The Advantages of a Dog Prong Collar

A number of training collars exist to help dog owners work with and handle their canine companions. Due in part to changing societal beliefs about the use of correction and consequences in dog training, the prong collar has come under fire by the positive-reinforcement school of dog trainers as a harsh and inhumane method of correction. Despite its archaic appearance, a properly applied and utilized prong collar is a valuable training tool for dog owners.

  1. Familiar Stimulus

    • Prong collars provide a familiar stimulus to most dogs. When a puppy steps out of line and performs an undesirable action, the mother dog nips at the pup with her teeth. Mother dogs also carry pups by the scruff with their teeth. Proponents of dog prong collars liken the prongs on the collar to the sensation provided by the mother dog's teeth. Because it is a familiar stimulus to most dogs, less correction is needed as compared to other types of correction aids.

    Elimination of Undesirable Behaviors

    • Dog trainers use prong collars to eliminate undesirable behaviors in canines. Prong collars are used during training sessions accompanied by a leash. When the dog pulls on the leash, the prongs dig into the dog's flesh and cause a sharp sensation which is alleviated once the dog stops pulling. The dog learns that there are negative consequences for pulling on the leash and an immediate relief when the leash is slackened. The same principle is applied when the leash is tugged by the dog's handler. If, for example, the dog wearing the prong collar nips or lunges at another dog, the owner can pull the leash to deliver an immediate, obvious consequence.

    Safety and Control

    • Unlike traditional slip chains, prong collars are designed to tighten only to a specific point. Similar to Martingale collars, prong collars are limited-slip collars. The main collar has an additional piece of chain that prevents the collar from becoming too tight around the dog's neck. Choke collars, when applied too tightly, can bruise the dog's neck scruff and harm the dog's windpipe. Because prong collars are designed to circumvent this issue, it is harder to cause a windpipe injury.

    Different Mindsets

    • Prong collars provide both the dog and owner with a tangible change of mindset. Since prong collars are designed to be worn only during limited periods of training (not all day, everyday), they clearly delineate between work time and playtime. When the prong collar goes on, the dog knows its owner means business and that it is expected to listen and follow orders. When the collar comes off, the dog feels free to relax and play as dogs are wont to do. Similarly, owners can slip into the mindset of knowing that when a prong collar is in use on a dog trained to recognize it, their dog is giving them its utmost attention and effort.