- New Bailey Pictures *6* -

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

He's growing like a weed!!!! What a gorgeous boy!!!!

(Have you ever fitted a prong collar before? A professional trainer I know suggests that the collar should be placed right behind the ears of the dog. Howeve, for the sake of your pup, you shouldn't start him on a prong collar until the professional trainer tells you to. Many trainers now suggest that a dog should start out on a flat buckle, and use training collars as next/last resorts )

I was using a flat buckle collar for quite a while. Can you explain why I should'nt use a prong collar? I have never read/heard about not using these collars on puppies and would love to know why it isn't recommended.

Thanks!

[Giselle]

Many trainers just don't see much benefit in using prong collars before they assess the individual needs of the dog. They prefer to start from the basics up: flat buckle and a nylon leash and TONS of treats/praise. Puppies are blank slates, and, as such, you should rely more on your communication and bond with the dog rather than through the "crutch" of training equipment. IMO (my opinion, folks ), one shouldn't use these training collars unless the behavior is so ingrained into the dog that it simply cannot be fixed without the use of such tools.

The main reason the professional trainer I know doesn't like to use prongs is because she sees people abusing them all too often. The most common mistakes include the improper fitting and usage of prongs (i.e. prongs with retractible leashes - AHH HUGE NO-NO!!!). This is the same reason she doesn't like to suggest head collars or Halti's or choke collars without assessing the pup's needs first. Since Bailey is such a new pup, he really could excell with the use of a flat buckle, a leash, praise, and treats.

Another member on another forum was advised by her trainer to immediately use a prong collar on her puppy. She was uncertain about the effectiveness of the prong and asked us if it was appropriate to use a prong on the puppy when she didn't "need" to. Here are a few responses:

This is something I forgot to mention. I always recommend people use only what they need. If a dog does just fine on a flat buckle, use it. Only use the tools necessary. Slapping 3 collars on a dog automatically (fur saver, pinch, E Collar-- in reference to SchH peeps) is not the way to go.

- An AmBulldog owner who trains for Schutzhund

I am surprised that any trainer would recomend a training collar on a puppy. Puppies should only wear a buckle collar because they are still teething and their lymph nodes can be swollen from this, using any type of training collar can just hurt them... I have read and was also told never to put a training collar on a puppy till they were fully done teething...

I see nothing wrong with using a prong as long as it is used right. I was recommended to use one on Junior (yup a boston terrier) but not until we tried all other training type collars...

- A Boston Terrier owner

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

Thanks Giselle, now I understand. He does great on his prong collar right now, but I will see how he does on the buckle collar. I know how to properly use a prong and never jerk/snap the leash. The only time he gets a pinch is if he pulls. I don't use it in any of our other training sessions, just for walking. I just have to be extremely careful with my body right now, I will explain later .

Many trainers just don't see much benefit in using prong collars before they assess the individual needs of the dog. They prefer to start from the basics up: flat buckle and a nylon leash and TONS of treats/praise. Puppies are blank slates, and, as such, you should rely more on your communication and bond with the dog rather than through the "crutch" of training equipment. IMO (my opinion, folks ), one shouldn't use these training collars unless the behavior is so ingrained into the dog that it simply cannot be fixed without the use of such tools.

The main reason the professional trainer I know doesn't like to use prongs is because she sees people abusing them all too often. The most common mistakes include the improper fitting and usage of prongs (i.e. prongs with retractible leashes - AHH HUGE NO-NO!!!). This is the same reason she doesn't like to suggest head collars or Halti's or choke collars without assessing the pup's needs first. Since Bailey is such a new pup, he really could excell with the use of a flat buckle, a leash, praise, and treats.

Another member on another forum was advised by her trainer to immediately use a prong collar on her puppy. She was uncertain about the effectiveness of the prong and asked us if it was appropriate to use a prong on the puppy when she didn't "need" to. Here are a few responses:

- An AmBulldog owner who trains for Schutzhund


- A Boston Terrier owner