Prong Collars...Why such a huge misconception?

I know many people have asked opinions on prong collars, but I guess my question is for those that are against them why do you have this misconception that it hurts the dog or think it's so inhumane? I feel it's the best tool out there to train your dog not to pull. Chokers, normal collars, halti's, gentle leaders, aren't as effective. Where the prong collar the dog will immediately stop pulling to where he won't even start pulling. If you train properly and give them a voice command to stop they most likely will bc if he doesn't listen they know they'll get a "pop". My pup has gone to training and so on and will continue it. I'm at the point where I don't need the prong on him but it's a sense of security that if he tries to bolt somewhere I can give him a quick "pop" and he'll stop going after whatever he was running towards to begin with. So anyhow he doesn't need it anymore but i dont understand why people freak out when they see it on a dog that is walkin fine and is happy as ever

Prong Collars...Why such a huge misconception?
I agree with what most people are saying that they "look" awful, but if you really put it on your arm it doesn't hurt at all. Before I bought one for my dog I wrapped it around my arm, and popped it and was surprised that you only feel a slight pressure. It's the best thing ever, I mean it doesn't choke them or even hurt their trachea that most chokers and normal collars do.Haltis suck because once you take them off your dog knows. Prongs really eliminate the pulling. Like yourself my dog is completely trained, but I like having the prong on him as reassurance that I can control him if something did catch his attention and make him run. Especially huskies still have such a high prey drive and love to run that even a simple leaf will get them to pull and possibly cause them to run in the street so the first comment by that chick saying the dog isn't completely trained most husky owners i know with trained dogs still have that on their necks because of how the breed is. my dog doesn't pull at all on walking and hasn't bolted the other direction; it's just nice to know that you can give them a little pop to gain control back. But ya, I think the misconception is bc they look bad but most idiots don't realize chokers or letting their dog drag them around or even training with food isn't a lasting impression and will mostly fade within time where all my dogs with prongs never pull. Screw all the morons that are ignorant on really good tools
Reply:As long as its used as a training tool... fine. However, there are so many people out there that abuse the collars. After a certain point you shouldn't even HAVE to use prong collars. If you're afraid your dog is going to bolt, then it really isn't properly trained, is it?
Reply:As long as it's used properly, it's a great tool. It helped my dog a lot with her pulling. I probably wasn't consistent enough until I took obedience classes and used a martingale and/or gentle leader harness, but whatever tool helps you out.





BassetNut, those spike collars look EVIL! That's terrifying!
Reply:Prong collars are a tool. Like any tool they need to be used with care and used properly.





People freak because a prong collar LOOKS evil, they are uneducated in its use.. and because they are anthropomorphizing.
Reply:I think people see the prongs and confuse it with a "spike" collar, which IS a cruel device in my opinion.





The prongs are rounded and do not harm the dog. The collar can only tighten to a limited amount.





With a spike collar, the spikes are sharp, and the collar is not restricted in the amount it can tighten.


http://www.retrieverworld.com/leads.3.jp...
Reply:I'm also in favor of prong or pinch collars. I think the negative reaction is because they *look* horrible, even though they aren't. However, I would never leave any kind of training collar on a dog that I wasn't currently training. When it's time to run around in the backyard, the regular collar goes back on. If a dog gets the training collar caught on a branch or something, they can choke.
Reply:I love them. One of the best training tools I've ever purchased for my Saints. The little girl next door (who is three) was walking my Male (200+lbs) around while her mother and I watched. The mother asked how come my dogs didn't tug, I trained them with prong collars.........that's why. Never hurt one of my dogs either.
Reply:All collars do exactly the same thing, the only thing that changes is the amount of input from the handler it takes to make the same correction.





There is also no such thing as a collar that can not be used in an abusive manor.


So if someones dog is being abused, they own it, the collar was an inert object until they used it abusively.
Reply:The prong collar is one of the BEST training tools I have ever used!! And I always advise to use them when I am training someones dog. I refuse to train any dog with a chocker bucase that is exactly what it does *choke the dog*





I was always one of those people that said no way that is mean but then I had a challenger in One of my pits so away we went with the prong and after 6 months of hating taking her for walks I was finally able to enjoy Her companionship again.
Reply:There are many more other "misconceptions" in the "dog lovers" community :)))
Reply:I use the prong collar on my 6 month pitbull,he actually walks fine with it on but not without it. It puts his brakes on i wouldnt put it on if it hurt my baby. they learn after awhile that you heal of i get lil pinch. i put it on my hand to see how it feels its alil pinch it doesnt hurt them.it startles them thats all. I get it too doesnt that hurt him.No hes knows to walk nice. Im sorry Im about 100 pounds and my puppy will be about that i will not have him pull me. they dont understand..
Reply:I absolutely LOVE the prong collar. Any dog that pulls is big enough for a prong collar!!! My beagle mix is only 25 lbs... but when she gets pulling, she's a strong one!!! I would never walk her again without it, and continually advise people on YA who ask how to get their dogs to stop pulling to use it, but I always get thumbs down for it. No one understands that there is a HUGE difference between a prong collar and a choke collar.





My dog's trainer starts the first puppy class showing the difference between a prong and choke collar. How the prong can only contract a little, while the choke can be pulled through all the way.





Oh well, its their loss... it really is a great training tool.