I just ordered a prong collar for Kodee, and I didn't order the Dominant Dog collar, b/c Kodee is still growing, and I think you have to measure the DD collars to fit pretty snug. I'm sure he'll probably outgrow one fairly quickly. However, I know I need some type of backup collar. I was just watching Ed's Building Pack Structure DVD, and he mentioned that you can use a choke collar as a backup, in place of a DD collar. I don't like choke collars at all, b/c I know you can injure your dog's neck w/one, but would a choke chain be acceptable as a backup for the prong until Kodee is done growing? (I'm assuming that the measurement for a choke collar is not as snug, so I could get one that would last a little longer as he's growing.) He's not aggressive or dominant, the reason I'm getting the prong in the first place is because he pulls when he wants to get to something, and he's getting so strong I don't trust myself to be able to control him w/out a prong if he gets really worked up about something. He pulls really hard even if he just wants to go play w/another dog or something. My point is, I doubt he's gonna be lunging at anything w/a prong on, so I'm thinking the backup collar won't be that critical, but I'd feel better using something just in case.

So, choke chain, or just by DD collars in increasing size as he grows?

I have the same problem, growing dog. I use a nylon slip collar, it's like a nylon choke. You should be able to find one.

I use a flat collar with a tandem clip

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it. Silly me, I didn't order mine from leerburg and it has come open twice. But even with the good ones I would want back up just to be safe. Live and learn.

A choke chain would be perfectly fine. It's only going to be used if the prong collar comes apart and that isn't a big deal.

If you want to get a nylon slip collar, Ed sells them.

I've used both the nylon and a light weight choke chain. The back up collar really isn't active unless the prong comes open so it doesn't matter that much which you use.

Lisa

 Quote: Mike Arnold

... I used the collar with a coupler to a flat collar. The fit of the training collar was such that there was no pull on the flat collar with a correction but I had the peace of mind that the dog wouldn't get away if the training collar failed - it never did.

Where can I get a coupler? Can't seem to find one on this site...(sorry for the hijack!)

I like the coupler idea. Another part of the reason that I didn't order a DD collar was b/c he's not a dominant dog. I just wanted a backup, and didn't realize you could use a coupler w/your flat collar. And I do plan to use the prong for training once we reach the "correction phase", but we aren't there yet. In the meantime, like I said, I need it to stop him from pulling when he's too interested in something. Normally he doesn't pull just on normal walks or anything, and so far he's never pulled to get to something due to aggression, as far as I can tell, that is. The only time he pulls is when he wants to get to someone to play or greet them, or to approach other dogs to greet them. (He's a lover, not a fighter - ha ha.) However, one time he did try to get to a dog in response to that dog barking and growling at him, but I'm not sure if that's considered aggression or not. He didn't seem like he wanted to fight, but he was trying to get to the barking/growling dog (who luckily was on a prong and wasn't moving towards us).

P.S. Lynne - that's no hijack! LOL! I have the same question - where to get the coupler?

Thanks all!