Yesterday I finally decided to go ahead and get a prong collar for Kodee. He has just gotten to big and strong for me to control easily if he's really interested in getting to something. I'm getting ready to order a stainless steel one from Leerburg, but I'm not sure which size to buy. Both the medium and large ones fit up to a 19" neck size, but it looks like the prongs are a tiny bit wider on the large size. Which one should I order? Kodee is going to be a fairly good-sized GSD, I believe. He's pretty big now, and he's 6 mos old, so I know he'll get bigger still.

Would medium or large be better? I don't mind ordering more links later if I need to.

Thanks!

Personally, I like the medium better, b/c if the dog isn't a giant, I think the links are more fluid in the medium. I like to go w/the med. and buy extra links if need be, rather than the large and have a lot of excess chain. Know what I mean? I have a large one, but it is awful on medium dogs, so I usually find myself using mediums on everyone, and adding/subtracting links for adjustment. Also, a harder dog is going to respond a bit better to a smaller prong rather than a larger. I have a medium dog I use a micro prong on, w/a lot of extra links b/c the medium or large means nothing to her.

How big is Kodee now?

Thanks, Jenni -

I actually was just wishing I had taken him to get him weighed at the pet store yesterday. I would guess he's about 55 lbs give or take a few, but not sure. The last time I weighed him was about 2 mos ago, and he wouldn't stand perfectly still, and I had him at approximately 45 lbs then. I'm gonna try to get him in to the vet soon just to get an accurate weight on him, just to satisfy my curiousity.

It sounds like a medium prong is the way to go. Thanks, Jenni!

Unless it's a very heavy coated dog or an extremely large dog I always use the small collar and add links. Jerri is 11 months old and 85# and I'm using the small on her. Used it on my 100# Dobe also. I use the prong and a smallish chain collar together with the lead attached to each. Sometimes with use the prongs become loose and can pop open. With the other collar still attached you still have a handle on your dog if that happens.

Lisa

 Quote: lisa kidd

Sometimes with use the prongs become loose and can pop open. With the other collar still attached you still have a handle on your dog if that happens.

Of course I applaud anyone for taking extra safety precautions, but Lisa, are you using Sprenger prongs or generic? I have never had a Sprenger prong open, but have seen it w/generic prongs.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

 Quote: lisa kidd

Sometimes with use the prongs become loose and can pop open. With the other collar still attached you still have a handle on your dog if that happens.

Of course I applaud anyone for taking extra safety precautions, but Lisa, are you using Sprenger prongs or generic? I have never had a Sprenger prong open, but have seen it w/generic prongs.

I've only seen it happen once. Have seen owners in class tho not have the collar on securely, only one side of a link attached. I've even caught myself doing that a couple times so I like the extra collar just in case.


Lisa

 Quote: kori bigge

It sounds like a medium prong is the way to go. Thanks, Jenni!

I like to use the smallest prong size possible that way there is more 'bite' on the neck.

Say if you use a large vs the medium, the medium may have 12 prongs to make the 19" but if you use a large, you may only have 7 prongs to make the same length.

They both fit and would be fitted properly but the med sized collar would be more effective in any corrections. Just because of the increased surface area that the prongs cover.

btw Kodee is looking good I like the shoehorn in his ear!!

I think I will go with the medium one b/c he does have a very thick coat, which is something I hadn't taken into consideration. I can control him w/a flat collar, but it's not as easy as it should be, so I think he'll be ok w/medium. He isn't dog aggressive or anything, but yesterday I took him into Petco, and a guy there had a GSD/Great Dane mix who was raising cain at Kodee, and Kodee got a little too excited in response for my comfort. The guy w/the other dog had a prong collar (smart man!), so his dog didn't come after Kodee, but I could tell he wanted to. Kodee got excited and tried to pull me towards the barking/growling dog, but I was strong enough (this time) to stop him. But better safe than sorry. It was nice to see someone w/a big strong dog under complete control (with a prong - ), and I've realized that it's time to get one myself. Thank you all for your input!

P.S. Geoff-Thanks! I finally figured out the easiest way to keep his ear up was to use the Skin Bond and pipe insulation. I can't wait til we don't need it anymore! (Cross your fingers for me!) LOL!

Edited by Kori Bigge (01/19/2008 01:45 PM)
Edit reason: P.S. Added

In situations where there is another dog present and raisin' cain as you said, a prong correction may amp up your dog.

Remember I said "may" so just be aware of any situation that you and Kodee are in and think ahead of a plan 'B' just in case like a tab attached to the flat or if you think needed a DD collar. I just turn and take my dog and walk away from those situations where another dog is acting inappropriate. You need to be on him like a hawk as him charging towards another dog is a inappropriate pack behaviour, he is basically fluffing you off as a leader and doing what he wants.

He is going to be testing you now more and more every day as he moves into his teenage puppy years. So he is going to be testing the pack leader's boundaries a lot more now.

Thanks, Geoff. I will definitely keep that in mind. I may get a DD collar soon as well, but in the interest of not spending too much at once, I'm just getting the prong for now. I will be using the prong for the correction phase of training (later on), but wanted it now for walking and going out in public so he could "self-correct" when/if he pulls, for whatever reason.

I will definitely stay on him like you say - I wasn't sure when the puppy-teenager time started, but he is 6 mos old, and he's definitely getting strong enough and big enough that I want to nip any inappropriate behavior in the bud, and I can no longer do so w/brute strength. LOL. Thanks again!