02-23-2012 at 7:35 PM

Uhh that dog sounds like it really needs a muzzle before someone gets mauled. If it lunges at the wrong person it could end up in your dog getting The Needle.

02-23-2012 at 4:24 PM

Al uses a choker collar on her 80 pound dog. However, it is not used for fun. I use it on her because she is very human and animal aggressive. Often on walks, if a person walks by, she goes nuts and literally lunges at people and aims for their face. I have had my dog bite a few friends before in the face. As for dogs, I have had a few cases where a owner, completely ignoring my dog's aggressive stance, will bring their dog over and try and get them to play. It looks harmless at first, they start sniffing each other. But one sudden movement and my dog lunges and we have to separate them before injuries happen.<br /> <br /> I got the choke collar for her because A. She broke a material collar and B. The snap collar also broke. I read that choke collars can benefit with training, and I didn't want to use a harness. I had a bad experience with my cocker spaniel and her harness and I was afraid to use it on any other dog. As of right now, the choker has done miracles. She lunges, she feels the tightness on her throat and she stops. And she's calm for pretty much the rest of the walk. Does it hurt her? No. She doesn't yelp, scream, howl, etc. and there aren't any marks leftover.<br /> <br /> We don't use the collar on her when she goes for a stroll in the backyard or just across the field, only when we go on lengthy walks and we know there are going to be people/other dogs around. She also does not wear it around the house. Oddly enough, it gets to the point now where, when she sees the collar, she knows it is walk time.<br /> <br /> She also has a chain leash to go hand in hand with the collar, and she likes to strut around in it. She prefers it over her material leash. So, I don't think that they are necessarilly bad, it just depends on how the owner uses them. Using a choke collar to choke the dog for no apparant reason is of course a bad thing, but in my case, I don't think so.<br /> <br />

02-23-2012 at 1:40 PM

I don't use choke or prong collars to walk my dogs. They are walked on their usual collars. Liam wore a choke chain because he worked out how to unbuckle his normal collar so it was used as a back up, until he snapped it(for 100 pound dog) like nothing.

02-17-2012 at 10:39 AM

Amanda, any collar can choke a dog if the dog pulls hard enough.

02-16-2012 at 5:38 PM

I own an Irish Wolfhound and two GSD\Rottie mixes. They are BIG dogs and the two GSD\Rotties need prong collars because they are so strong and the female can get aggressive when other dogs get to close. The Wolfhound only needs a thicker chain but he is also a big lazy teddy bear. The ONLY reason he needs a chain is because he is so strong when he wants something. I think that if used correctly on a dog that needs it choke chains and prong collars are just like any other training equipment.

02-14-2012 at 2:35 AM

I don't like Choke Collars,Because for one reason they do choke your dog!<br /> I would not recomend a choke collar to a first tie owner.<br /> If the Choke collar is not put on correct it can cause damge to the dog.

02-8-2012 at 9:02 AM

Prong/pinch collars should only sit <b>at the top of the neck</b>. They should not slide, they should not be too tight so that it causes discomfort in the dog.<br /> On your standard prong collar there are hooks on each link that stick into the loops of the next link. Squeeze those hooks and pull the links apart. Put it around your dog's neck so that it sits all the way up at the top of the neck and doesn't slide down. If it's too tight, add a link, if it's too loose, remove a link. Do not slide it over the dog's head, doing so can cause injury to the dog's eyes if it gets excited and will likely not sit correctly.<br /> Next, there are two loops on the prong collar you can attach your leash to, there is the "dead ring" which is the circular ring closest to the dog's neck and the "live ring" which usually has a swivel loop. The "dead ring" is to be used on dogs that do not need much correction during walks and the "live ring" to be used on dogs who do not respond well to the dead ring. The live ring acts like a mix between a martingale and a prong and causes a much stronger correction/signal when the dog pulls.<br /> If you walk your dog with your right hand, keep him on your right side with the collar loop on his left side. If you walk with your left hand, keep him on your left side with the collar loop on his right side.<br /> Prong collars are not to be jerked or pulled when walking a dog. If your dog pulls even while he's being corrected, try switching to the live ring. There should be no need to jerk the leash or pull the dog back.<br /> Your dog probably acts like a banshee on walks because he gets walked only every other week [dogs should get at least a 1hr walk per day]. I suggest walking him more often.<br /> <br /> https://leerburg.com/Photos/prong-3-2.gif<br /> https://leerburg.com/Photos/prong-2.gif<br /> https://leerburg.com/Photos/prong-5.gif<br /> https://leerburg.com/Photos/prong---live-3.gif<br /> https://leerburg.com/Photos/prong-dead-ring.gif<br /> <br /> & to anybody here thinking that because a prong collar looks "medieval" or "cruel" that it hurts the dog.. no, they don't hurt. I have the largest prong collar size you can buy and I've put it on. It doesn't hurt, stab, scrape or cause any pain. At most, it's a dull squeeze and remember that dogs have thick, loose skin on their necks.

02-8-2012 at 8:26 AM

"It's a bit scary to try and put over his head, "<br /> <br /> I'm assuming that means your sliding it over his head like one would do if it were a choke chain? You shouldn't be putting it over his head in the first place.A link should be unattached, the collar should be put around his neck, then reattatched. Putting it over your dogs head would also mean there is probably too much slack on the collar, it should be snug high up on the dogs neck.

02-8-2012 at 8:06 AM

I, as someone who will sometimes bring my Boxer dog on a walk, use a prong collar. It's a bit scary to try and put over his head, but he closes his eyes and flattens his ears against his head as if he understands that I need to put it on.<br /> <br /> The prong collar is.. alright. It doesn't seem very efficient enough to stop his tugging, but it does stop most of his hard tugging. Now when he tries to pull, it's no longer hard for me to pull him back.<br /> <br /> Honestly, the prong collar hasn't giving him any health troubles, from what I've seen, but maybe that's because I only take him on walks every other week.

02-7-2012 at 10:29 PM

I'm speaking from personal experience.<br /> <br /> When I was a young, inexperienced dog owner, I used a choke chain on my old dalmatian. This was a 'family' dog and got zero training as a puppy. We got this dog when I was five, I grew up with him. When I was old enough, and strong enough, to walk him we always used a choke chain. <br /> By the time that dog was 12 years he had serious damage to his throat and would dry cough constantly. From that I looked into the effects choke chains can have, I learned how harmful choke chains can be in the long run, I won't be touching one again.<br /> <br /> Now then. My boy Draco was walked on a uhm, I don't know what they're called exactly, but the 'harness' that has a clip in the front, over the dogs chest. It worked well enough when Draco was a baby, though the one we got, might just be the brand, was fairly thin and weak. Stopped using it once Draco reached about 60pounds.<br /> <br /> Around that time my dog was mauled and in turn traumatized. He became very fear aggressive to any strange dog, only on walks, and I swear he forgot all obedience we had learned. Basically I had to start from the ground up. So after speaking to a trainer I tried the gentle leader.<br /> <br /> Now again, this is just personal experience. In all honesty, for my dog, it makes him severely aggressive. Every time it puts any sort of pressure on his muzzle, you know, like it's intended to do, and turn his head, it irritates him and he pulls, acts up more. He feels insecure when anyone or anything gets near him while the lead is on, I don't use it anymore after using it again recently, after many months of training without it, and seeing Draco revert back to his old self.<br /> <br /> My last resort was a prong collar. (Typical harnesses rub off fur under his arms and leaves scabs if worn constantly so we don't walk with those, only bike ride.) Originally I was so against prong collars. They look barbaric! But after actually taking the time to learn about them, they aren't bad. When used correctly, I stress the word correctly. They don't hurt the dog, at least not mine. 'Oh, but they still pinch!' I don't know if it's just his thick neck, but Draco never once showed pain while wearing his prong collar. Its pressure, enough pressure to get his attention without jerking his muzzle back and fueling his anxiety. <br /> <br /> I don't care what people say about prong collars, or the scornful looks I get while walking my dog with his, training him to relax on his walks again has gone so much further since I invested in this 'cruel abusive method' <br /> <br /> But in the end, I wasn't looking for a tool to stop pulling, I was looking for a tool that could withstand a dog who would go into a state of absolute screaming terror at the sight of any dog the size of a bull terrier or larger. Not saying a prong collar is the answer to everything but it's what helped me get my dog back on the right track.

02-7-2012 at 10:21 PM

I use a choker on my dog. I however, only use it because there are other dogs in the neighborhood that are unfriendly. I always make sure that the chain is relaxed and isn't choking him when he is out of reach of the other dogs. He has only made choking noises once,but it was compleatly neccesary for me to lead my dog away quickly for one of the big dogs (who has caused minor injury to another dogs ear.) was on the loose. I have no problem with these collers as long as they are used to lead away a dog necesarily.<br /> Tiger- I've found in past experinces that those particular leads don't work on my dog. He won't leave the scene when another dog is near unless he is controlled by neck.

02-7-2012 at 8:24 PM

I prefer <a href=http://www.gentleleader.com>gentle leaders</a> <br /> <br /> I find turning the dog's head (not yanking it in a way that would hurt their neck) its a lot more effective at stopping them from pulling on leash than chain or prong collars.

02-6-2012 at 1:51 PM

If they're used correctly by educated trainers, then they can be extremely beneficial tools to training. It's especially handy for particular strong, stubborn breeds. If they're used by someone who doesn't know how to use them, they can do serious damage to the dog's neck.

02-6-2012 at 1:48 PM

Chain and prong collars. :) sorry.

02-6-2012 at 12:50 PM

Choke and pinch collars? Those aren't even things. LOL<br /> <br /> Are you talking about a choke chain? A prong collar? -is confuuuused- ;;