Let's Talk About Tools.... (graphic and hard to look at photos today; read at own risk)

                             Alright, who's seen this little baby rolling around the interwebs?
Damage caused by a prong collar.  Known as a "pinch" or "correction" collar in some circles.  In others, they are called "medieval" or "torturous," and they should be banned.  This photograph recently circulated across the net like crazy, prompting people in the UK to demand that Amazon UK stop selling these dangerous collars because of the injury they obviously cause. 

This damage was caused by a cruel, insensitive, un-educated, mean, nasty, HUMAN.  It's like the old "guns don't kill people, People kill people argument, but it holds true.  The prong collar is a Tool.  And just like any tool, it can be misused and lead to painful injury and even death.  Yes, I said Death.  The trouble with the prong, isn't that it causes that kind of thing when used; they wouldn't still be selling them in stores where any idiot can buy them with no instructions what-so-ever if they did. 

The trouble with the prong just happens to be that it is not a tool for all dogs or humans to use.  If you are using it correctly, on the dog who needs it (and we are not talking aggressives---in some cases, you can make that much worse by using a device that is designed to cause discomfort--and we are certainly not talking about dogs with fear issues.....).

The dog in the picture with holes in his neck?  That collar was obviously cinched down waaaaay too tight to begin with, and the dog was allowed to grow into the prongs.  There wasn't any room for his skin and muscles to grow, so the prongs were forced slowly into his body....terrible, right?

 

What about this ?  Should we remove all rope leashes and collars from our online stores and pet stores because the jerk who "owned" this dog tied it to her neck when she was small and allowed it to do this to her?

And can you imagine what this wound looked like before it healed?  This was caused by a chain left to sink its way slowly into this beautiful animals skin; rotting the flesh as it went.  I have intentionally not posted some of the more immediate removal photographs, as they churn even my stomach, and my point is to have you read this entire article. 

Think a body harness causes less pain and damage to your dog????
Not when you leave it to grow into the animal.







Anything can cause the sort of damage we saw in that first photograph of the dog with the prongs in its neck.  The Human, once again, is responsible. 

Now, let's talk about how to properly fit a prong.  Can't just rant about how awful something is, unless you are prepared to offer solutions, right?

Ok, for starters, not the best idea to use one that has a "quick release" snap on it. The little thing on the chain that looks like tweezers in the pictures.

I know those large links can be next to impossible to slip on and off, but those snaps are really only good for actual field work, with actual working dogs.  If you can't to the links, look for a lighter link; yes, even for the big dogs.  Or look for a collar that has a different kind of quick release snap, if your teacher and you feel your dog really does need a heavy collar.   For your every-day issues (and I do so hope you are learning from a good professional if you choose this for your situation) there is too much room for error and escape.  That's right, I said escape.  The quick-release snaps don't take much pressure to release, and if your leash clip, or the dog's body, or your own, presses it when you need that collar the most, and suddenly, the prong is now not attached to your dog...oh, but that's what a Safety Collar is for.

Your Safety Collar is worn with the prong collar.  Its entire function is to keep your dog attached to your leash, should the links on the prong come apart.  And they do come apart.  Over time, the links can become closer together on the prong side, and occasionally, those links can disconnect.  If you are not using a safety backup, you run a risk of having your dog become free and chase down the thing you were trying to prevent him reaching. 

You may use this setup for years and never have a break away, but the chance is there, so please use both.  The collar on the bottom, the black one, is referred to as a "dominant dog" collar; they are different than the simple nylon slip noose (pink) in that they serve yet another function, but we are only talking prongs today.

This is what your setup should look like, if you are properly fit and using the right equipment.  Now you can use just one, regular leash, and clip the leash to both the prong 'mushroom' and the slip collar's ring, but if you can either find a double clipped leash (like the one in the picture) or even a double-ended leash, that would be best.  Notice the positioning?  The prong is high on the neck, below the ears, and is snug, but not tight, so that when you issue a correction, you are not using a lot of force. 

The slip collar is large and loose enough to ride low on the neck.  It is only a backup plan, so when you correct with the prong, the slip actually does absolutely nothing to the dog:  It literally is like a seat-belt in a car; sits there until needed.

And now, what not to do:

Ah yes, my least favorite set-up in the entire universe.  The prong collar-retractable leash combo.  Nothing says "i love and respect you dog" like giving them space to sniff and explore, all while leaning into the prongs on a tool meant to stop the forward pulling motion. 

Granted, it is a light pull, but it is still defeating the very idea of a corrective collar. 

The only thing more sad than this, is when I see it attached to a dog wearing a prong, attached to a Human riding a bicycle.  I mean, really people, that is tragedy waiting to happen...no, wait, giving the prong attached to a retractable, to a CHILD to hold on to the dog with no manners about pulling...That.  That is my least favorite set-up ever.

This collar is clearly too large for this dog.  The links are heavy, the collar can be placed over the head for removal (which I'm sure is what happened when they bought it) and the amount of force needed to get any cessation in pulling behavior is probably way over the top.

                                                                                                     Lovely right?  Who does this?!  Unfortunately, I have run into more then just one Human who is working with a so-called "expert" in whatever breed they have chosen, and that "expert" told them to put a prong collar on their puppy.  Then this "expert" didn't bother to show them any kind of proper correction, and this little creature who is brimming with curiosity, and the attention span of well, of a puppy, keeps accidentally slamming into the end of this collar.  Or this "expert" doesn't bother to show the Human how to hold a leash, so the pup winds up yanked around still in front of the person holding the strap attaching them to each other, yelping or crying every time.  This makes me sick.  This is abuse.  If you see someone doing this, I hope you are brave enough to say something to that poorly informed Human (kindly please) and I hope your doing so helps change their mind about strapping a corrective tool like this to a baby.

Oh this is a good one.  I love (not at all) that the prong is attached to a flat collar.  How many times have you seen a dog escape from the flat regular style collar?  And honestly, if your flat collar is tight enough for your 

 dog not to escape from, it's probably too tight, and you're kind of suffocating him all the time... Not only that, but this set-up makes any kind of correction wrong because the Huge Clip ruins the proper function of the prong.  Also, the prong in this photo is on the wrong side of the dog....Way to go Human, way. to. go.

 

                                                              And finally,
STOP LETTING YOUR PRONG COLLAR WEARING DOG PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS.
Sorry, this one really gets my goat.  I see this far, far too often.  You are setting your dog up for bad behaviors and failure.  I go to dog parks and I see dogs running and wrestling in the field wearing their prong collars....Why?  Nothing like diving into a friend to play in the dirt, only to have the corrective collar dig into your neck:  Was that my friend that bit me?  Should I react aggressively?  Or should I just avoid playing altogether because every time I do, my neck hurts.....  It is just a stupid thing to do.

These things are designed as tools, let's learn to use them properly if we are going to use them at all.  Next time, another Tool will be discussed.