Should I Use a Prong Collar on My Dog?
When people get a new dog, they know they need a leash and collar. But first-time dog owners never start with a prong collar. This is because the subject of a prong collar only comes up if a behavioral problem develops. Then, a friend or local dog trainer tells them they need a prong. That's when they do a little research and find this article. On the right dog, prong collars are a great training tool. I describe them as putting power steering on your leash. They allow small people to control large dogs. They produce behavior changes at a correct level that is often 90% less effort than what is required on a flat collar. The first impression people have when they see a prong collar is “It looks like some kind of a torture tool.” Like every single dog training tool, they can be abused. But that's not a good enough reason to not use it in your training protocol. A slip collar or even a flat collar can also be abused as well. But when prong collars are used correctly, they can ac...