I have a 7 Month old 90 lbs GSD. He is a wonderful dog but sometimes he gets to pulling a bit and just being a blockhead. I purchased a nice prong collar for him and I use it when we are out and about. I never have it on inside the house and I make a game out of putting it on and taking it off so he enjoys it. He is outstanding when he uses the collar and I never have to worry about him pulling or wanting to run over to another dog walking by. I am training hard on obedience every day, but I look at the collar as a tool. I do not have to have to leash on the live ring anymore he knows it might pinch a bit if he's not being good. I never abuse the collar. I was told the collar was abusive and I should not need it if I was training my dog right. I have a very high drive GSD in which I am training to be a service dog.

I have your 3 beginning video's and things are coming along well, I am not sure why people got so offend that I had him with a prong on.

Signed confused,
Dale

Because people are ignorant. Prongs look scary to the uneducated.

Regular choke collars are much worse for a dog.

People are ignorant...seriously. The looks of the prong collar years ago when Bruno was a puppy bothered me too so I would not use it however 85# later I use it. I have to if I want any sort of control right now. We are "in training" also but just to find some manners. I cannot even begin to explain the difference it has made in our walks. Had I used it those years ago I might not need it now. Did they happen to say what exactly is "training your dog right?"

Patricia,
I can't speak to the collar enre to service training.
What kind of service work does your dog plan on going into?
Have you done any marker work with the dog for OB? Or has it been all compulsion?

As to what people may say or think, (shrug) who cares? I've been ignoring 'them' for close to my whole life, and guess what, it feels better the longer I do it. Heck there's some people that think even owning a dog is cruel.

You can learn to either tell them "yeah, what ever".
Or you can stand and argue with them about the difference in choking and getting pinched, show them reams of studies on injuries relating to choke chains, and you can demonstrate for them your dogs attitude about the collar until your blue in the face. They won't change their minds, it looks ugly.

If they want to be silly about it, who cares. It's their dog they have to deal with not yours. Tell them to go poop in their hat.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Tell them to go poop in their hat.

CLASSIC

 Quote: lori jacobs

People are ignorant...seriously. The looks of the prong collar years ago when Bruno was a puppy bothered me too so I would not use it however 85# later I use it. I have to if I want any sort of control right now... I cannot even begin to explain the difference it has made in our walks. Had I used it those years ago I might not need it now.

Same here. Not only was I a little leery of the look of a prong, but I was specifically admonished from using one by every one of our early obedience class teachers (all at the same organization). I was told they were essentially effective but very cruel and would damage my relationship with my dog. They kept saying this to me even though each class found me struggling in vain to control my 90lb, boisterous young beast of a dog on a nylon choke collar (hot dogs really do only go so far). It was truly frustrating to feel either powerless at the other end of that choke collar, or guilty about hurting my dog because he'd gag after a tough correction.

Sadly, it took 2 years before we finally got a prong - and it changed our lives pretty much immediately. Additionally, I believe we did minor but lasting damage to Oscar's neck by years of corrections with the nylon choke (I feel awful about this)... but he has no issues whatsoever from the prong. I love Ed's description of the prong as "power steering" for difficult to control dogs - that couldn't be more spot on.

I don't usually get nasty looks for using a prong on Oscar anymore, though some people ask me why I have it - I'm very honest about the way it actually works (without stabbing or poking or torture), what about my dog's behavior warrants it, and I then I point out that my dog is only about 20lbs lighter than I am and that I just can't win a pulling contest with him... don't usually need to say more than that.

Strangely, I did get a comment at our VET a few weeks ago - a tech brought Oscar out from the back after a blood draw and told me, "Just so you know, you have his pinch collar on much too tight" (it was fit just the way it should be, comfortably behind the ears) She said, "the prongs are actually making contact with his neck right now - you really want to loosen it up so that it rests around the bottom of his neck - he should only feel the prongs when you give a correction..." I didn't feel like arguing with her, but if they bring it up again, you bet I will.

To the OP, stick to your guns, your experience will validate your choice of training tools. And to the naysayers, boy, I think Randy just about summed THAT up...

~Natalya

If you're really bothered by the responses, they do make special covers to go over the prong (or you could just tie on a bandana) collar.

Sometimes that is easier than dealing with the nasty looks and ignorant remarks.

(Thanking G-d that for once, I have a dog that does just fine a flat collar... I do not miss the days of stupid people looking on in horror as I walked my two Boxers in their prong collars.)

a customer came in the store with a very well behaved GSD in a prong and basket muzzle...we were talking and she explained how her dog was DA, hence the muzzle.....the dog WAS very affectionate and really laid back with people....

a lady came up in line behind her, and FLIPPED OUT. 3 employees and the owner tried to explain to her the dog was fine....but no, she "just can't trust any monster that has to wear a muzzle and THAT torture collar in public..."

or the imbiciles who come in with their dog hacking and choking on a choke chain, telling me how cruel i am to recommend a prong collar to customers, and we shouldn't be allowed to sell them....

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=133155&Searchpage=6&Main=14316&Words=Tracy+R+Touzjian&topic=0&Search=true#Post133155

I'm sure I'm pasting this link wrong, but if it works, it may give you some good responses! It sure helped me at the time.

 Quote: mallory kwiatkowski

but no, she "just can't trust any monster that has to wear a muzzle and THAT torture collar in public..."

I find cracking up laughing is the most effective response to idiots like that. Besides it's none of other peoples business what I use on my dog.