My puppy ( Lab & Collie ) is extremely rambunctious and sometimes I feel like he might unintentionally harm my little one that will be arriving soon. I've had him for a while and training him myself isn't really working. So, I'm enrolling him into obedience school before I have my baby. The obedience school I found requires the use of prong collars. I've never seen them before in life, besides a picture on the website and they kind of look like torture devices. Yikes! Do they actually harm or hurt the dog? Is it okay to use for puppies? My pup is 13 weeks old, but he's only a little larger than a miniature poodle. Is it sensible to have them as a requirement for all dogs being trained, regardless of their size, temperament, etc?
Thanks in advance for your advice / opinions.
Update:In this school, the collar is not used for just walking, but for all training.
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A 13 WEEK OLD DOG SHOULD NEVER WEAR A PRONG COLLAR.
prong collars are appropriate for adult dogs (and very very big puppies). not for young puppies.
if you are enrolling in a school that REQUIRES them, regardless of the dog's age, etc. then cancel enrollment. dogs are NOT a one size fits all, and ALL puppies should be trained with love and rewards, NOT pain!
you should seek out a different class, a trainer that does a one size fits all is either not very well experienced or knowledgeable. Prongs are not harmful if fitted properly and used correctly which I think a trainer should work with an owner on how to use one, there was a study in germany prong collars caused less injuries than the traditional chokes. Also the gentle leaders (halits) can hurt a dog if not used properly.
I do think your dog is too young to use a prong.
A properly fitted, properly used prong/pinch collar isn't particularly painful, but I agree, it should never be used on a puppy. Puppies can be more easily trained with other methods. If I were you I'd find a different class.
The collars look scary, but they aren't. They pinch, that's all. Proper use includes knowing when to pinch and when not to, and whether or not it is even appropriate for your dog. I generally consider pinch collars on the same scale as shock collars in that they should only be used when other training methods have been exhausted.
Mandatory prong collars is ridiculous. How many dogs in that class would respond just fine without one? It isn't necessary. Will it hurt them? No. Is it cruel? No. But there are other methods that are more enjoyable for everybody involved that produce great results.
a prong is actually less likely to cause physical harm than even a flat buckle collar.
However a "one collar is right for all " is NOT a good motto!.I DID see a dogs driven nearly crazy in an obedience class and an agility class (different dogs & handlers) by improper use of a prong (instuctor's finally banned the collar in both cases)
http://www.labadoption.org/2711/education/the-coll...
i'm no longer a large individual, yet I actually have managed to get my dogs to stroll with out pulling and with out utilizing a prong collar - he's an rather lively 65kg - that is one hundred forty pound for those of you nevertheless on the former imperial measurements - heavy boned dogs. i can walk him with purely my little finger on his lead and recognize that he received't pull far flung from me. Prong collars are in case you're too lazy to how you may coach their dogs precise. The neck is a thick skinned section on a dogs and favourite collars do not artwork too properly on it because the dogs in basic terms would not experience it a lot. A prong collar works by to verify that the dogs jolly properly does experience it. If that is what you want, then why no longer purely walk your dogs right into a puppy shop and take a look into some on. If on the different hand you adore your dogs and do not favor to reason it soreness, then try enrolling right into a take care of-focussed person-friendly dogs preparation route and how you may do it precise. If all else fails, you may want to purchase a head halter. in my opinion i don't like those both and dogs hate them. They do artwork although on quite stubbord teenage domestic dogs and in spite of in the experience that they could rub the hair, they don't damage or reason damage if used precise. you may post links to each and every of the youtube video clips you want to, yet those are one-sided and made by the manufacturers of prong collars and so-referred to as operating shoes who have not managed to workout consultation a thanks to coach a dogs with out them.
Sounds to me like you have found a trainer who doesn't know how to train, only how to control.
A puppy that young should not be wearing a prong collar. Find a different school.
if you don't feel good about the training methods being used then you should find another place that uses what you feel comfortable using. any training device can be good or bad depending on how you use it and the education of using it. make sure you know why the trainer likes the prong collar and can explain it to you so you feel comfortable. otherwise look around for another trainer.
good luck
I find it disturbing that the trainer doesn't know any other way to train a dog than to put a prong collar on. If you are interested in more humane training methods, here is a list of trainers:
http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=4
Do not use prong collars! I completly object to using these harmful collars. Please do not go to that obedience school. How would you like it if you had some sort of necklace on, and whenever you make a mistake, you get stung? Get a head halter. It provides a good control over your dog. And it does not choke or electrify them to death. You can fincd these at your local pet store. They work efectively and there is NO harm done to the animals. Please dont get the prong collars!
And even after pup age, dont use them!
GO to this site for more info: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/using-head-halters-in...
if he gets too boisterous around you and you don't like it, then i suggest you get a spray bottle instead of a prong collar. if he jumps up on you while your sitting down, then say a sharp 'NO' and get up and walk away from him.
this will take time, but its worth it when you have a dog that doesn't annoy you.