High Praise for the Prong!

[AubreyMo]

My trainer taught me how to use a pinch collar on Moose tonight and WOW. Night and day difference with how he acts on a loose leash. He walked right next to me and paid attention to where we were going, and with a few gentle corrections he stopped pulling me across the floor (literally, I used to go "sledding" towards whoever he wanted to go visit). I know a lot of people find them controversial but I didn't see him in any pain, he responded quickly and and it helped us tremendously! I don't get all the bad hype about them other than most people probably don't use them correctly. The other lady in our class came in with her lab wearing one the wrong way...once it was adjusted it worked great.

He's also completely over his fear of the floor thanks to his non-skid booties. We're hoping to become a therapy team once he hits the year mark (or when he's ready). Still trying to figure out things with his back - he has fusions and doesn't seem TOO comfortable with sitting for long periods of time (standing and laying he's perfectly fine) so we'll keep an eye on him and only do what he's capable of. But all in all, tonight was a FANTASTIC training session and I just had to share it!

 

[Alicia]

Used correctly the prong is great for these strong dogs. Rocky was trained with one when he was younger and it really was like night and day. He doesn't need it anymore but it was a much needed training tool for us back then. Glad Moose is doing so well.

 

[Cat]

Yay Moose !

Always have and always will look at prong collars as a medieval creation, but they are a phase of training that works very well quickly. Kudos to you for helping the lady get hers in the right place. That's the key. Plus he got new booties, that's awesome. Ya gotta dress for the occasion.

 

[AubreyMo]

Always have and always will look at prong collars as a medieval creation, but they are a phase of training that works very well quickly. Kudos to you for helping the lady get hers in the right place. That's the key. Plus he got new booties, that's awesome. Ya gotta dress for the occasion.

They sure do LOOK medieval. I'm kind of glad he has all that neck fur to hide it and hoping we won't get too much backlash! And thank you for being supportive even when it's not something you would personally use. Not many people can do that.

I never would have used it on him without the help of our trainer Diane - she's the one who fitted him, taught me how to use it, and adjusted the other person's collar. I decided to give it a go because pulling started after he got those booties - he used to walk like such a gent by my side until he got afraid of the floor...so we got booties, and then he had TOO much confidence, and a looooot of traction! He sure looked a sight with that collar, booties, and a drool bib

 

[lmfoltyn]

Wow...glad it works so well...maybe I need one for Jake...he has a halty but I hate to have it on his muzzle, it looks so uncomfortable and he tries and tries to get it off. What do you have to do to make the prong collar sit correctly? Curious now!

 

[AubreyMo]

There's a lot of posts online about how to fit them. I would personally suggest going in to our Petsmart and asking for Diane and she can help you fit it, where to wear it on the dog and teach you how to use it. I know she'll be out a few days next week, but she'll be there for our class next Friday night at 8, so if you show up before then we might get to see you. Honestly, she's awesome!

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

I've never had to use one, but many, many good Newf owners use them and with great success...they call prongs "power steering". Used correctly, they work wonders and are harmless. Glad so many things are coming together for you guys!

 

[jane]

The prong is and excellent choice for newfs that pull. The first time I used one was on my Merlin when he was younger. He pulled once, yelped and never pulled again! Then I got Shannon my rescue. She had a prong but still pulled. A few good corrections and she listened much better. I only used them when walking. Never leave them on as a full time collar.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

We use one on Elvis and love it. Just remember to always use it with a second collar - but I'm sure your trainer told you that. Like you, we never would have used it had our trainer not recommended and shown us how to use it.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

When we started using the prong collars on two of our newfs, it was like adding power steering! They walked like ladies, and never pulled on the leash again.

 

[cmorgan.1505]

We use one for Thor and he does great on it! He loves seeing us pull out that collar cause he knows that means we are about to do something. It has helped us so much with leash control and helps us in public to keep him from pulling too much. He has not yelled in pain or anything like that with it on.

 

[Murphy]

Couldn't live without it... :coffeepaper:

 

[Wayne A]

Couldn't live without it... :coffeepaper:

Ditto

 

[lacey9875]

I ditto Wayne... :!rolling:

It is like night and day. I tried everything on Maggie...thought the halti worked great, until she saw something she REALLY wanted and would lift a paw up and take it off so quick I couldn't understand how she was pulling me across the street!


The prong was a God send, she was a horrible, horrible puller. Now we only use it at the park, (not the dog park ) and she's fine.

 

[AubreyMo]

I ditto Wayne... :!rolling:

It is like night and day. I tried everything on Maggie...thought the halti worked great, until she saw something she REALLY wanted and would lift a paw up and take it off so quick I couldn't understand how she was pulling me across the street!


The prong was a God send, she was a horrible, horrible puller. Now we only use it at the park, (not the dog park ) and she's fine.

I learned JUST HOW MUCH I can't live without it last night...got his ears trimmed at Petsmart so I took the prong off while they worked on him. Got lazy and didn't put it back on (thought, eh, it's just a short walk through the store to the exit, right?) wrong! We ran into a training group on a store tour, and Moose had to personally say hi to all their dogs, whether I wanted him to or not, and I had to do the tug-o-war position the rest of the way out!

 

[Tula]

Ditto here too.....couldn't live without it! We use it on two of our newfs - the rest don't seem to need it.

 

[ardeagold]

Wonderful tool!

Just remember to take it off immediately after you get home and don't ever let him play in it or run around with it on. They can easily get caught and become a danger to the dog.

I've used them for training Goldens and on Cole. The others didn't need them. But they're definitely power steering for dogs.

 

[CMDRTED]

They sure do LOOK medieval.

I just bought one at a show (I'll have to post a Photo of it when I get home). The prong is sewn onto a regular martingale collar, and you cannot see the prongs. That I think would cut off al of the ignorant comments about them.

 

[AubreyMo]

Wonderful tool!

Just remember to take it off immediately after you get home and don't ever let him play in it or run around with it on. They can easily get caught and become a danger to the dog.

I've used them for training Goldens and on Cole. The others didn't need them. But they're definitely power steering for dogs.

Yea, I don't even let him ride with it on in the car because he likes to lay down while I drive. He's pretty patient about letting me put it on, and with giving me time to adjust it since I'm still new at using it. Love that it's called powersteering. I rarely have to correct him - half the time he goes out further than he should and "corrects" himself. It mostly helps with greeting other dogs because that's when he kind of loses his head. Like other people have said he realizes once it's on that I want him to stay by me and behave, so he does. I swear I fall harder for Newfies every single day...

I just bought one at a show (I'll have to post a Photo of it when I get home). The prong is sewn onto a regular martingale collar, and you cannot see the prongs. That I think would cut off al of the ignorant comments about them.

That's interesting! I'd love to see it. Thankfully Moo has a lot of neck hair so you can hardly see his prong collar. Honestly, I don't know why I bother buying bright regular collars for him anyway. He wears a thick red collar and once I put it on his neck fur eats it, and you have to dig to find it!

 

[kastle]

I use a prong collar on Lucy when I know we are going to be someplace crowded. She's a busy body and will gladly drag me across the floor to go visit someone. Otherwise, I use a martingale. Check out the secret powers collar. Lucy wears the red leopard one. No one knows it's a prong collar so no dirty looks. I absolutely love it. Definitely worth the money.