Before I post my opinion, I'd like to say that I haven't read any responses to this thread. The reason is I don't want anybody to think my response is a personal attack on them if they use these types of aversive training methods.

In the training classes I teach and all of the training classes I assist in, along with all of the techniques we use at the shelter, we firmly believe in positive reinforcement training. Instead of jerking the dog around, we use luring, shaping, and operant conditioning of behaviors. We successfully leash train exuberant dogs using absolutely no negative corrections. It does take slightly longer and may involve a little more effort on your part, but it is totally worth the time and commitment.

Choke chains and prong collars are commonly used incorrectly and can cause major harm to the dog. Also, using such rough training methods can cause some dogs to become aggressive. Also, if used on a fearful dog, it can cause the dog to become even more fearful.

Training should be a positive experience for you and your dog. It is also a bonding experience. I just don't know how you can bond with your dog while yanking its neck around on some mideval looking torture device.

I am a big fan of the Gentle Leader, the Sporn no pull harness, and the SENSE-ation harness. These harnesses - especially the Gentle Leader - do take some getting used to. You can't slap one on a dog and expect to take it for a walk the first time its on. But if fitted correctly and introduced correctly, it is HIGHLY successful.

So in summary, I am 100% against prong collars. I think there is always another, more humane, option to train.