When my wife and son took our dog to his first puppy class he had the prong on. The instructor said next week only use the flat collar. So I brought him the next week with just the flat collar. All those other dogs, people running around, he was almost impossible to control. I told the instructor the next week he was coming back on the prong, and got no arguement.

Mike, my experience is very similar to yours. The prog turns my dog into a completely different animal.

Since everyone is talking collars here, I have a quick question. Are there any steps to take so that a dog trained on a prong will mind when not on the prong? Or are dogs just too darned observant? I have only used a flat so far and was curious. I've read the stuff about swapping collars around throughout the day to try and put no meaning behind a certain collar, but everyone on this post has a dog that acts better with the prong. I'm still new to alot of this.

You can add me to the list of people whose dog acts better w/a prong collar on. I change his collars throughout the day, just as you stated. But on walks, I will always put the prong on him. As well behaved as I feel he is, there are things that are put in front of us that are out of my control, i.e., (an 8 year old walking a 200 lb dog and coming our way) that I just want total control of my dog. The prong collar gives me that.

Yep!!!! nothing like Power Steering for control.
It's been a long time since I've posted.

maybe some of the OLD TIMERS will remember me.

butch

Butch! your back! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

THANK YOU ALL.

The way I look at it now is the prong stays. If he is a calmer, more controlled, more pleasant, alert and better bahaved dog with it on then thats the way I want it all the time. I see little point in going back to a collar that he doesnt feel an that he plays up on. May as well be a good dog and well mannered and stay on the prong. I do have a scalf a black one I can use but am buying the velcro cover for it too.

Think I need to change trainers. Perhaps someone who is in this century. I see him correct dogs, going to the end of the lead and giving a massive jerk on the correction collar and the dog doing the same thing 2 seconds later. My dog simply doesnt do it with a prong as he knows he doesnt want a correction off it. Like it says in Ed's DVD's better to give 1 god correction than 1000 bad ones. SEE !!!! I have been paying attention teacher lol

That said... I will stick to the prong and will leave the class as they are not allowed. Hells bells do you thing I should mention Ecollars to him?? E what???Will be the reply. Nah pull its head off with a choke chain its all ya need. LOL

I did try an ecollor on myself once on full. It hurt like hell o full.I couldnt move my neck for a week. STOP LAUGHING it wasnt funny. Wonder if they do them for kids, I could do with a few kidscollars.

Thanks all again. Nice to have a site that people can have open discussions on. Well done Leerburg.

mike

Mike, I agree with all you say....except, the next time you try an e-collar on yourself don't crank it up as high as it will go <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. Used properly they can be a very effective training tool. Ed's DVD on e-collar training is a good way to learn the basics of using one.


Regards,
Debbie

Hi Butch, Glad you're back. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Regards,
Debbie

Thanks for the advice Debbie lol.

I have the DVD now from Leerburg on Ecollar training but there is no substitute for stupidity is there? I certainly wont do it again it could bring a tear to a glass eye !!!!

I have another question. Is there any substitute for the contact gel used on the ecolars to ensure a better correction? I saw the gel but i dont think its available here in the UK. Just wondered if there was sometning else i could use thats available here.
Cheers Debbie

Well, I will admit that I was very paranoid about using an e-collar on my dog until I tried it on myself. But, I did put it on the lowest setting. Tried to get my husband to let me try it on him first. Couldn't believe he refused cause he didn't trust me! I mean you'd think after 35yrs of marriage.....then again, maybe he knows me too well!!!

I have never used the gel so can't give any advice about it. The collar does have to be very high on the neck and tight enough to just get one finger under it. If your dog has really thick hair you may need the longer probe things.

IMO building a bond without alot of distractions would be my first priority with this dog and if the prong is working I would stick with that awhile longer. Hopefully, the time will come that "less is more" so to speak.

Happy training and have fun.
Debbie