I'm shocked this thread has managed 3 pages without an argument. There's been several prong collar threads and they all have turned into just that...

I personally think that although prong collars look awful, they are better than choke collars. A prong collar has limited tightening, where a choke collar will literally choke the dog in seconds. I've also tried them on myself (my arm) it it was not painful just a discomfort.

I have one (with plastic tips) though I don't use it often. I have a halti too and he absolutely HATES that thing, he's simply miserable walking with that and the prong doesn't phase him. Most times I just walk him with his harness or regular collar, it's mostly when there's a lot of people and dogs around he's harder to control. And yes I have tried many methods to train him to walk nicely, and he is capable of heeling but if there's distractions around he goes into ignore mode. Siberian Husky= selective hearing+stubborness+desire to run and pull

I hate when people leave training collars on the dogs all the time or use them incorrectly. Maybe I am wrong but I thought the prong collar was a self correcting collar......as in they pull, it tightens.....not the owner jerking on it. There's a lady that brings her dog in to be groomed and I HATE how she uses the prong collar, it really is a torture device in this case. He's a big young dog (malamute mix) and very hyper. The last time she came in the prong collar was on so tight it took me at least 15 minutes just to pry it apart to get it off...the collar was all stuck in his fur too. I think she leaves it on all the time like that. She specifically told me that her trainer said that it was on correct (I'd like to smack the trainer!). She also jerks on the leash all the time if he won't sit, etc. and by his reaction you can tell it hurts him...and she really jerks on it too....a prong collar tightening from pulling is one thing, but a hard jerk like that has to hurt!