after. Dogs are pack animals and removing them from people and other dogs could be just the trick to help them understand and think about what behavior got them there. Through supervision and guidance from Shari, I learned how to use the prong collar correctly as a training tool. It gave me a new view point that I am stating now. If you feel that your dog is way beyond the point where simple "time-outs" are not working and you are considering to use a prong collar, please consult a professional.
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Post by tuliprox on Mar 4, 2018 23:21:11 GMT -5
If you are shown how to properly fit a prong collar and how to properly use it, these cause way less damage to a dog's neck than a flat collar. They are a great training tool. People just need to know how to use them correctly.
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not sure how upload pictures. but all and all I'm loving what my blu is learning in his obedience 1 class.