I hang it from a tea cup hook and hand all my extra keys and leads on it

That's creative, lol.

I haven't used mine for awhile. My older shepherd no longer needs it and my puppy is only 8 weeks old. I will probably need a new one when the time comes (and I'm guessing this little monster will need one) because last time I saw mine it was sitting on top of my rabbit cage and had turned an ugly brown ... oops.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

John, how did the prong help your girl learn to hold the dumbell steady? Just curious

Her taking the dumbell and the retrieval of the dumbell were no problem for her from a genetic standpoint, she did those things naturally. Holding the dumbell calmly, not so much. so..

Facing me, prong on, with tab under the chin. I give her the dumbell, she chews, I put steady tension on the tab/prong until she stops chewing, then out & reward. Gradually build the length of time where she's holding the dumbell calmly, without tension from the collar. It took about 5 sessions of this for her to be very reliable. I do not recommend you do this alone if you've never done it before. I do not recommend you do this with someone (a trainer/TD) you do not trust or if you question whether they've done it before with success. I do not recommend doing this with a dog that lacks the drive/self-motivation to bounce back after a correction.

This is definitely a compulsion exercise. It wasn't all fun, but this particular dog has the drive and resiliency to take a siginifanct amount of pressure, b/c in the end she'll get her ball and all is right in the world again. As my TD explained it, this is a compulsory (mandatory) exercise, she has to do it, but she also has to know that in the end she'll get her reward. It's not about beating the dog down, it's about applying a reasonable amount of pressure, and allowing the dog to release that pressure in the end. My TD is also of the belief that you use only as much correction as it takes to yield the desired result. You cannot do this with all dogs, but with some you can. As trainers & handlers, we need to be fair and understanding.

I use the prong regularly. Anytime GSD leaves the yard he has it on. He knows when he hears it he is going to work in some fashion and goes crazy. Don't need it very much but I like knowing if needed I can give a good correction and only need one. Mal wears it when we ride the bike because he does still pull on flat collar and is a litle unpredictabl and could be a bad thing when riding, I hurt more now and don't heal as fast as I use to.( never could spell) Doberman has never had one on.

Thanks John, that makes sense. Actually very similar to what I had imagined (shock!!! ) , but I wasn't sure. Interesting

I use it to give corrections to my co-workers when they tell clients that prong collars are cruel or dangerous.

 Quote: Matthew Thurston

I use it to give corrections to my co-workers when they tell clients that prong collars are cruel or dangerous.

How do you talk them into putting it on? That's where my own plan falls apart.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Matthew Thurston

I use it to give corrections to my co-workers when they tell clients that prong collars are cruel or dangerous.

How do you talk them into putting it on? That's where my own plan falls apart.

Offer them doughnuts?

 Quote: Matthew Thurston

I use it to give corrections to my co-workers when they tell clients that prong collars are cruel or dangerous.

Huh, I just keep a remote and a receiver (without the collar part) to an ecollar in my pocket and when they say something stupid, I walk up behind them, press the receiver head to their back and ZAP!!!!

Works like a charm.....

Sometimes you have to sneak up on them Connie.

I only use mine for the dog though.
It helps to remind her that that cat she's staring down is to be left alone. Hmmmm for some reason treats don't interest her at those times.
It serves to remind her that when I say sit, it doesn't mean stand still staring through the shadows across the street, it means sit. Etc.
It helps to remind her, just every once in awhile, that my voice means something. And that what I say is not a request, it's especially useful in an uncontroled enviroment.
She needs it now and then.

That being said, I haven't found a need or want for a pinch on the training field. Focuses pretty good in those situations.
Though I have seen the decoy jazz up a dog with the pinch, in either the bark and hold or on the sleeve, also for a correction for not outing. Don't know if good methodology or not, I've just seen it done.

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