Pinch Collars for Dog Training

The pinch, or prong, collar is a metal dog training collar made of interlocking metal links, each with two blunt metal prongs that press into the dog's neck when applying pressure. The pinch collar is a more humane alternative to the more traditional metal choke chain training collars, according to trainer Norma Bennett Woolf in the Dog Owner's Guide.

  1. Placement

    • A well-fitting pinch collar should fit just below the dog's ears, Bennett Woolf says. It should be snug, but not tight. The metal prongs face inward so the collar appears smooth from the outside. The links unhook to allow the owner to add or remove prongs and safely fit and remove the collar.

    Uses

    • Pinch collars are self-correcting, which is useful when attempting to train a particularly strong or boisterous dog, said dog trainer Jan Gribble. They are training collars put on a dog at the beginning of each training session and removed at the end. When a pinch collar-wearing dog pulls on its leash, the prongs put pressure on his neck as a correction.

    Considerations

    • The pinch collar is a dog training aid. When the dog is wearing the pinch collar, the owner should teach the dog the desired behavior, such as loose-leash walking. If the owner relies too much on the pinch collar by using it for everyday walking, the dog can become desensitized to its effects, Gribble says.

    Misconceptions

    • Many dog owners and trainers think that pinch collars work on all types of dogs. However, using a pinch collar on an aggressive dog could make the problem worse, Bennett Woolf says. Using a pinch collar on a submissive, shy or fearful dog can cause the dog to fear the collar and the trainer.

    Warning

    • If the pinch collar has too many prong links, it will not fit the dog's neck in the correct place and will not work as it should, said dog trainer Ed Frawley of Leerburg Dog Training. Similarly, a too-tight pinch collar can be painful for the dog and can rub the dog's skin raw.