Dog training collars, tips and tricks | Prong Collars for Dog Training

Of the dog training collars we’ll discuss here, perhaps none is so horrific looking, so off-putting solely by virtue of appearance as the Prong Collar. Depending on with whom you speak, the collar’s appearance is either deceptive or right on the money. 

Prong collars work by applying pressure not unlike the method employed by choke collars. However, unlike choke collars the pressure points are the prongs rather than the entire chain. The theory behind this device is that the application of pressure via the prongs is more effective than the more distributed pressure applied by a full chain. Further, some allege that the prongs simulate a mother dog’s grip on a pup’s neck, thereby establishing a dominant stimulus resulting in a more submissive response from the problem dog. 

For my part, that last is bunk. A prong collar, I feel, works simply because it is uncomfortable when a dog pulls. Can it be effective? Used properly the prong collar can be a very effective tool. The only question you have to ask is if you want to use it. 

Despite having the most barbaric look of the bunch, prong collars pose less of a health risk than choke collars which are too easily misused. If you came here after investigating prong collars on other sites, you might have seen an oft-cited German study claiming that 100 dogs, 50 of which were walked with choke collars and 50 of which were walked with prong collars were subsequently autopsied on dying. 

It is further claimed the study revealed that 48 of the dogs walked on choke collars had suffered trauma while only 2 of the dogs walked on prong collars suffered any trauma. As encouraging as that news may be, I have yet to find the actual study to back up the claim. Instead, I just keep finding repeated quoting in typical internet fashion with nothing to back it up. Remember, folks, just because you read it on the internet doesn’t make it true. 

Regardless the lack of support for that “study,” my own experience has shown that prong collars, while not as dangerous as choke collars, work by causing pain and can actually do significant harm to a dog’s confidence if they are already shy. As such, if you elect to use this type of dog training collar, ensure you ONLY use it for training and not as your dog’s permanent walking collar. Read all included literature to ensure you are using the collar correctly. 

One last thing on these collars… do not slip them over your dog’s head to put them on or take them off. Prong collars are removed by taking out a link in the same way you might remove a link from a chain of paper clips. Should you attempt to simply slide the collar over your dog’s head, you run the very real risk of damaging his eyes should he suddenly turn his head.