Can you tell us about the "prong" Collar ?

[eSPO]

I think that the prong is one of the most effective tools when used properly, and one of the most understood. Can you tell us about th proper use of a prong ? what are the most common mistakes ? What age is the right age to start ? is it harmful to have on at all times when in publuc ?
why is it so effective ?

[ButchCappel]

test

[ButchCappel]

Sorry for the test message.
Now to the question. I agree the "prong" or "pinch" collar is an excellent tool. Like all tools it has the potential for inefficiency or misuse. It also has the potential to straighten out a lot of training issues quickly and efficiently.

Proper use is simple, as it gets immedieate attention. Since timeing is everything in a correction, or reward, this allows you to get attention instantly, that timing is essential. The immediate attention of a quick, sharp, correction is the way to use a prong.

Most common mistake? Improper fitting, the collar should fit snugly. If it is loose it can roll instead of "pinch" that lessens the corrrection and can also cause skin damage when the prongs slip up the dogs neck. Fit it snug and high.

Right age to start? I try to avoid generalizations. I like to keep my compulsion to a minimum as long as possible. So rather than say an age, I would say use it when more than 2 corrections with any other "milder" tool are not effective.

If you are not getting quick attention and rapid compliance then you are not training you are debating, it is not wise for either party, to have the dog win the debate. Go to a more effective tool and stop debating. Some dogs may melt into precision at 3 yrs with a velvet collar and whip cream corrrections. Others at 5 months, and an attention span as long as a Bulldogs nose, might never train any other way but with a "prong". Read your dog and treat individually.

Is it harmful to have on at all times in public? Not unless you are heeling past the headquarters of your local PETA office.

It is more likely to be harmful if left on withOUT supervision. But it is still a tool and the biggest complaint I have heard is "my dog is perfect while it is on, but without the prong he wont listen". They will all get equipment wise. My dog at any public place, or any demo, is expected to walk through crowds of kids, dogs, or dinosaurs with NO collar at all. That is my goal in any training.

Butch can you give your opinon on the shock collars? What or the do's and don'ts?

[ButchCappel]

Shock collar, prong collar, fur saver, they are all tools used to communicate a desired action (or lack of action) to our dogs.

I would say the same do's and dont's apply to all collars, clickers, etc.
Time the correction/reward properly, don't let the dog become equipment wise, and work toward "training" not "restraining", by that I mean your goals should be working without any equipment needed to get compliance from the dog.

Since you did ask about the e-collar specifically I will say one thing that may surprise many. I have found the E-collar to be a very effective tool for elderly people that may have trouble with a proper physical correction for their dogs. It is simple and accurate to dial up a proper correction and the timing is a simple touch of a button after that.

The E-collars popularity means that a few people are bound to misuse it,
but forums like this one are another "tool" that can be used to corrrect those problems that may occur

[eSPO]

I will add that these tools are excellent ways to achieve a result, but dynamite is a good tool as well, Shock Collars and Prongs can lead to very poopr results when used by people who do not know technique. Timing is everything. You will only confuse the dog more and create problems for yourself by using them without a complete undersstanding of them.