I had my dog on a prong at an AKC event and a fellow Rottweiler people stopped me and told me that I needed to change the collar or I may get into trouble if one of the AKC Supt see's it. I was told that AKC does not allow Prong Collars on the grounds of their shows, however I saw a St. Bernard wearing one and nobody seemed to say differently.

Is this an actual rule or only for when your in the actual ring or ?

That is correct. Here is the excerpt from the July Board Meeting:

"The Board adopted a policy and a position statement on the use of training devices at AKC events. The policy is that: 'Special Training Collars used to control and train dogs including but not limited to collars with prongs, electronic collars used with transmitters, muzzles and head collars may not be used on dogs at AKC events, except as allowed in the AKC Rules, Regulations, and Policies.'

The position statement concerning the use of training devices on the grounds of AKC events indicates that while AKC realizes that such devices, when properly used, may be effective for control and basic obedience training, they are not appropriate for AKC events where owners should have sufficient control of their dogs without the use of special training collars."

And from the regulations on every type of Trial I could locate also frobid the use of "Special Training" collars on the grounds of any trial.

Well, I'm gonna go right out and break that rule. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I don't see anything wrong with the AKC postion on prong collars or Electric collars at their event. If owners don't have a handle on a dog they should not be taking it into a show where its going to come near a lot of other dogs. There are enough goofy people who own dogs. If they allow them to enter the grounds with dogs that only mind because the dog has an e-collar or prong collar on what the heck is going to happen when they go into the ring and take the collar off. Could be pandimonium.

The AKC is not saying that you cannot train with these collars.

The AKC isn't the only group that has that rule. NAPD has the same rule at their trial grounds. If you can't control your dog without a prong or e-collar, or a slip for that matter, the dog doesn't belong at the trial.

OK, good points and I agree with them, but what about people that bring their dogs to the events and don't have control of them anyway- prong or no? Plenty of goofy pet owners with wild dogs that have zero training to begin with attend events. Does the AKC have a rule that states only well behaved, well trained dogs can attend events?

For me it is the fundamental argument that if it is ok to use the training tool then why isn't it ok to have the tool at events. I certainly understand the necessity of controlling one's dog, but to ban a piece of training equipment from being worn at events by anyone? That to me is hypocracy at its worst.

Quote:"The position statement concerning the use of training devices on the grounds of AKC events indicates that while AKC realizes that such devices, when properly used, may be effective for control and basic obedience training, they are not appropriate for AKC events where owners should have sufficient control of their dogs without the use of special training collars."

My Translation: People train with them, and we acknowledge that and that they are useful, but we don't want them at our events because it isn't a pretty happy doggy halti positive picture.

I think it is yet another example of the AKC stepping away from reality and following popular trends to appease the general population of dog owners that don't have a clue.

I realize that they are also banned at other working organizations events as well, but I think it is for the same reason.

I think it was Vince that said something like this, "prong collars and e-collars are tools used by dog trainers." If they are used, and can be used in proper ways, then whay can't they be at a trail or other event?

I guess I'm a hard liner. I am anti-AKC anything, so what do I know?

Ed said,"They didn't say you can't train with these collars."

Well no, they just said that they don't want anybody to see them.

Van Camp,

They don't want halti's either. If the dog isn't entered, it shouldn't be there. Dogs that aren't entered aren't allowed on the grounds. Dogs that are entered and aren't under control can be DQ'd and asked to leave the show grounds.

Show/Trial grounds are proofing/testing grounds, not for training. Many people don't use training collars, except to tighten up problems, beyond training. The picture should be a dog that can be controled with no collar on. In fact for several of the trials the rules specify no correction collar. The only thing that can be on the dog is a buckle collar with nothing hanging from the collar. So it isn't just the e-collars or prongs that have to be off the dogs.

I guess that makes more sense.

Do choke chains qualify as special training collars?

Yes.

You are only allowed to have your dog on a flat collar with a buckle.

The conformation people can use martingale leads and snake chains, along with other strange contraptions, but that is because they are stupid show dogs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />