Got the Prong Collar

skynetop · Puppy Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

I have never seen a better dog. I have used many things and still have an easy walker harness but this is just crazy.

I have two quick questions that I could not find out with the search:

1) How long do you normally use the prong collar for and when have most of you started to use it? Tomas is around 2.5 years old and only started recently to really pull while being walked, I think partly due to my future wife just letting him do what he wants. He went to training school when he was a puppy and did great.

2) With fitting the collar properly from looking at article from leeburg.com I have taken out 4 links from a "Large" size collar. Its an aspen pet brand purchased at Petco which is 3.2mm x 20". I know they make a 18inch collar but I am not sure of how thick it is. I may call to find out to see if it adds more prongs if its thinner. My dog is 75lbs with a neck size of 16 inches around the base of his neck.

I am wondering how many prongs that would normally be used and if going to a smaller size would help. I have a very snug fit just like these photos:

http://leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm

I dont have issues with it slipping down at all, but I think there is no way I could get another link off and it may move slightly when walking if Tomas shakes around a bit like hes drying off ( hes still getting used to it).

Any help and experience is much appreciated. I am going to train with him in the AM and PM and let you know how long it takes to get him back on track.

weimdawgs · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject:

I love my prong collar. I bet I could walk all four of them at once if they were all wearing one; but I don't think I would ever put one on the Silkster. She walks very nicely on a leash.

PamK · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject:

I use the prong collar all of the time and never thought about not using it when walking.

I take it off if we start to play with other dogs on our walk. It can get stuck to teeth or stuff.

It has 9 big links.

DukesMom · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject:

Another prong collar for my two! I love em! Both my dogs started on one at about 6 months old. I've tried switching Duke to the flat collar and it just doesn't work. I'm hoping to someday get them off of it.....maybe? The thing is with the prong collars they don't even attempt to pull so there's no choking whatsoever - just a nice smooth walk.

skynetop · Puppy Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

I am going to try to get a smaller one, they were out of the 18 inch ones when I went so he can have some more links.

I will see how it goes. He is already 2.5 years old, I hope one day I wont have to use it.

How old are the rest of your dogs?

shouseholder · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:04 am Post subject:

Mischa is a year old and uses a prong. I love it, she is a much better walker. On a flat collar she chokes herself too much. She only wears it when she is walking, not playing or around the house. I am hoping (with fingers crossed) that we can wean her off by the end of the summer. I believe you can buy extra links if you need them, we don't - Mischa isn't that big.

kamfam · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:04 am Post subject:

skynetop · Puppy Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

I got a 20 inch collar and his neck around the base is like 16 inches. I think the 18 inch one maybe thinner which I wouldnt want because this one is the same size as his flat collar.

I have to go near the store again today so I will compare them. Its fitting good but I can not remove anymore links and it does move a little.

I will let you know how I make out.

AmyB · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:11 am Post subject:

Prong collars are great training tools. I used it on my past German Shepherds and my Labs and it worked wonderfully. Holly has only had one on a handful of times though. I trained her mostly using a slip chain or "choke" collar. She only wore it while training. Now she wears her buckle collar almost all of the time. With consistency you shouldn't need to use it long, Holly's 14 months old and stopped using her slip chain at about 8 months old. Occasionally I will put it on her when we walk just as reinforcement. Training is a life long process, you always need to give your dog a little refresher here and there. And really even when you're not "training", you're training.

Sounds like you're off to a good start, you seem like you're well aware about how the collar is supposed to fit. Very Happy

If you are at all concerned you should have a professional trainer assist you in picking out a collar. When used properly these collars are great training tools but when used improperly they can be dangerous. Also I'd go with the smaller one with more links if you can. And they also sell caps to go over the prongs (if you'd like), I put those on Holly's collar because her skin isn't as thick as my Shepherd or Labs and I felt bad. Laughing

She's so sensitive anyways.

kamfam · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

The prong collar should be around the top of the neck/base of head, under ears and jaw. I wouldn't worry as much about the length of the collar, but the thickness of it - you want him to feel the pinch if the prongs begin to close.

Welches · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:16 am Post subject:

skynetop · Puppy Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

Thanks for all of the info.

The smaller collar did not have anymore prongs. I kept the one I have. I removed four prongs and the collar does not move at all when placed right. I do feel its kind of tight, but it looks correct from everthing I have read. If I add one prong back it slides easily down his neck.

I may have a trainer look at it at his old school just to make sure its not too tight. I read that you dont want the collar in a constant "bite" but adding the other prong back allows it to slide down his neck if he shakes it. I can then grab some skin and move it back up right under his ears but I dunno.

Either way he responds well to both settings. I will try to see the trainer next week.

Enjoy the 4th all.

simis · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

How did the session with the trainer go?

My girl took the 15" and we removed 1 link - there are a total of 10 small links on it. We could have gone another link out to have it not move, but her eyes were practically bulging out and no one felt comfortable with it that tight.

All she needed was one quick correction at the store (not even by me - how do you like that?) and she has been wonderful with it on. They told me when you are ready to stop using it as a training aid you can turn it inside out - so the prongs are not going into their neck and they should still behave the same.

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

simis · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: