This post is designed to provide readers on where to find information on my web site about selecting, sizing and training dogs with a prong collar.

There are only three types of training collars:

1- A flat collar (leather or nylon)
2- A prong collar
3- An electric collar

I have written a detailed article with photos on how to size and fit a prong collar. It's on our web site and can be found in the list of 300 plus dog training articles. “HOW TO FIT A PRONG COLLAR” at: http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm

We sell imported Herm Springer prong collars, both in chrome and stainless steel collars. You can view what items we stock at http://www.leerburg.com/prong.htm#819

We are also one of the few equipment suppliers offer micro prong collars and mini prongs for dogs as small as 5 pounds. Dont kid yourself if you don't think these litter critters will never become dominant and require a prong collar correction to re-establish rank in the family pack. http://www.leerburg.com/prong.htm#micro

Our 4 hour Basic Dog Obedience DVD http://leerburg.com/302.htm has a detailed section that teaches people how to determine when to use a prong collar and then the proper way to train with a prong collar.

We call prong collars “power steering on dogs” and for those who complain that they are abusive my answer is that "any training tool can be abusive when it’s misused”

When trainers use a prong collar correctly it’s one of the best training tools ever invented. The fact is studies done in Germany have proven that dogs who have been trained their entire life with choke collars have fare more muscle damage than those trained with prong collars.

So my answer to those nay-sayers is “ DON’T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU HAVE LEARNBED HOW TO USE IT and then used it on a dog that needs it!!!”

Mr. Frawley,
Thank you for your information regarding the proper use and fitting of the prong collar. I would not feel confident, having never trained with on before, had I not had access to this information.

Should I order a small?? She is about 14inches with a tape measure right behind her ears and under her jaw, she is about 35 #'s.

I'm hoping this will be one of the missing pieces in our training.
Your Basic Dog Obedience DVD, by the way is a great resource, and tool. I've referred to it often, always gathering a bit more info with each viewing.

Thank you!!

Regards

Linda

I would try the small - I always preferr the smaller links than the extra large ones. It would be better to add links than to step to the next size up. Thanks for the kind words

I have a question . . . it's really just for my own edification, what is the purpose to having the prong collar ride so high?

The prong collar should be snug on the dog's neck. Up high is the narrowest part of the neck. If it were lower, it would just loosen up as it crept up. It's also easier to control a dog with any collar up high. JMO!

If you have a prong collar that rides lower on the neck, due to the excess take up and the prong moving around (due to being loose and lower on the neck) your corrections will be inconsistent or altogether ineffective (all the slack gets taken up and the prong still does not give a correction). Timing is critical, so by having the prong high (the smallest part of the dogs neck) and snug, you get consistent (excepting handler error) instantaneous corrections...it usually takes less force to get an effective correction (which is also a benefit of using smaller links like Ed also suggested).

Thanks for the better explination Mike. I think it can also be equated to a draught horse collar. With the draught collar being down low, the horse can get it's weight behind the pulling. Up high, it has no leverage. With the dog collar up high, the handler has the advantage.

Down low is where all the muscle is. Up high is where there is less muscle, and the throat is more exposed. If you have had the prong on incorrectly in the past remember that you can use a lot less force. I did not see the "gag" collar on your list. I think you call it a dominant dog collar.

One more comment on the position of the collar - I don't think this was mentioned.

Another advantage of the high fit prong collar is, when a correction is given effectively, it will turn the dog's head toward the handler giving a chance for the handler to regain the dog's attention.

The head harnesses (Halti, Gentle Leader) are marketed strongly with the point that it turns the dog's head toward the handler.

When the prong collar is fit and used correctly, it will turn the dog's head also.

Even if you are handling a dog on a flat buckle collar, fitting it high will immediately give the handler dramatically more control.

 Quote:

When the prong collar is fit and used correctly, it will turn the dog's head also.

This has not been my experience. You don't actually want the dog to be physcally moved when you give a correction for basic things like not sitting when told or getting out of heel position, for example. There are, of course, exceptions, like for example if your dog was exhibiting aggression and you NEEDED to jerk it away from the person/animal/whatever it was acting out towards, but just for everyday corrections, you shouldn't be jerking the dog from one spot to another.

Even if the clip is on the right side of the dog's neck, and he is on your left side and you give a correction, the correction itself isn't going to turn his head so that he's looking at you.