Prong Collar Advice

[Aika]

Hi guys,
I posted a different thread a few days ago (Dangerous Leash Tugging) and I got some really good information. But this post is more about the use of a prong collar so I decided to start a new thread.
I've been working with Aika with the "drop it" command and she has been doing great. But her pulling has gotten to a dangerous place. Unless I'm feeding her a high quality treat during our walks she just forgets about me and pulls to sniff or heaven forbid she sees something she wants because she will run towards it without any regards to my wrist.
Many Newfie owners have suggested to me a prong collar. I would had never thought of that but I've been positive training Aika since she was a little baby and all was going well until we hit about 9.5 months of age. She is pushing the boundaries, testing to see if she can pull and ignoring me (unless I have chicken). After intensive research, watching videos online and talking to other Newfie owners, I've decided to get a prong collar.
We've only used it in two walks.
The first walk was like magic. She stayed next to me and was very willing to obey. I would treat her and praise her for staying next to me and she hardly lost focus during the walk.
The second walk was a bit of a challenge. I heard from one video that I should clip both dead ring and D ring and that's what I did on the first walk. But on the second walk I heard from someone else I should only clip the D ring and the dead ring should be clipped to the safety collar. I had less control on this walk and to make things worse, we bumped into a neighbor who has a Great Dane and Aika and him are friends. I had control of her because she did not want to pull but she still did pull some. I hated the fact she was being corrected for greeting this dog (which now I want to beat myself because I should had either kept her from greeting him and excuse myself to my neighbors as I moved to the other side of the street ) or I should had made her sit while I switched the lead to her safety collar so she could had greeted without correction.
Anyways, this is all new to me and very overwhelming. Any suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

You need to get someone to show you in person how to use it. We use one with Elvis when we're out in public and it works like magic, but I would have never have known the correct way to use it had our trainer not showed me.

For example, we hold the leash with both hands in a very specific manner, with a few loops and then like a baseball grip. When/if we need to correct him, it's a quick motion straight up and not back to or to the sides. This only works because Elvis was trained from the beginning to walk right beside us and not out in front. His shoulder stays even with my hip. It's hard to explain online which is why it works best if you can be trained with one in person.

We always clip both rings to his regular chain collar because we were told that chain collar could potentially break open and then the dog isn't connected to anything.

 

[Aika]

You need to get someone to show you in person how to use it.

Thank you for the comment. I have been looking like crazy for someone in my area to show me how to use the collar. There is no one here, so far. The trainers I know in my area don't like to use prong collars. I have been watching a great deal of youtube videos and hoping to understand this.

 

[R Taft]

I cannot comment, they are illegal in Australia, you are not even allowed to buy them from OS.

 

[Murphy]

There is a wealth of good information on this forum that comes up frequently.. Do a search and you will find some very informative thoughtful posts. Different opinions for sure.. But all posted with good intentions... This is why we love Newf Net..

 

[Aika]

There is a wealth of good information on this forum that comes up frequently.. Do a search and you will find some very informative thoughtful posts. Different opinions for sure.. But all posted with good intentions... This is why we love Newf Net..

Thank you that's great advice. I'm new to forums and I'm still learning my way around so I completely forgot I could do a search and have loads of information in a few seconds!

 

[Aika]

I have been reading all the threads in here that mention the prong collar. I personally wished I did not have to use it. I know it doesn't hurt her and I've very careful to fit it right and use it properly... but still I wish she would listen with just treats and praise. Nonetheless, I do have a very strong willed and dominant dog. She has a strong personality, and this has been the case since day one. She has always complained about correction, has never liked not getting her way and fights me for authority all the time. But when she finally gives into me and obeys, it's like a light went in her head and she melts my heart with her gorgeous gentle eyes and willingness to please.
With the prong collar is no different. The first day I put it on it was amazing and she walked like a charm. The second day she fought it and had a melt down in the middle of our walk by tugging the leash (like in a game of tag of war) bucking, and even trying to jump on me.
Her leash biting was really bad when she was a puppy but at about 5 months she stopped. Now it's back again and because the prong collar causes a correction she hates, it's back with a vengeance. Today we had a battle of the wills, I did not used a prong collar but a regular collar and every time she tried to bite the leash and tug I stepped on and and would firmly say "no settle" after 45 minutes of this she finally figured out that biting on the leash just meant "time out" and she would settled for me. At which point I would get down to her level and praise her and pet her like a crazy lady. We had a 15 minute session like this with the prong collar and by the end of the 15 minutes she was walking nicely even if it was only for a few minutes at a time. I ended the session in a positive note and I think I'll keep doing this until she is willing to walk without pulling and / or biting and tugging on the leash.

 

[jane]

I can say that, when used properly, prong collars are great. Just make sure you learn how to fit it right. The dog corrects itself when pulling. Any dog I have used them on learns quickly!

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

I can say that, when used properly, prong collars are great. Just make sure you learn how to fit it right. The dog corrects itself when pulling. Any dog I have used them on learns quickly!

DITTO! Traveler is a different dog with his prong collar on him.

I am with you in my heart, because I too just wanted a well behaved dog without using what I thought were stronger methods. I now realize some dogs take longer to "get it" and having had a pulled hamstring muscle because Traveler hauled me down I know that the prong or an electronic collar or whatever method is not going to be forever, but just until he learns. I am taking him back to obedience class so I can become more focused myself. IMHO I think you might want some obedience classes, even if you have had them previously. I really do feel your frustration. I'm still a work in progress with my sweet but rambunctious boy too.

 

[Aika]

Thank you for your comments and the encouragement.
WE are going back to obedience classes in two weeks. This time I don't want private classes, I want to be in a group for both of us to learn focus when there are other distractions around.

 

[Aika]

UPDATE:
I met with a trainer who taught me how to fit and use the prong collar. We've had several walks with it and we are both enjoying them. I am starting to get more comfortable using it and I think Aika is understanding walks are more fun when she is obedient and focused. Since she is a strong willed dog, the prong collar does not work for her as it would for a more compliant doggy. I actually pack some hot dogs and our walks involved a sit and stay every few minutes to keep her focused other wise she starts walking fast even if she gets corrected. But the sit and stay seems to be working. She has not bolted ever since she got the prong collar and that has really saved my wrist and kept her safe.