I received the prong collars I ordered and started using them with my 14-month-old Tibetan mastiffs a couple of weeks ago. They are great -- I already have a much better handle on those two with much less force than with either a choke chain or a martingale. Pulling is over, and they already understand the "slow" command from the Basic Obedience tape. They are happier, and I am happier. (I just hope the fur on their necks ultimately grows back the way it is supposed to.)

As the weather is getting nicer and the days longer, I will have a chance to start working with the Basic Obedience tape outside, too. The obedience training group I have been going to works inside in a church basement, which is great in the winter, but we can't do any kind of longline work, because of lack of space.

I've pretty well established now that these people are simply not willing to even consider letting me come into the room with a prong collar, so I'd like to find someone else to train with. I'm located in close-in (to DC) Northern Virginia. Does anyone know of a trainer or group in the DC/Northern Virginia area who isn't all hung up on the issue of training with a prong collar? I'm interested in continuing obedience training; I'd like to get these puppies at least to CGC-level -- not so sure about competition, but then one never knows.

Thanks.

I think prongs are good training tools but you can't get a CGC with one. Once you've trained with the prongs, it shouldn't be a big deal to move to something else for the test.

Bryan,

I'm in the Lakeridge/ Woodbridge area.

I will PM you with my contact info.

Brian try a search for courtesy canine. And check PMs.