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aside from the fact that I would feel bad giving prong corrections to a baby

If this is what you believe that attitude will be transfered right down the leash to your puppy. If you decide to use a prong collar, you can't be thinking that you are hurting your "baby" or you most likely won't use it correctly or will be trying not to give any corrections.

I think the prong collar is much more humane that say a choke collar. The prong collar evenly distributes the correction around the neck where as a correction on a choke collar is mostly felt where it cinches up. A flat collar puts all the pressure from a pulling dog on the trachea.

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I have always read that prongs can increase drive

Definitely let your pup wear the prong around (while supervised) for a few days before attaching a leash. If he decides to go wild when you attach a leash I would just stand there until he is calm.

I agree with the previous replies about doing everything in low distraction areas until the puppy is reliable about not pulling. Exhausting your puppy with fetch/games before leash walking may help also.

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He already loves to bite and attack my hands and coat whenever I so much as even talk to him, let alone pet/praise or correct.

How about just dropping a tiny treat for him with no praise, touching or eye contact?

How to fit a prong collar.
Shannon

 Quote: judy troiano

Angela, this is an interesting topic for me. Can you clarify one thing: do you think your pup understands at all that pulling is a no-no?

No, he doesn't. He's part hound, though, so he's a little more "stubborn" and "outside world oriented" than, say, a herding dog. He tries to be good, but I don't think he knows what I want at all, and is much more motivated to follow his nose and "what's over there?" than be all that concerned about trying to learn from boring old mommy.

 Quote: mallory kwiatkowski

it is worth a shot. The worst that could happen with one good pop is that nothing happens-he still keeps on pulling, maybe he pulls harder, so you don't do that again.

What I am actually afraid of is that I pop him and he shuts down! I see what you are saying though, maybe I wll start introducing him slowly to the collar.

 Quote: shannon reed

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aside from the fact that I would feel bad giving prong corrections to a baby

If this is what you believe that attitude will be transfered right down the leash to your puppy. If you decide to use a prong collar, you can't be thinking that you are hurting your "baby" or you most likely won't use it correctly or will be trying not to give any corrections.

I agree, which is why I'm hesitant to use it.

 Quote: shannon reed

I think the prong collar is much more humane that say a choke collar. The prong collar evenly distributes the correction around the neck where as a correction on a choke collar is mostly felt where it cinches up. A flat collar puts all the pressure from a pulling dog on the trachea.

Hi Shannon, that is exactly what I would have said if I had read my previous post and didn't know me. I did forget to specify that I *DO* use prong collars on my adult dogs and would not consider a choke chain (I personally owned a dog who had trachea damage from one). I am not at all worried about the prong per se, it's using it on an immature dog. It's just that I am new to puppies and I don't want to "ruin" my pup. I am probably being a combination of paranoid and frustrated here.

Anyway thanks everyone for your ideas. I will have to find a way to tire this guy out, before walking him (he's not much into toys and we can't play in the yard cause all he does is look for poop to eat, gross I know) - anyway I'd been using the walks as the way to get him his exercise. I will think of something, and I will post back and let you all know how it goes tonight.

Angela, my dog is also a hound, and I sarted using a prong on him to walk about that same age. He is also huge, just turned a year old and weighs close to 115 lbs. I found I didn't need to correct him with the prong. I took him out, he got to the end of the leash, and didn't like they way it felt. He has almost never pulled since I started using it. He has taken off after a squirrel and hit the end of the leash hard, that wasn't pleasent for either of us, but only once!

My son has a super hyper GSP who wouldn't quit pulling either and I talked him into trying the prong at about 8 mos of age. The dog never pulled again, without any kind of correction. He also didn't like the way it felt. It was like a miracle for my son, who now enjoys his dog so much more!

Maybe try him with both collars like was suggested, and if he really fights or hates the prong, switch back to the flat. I found tht the first few times I went to put the prong collar on him after the first walk, he didn't want me to. But it didn't take him long to learn thet the prong meant "outside" and fun, now he gets so excited whenever he see's me get it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Angela, I also switched to a prong for walking when Chula was 6 months old. It is wonderful!
I was constantly battling to get her not to pull on the flat collar when on a leash. I had some success, but it was a lot of work, and the quality of our walks from an exercise standpoint were not great. Now we can walk at a good clip and she gets worn out and I get my exercise as well...
I doubt that you will have to give a correction if you use one. The first time my pup hit the end of the leash (not hard even), she immediately dropped back by my side to avoid any unpleasant feeling from the prong tightening.

Have you tried increaseing your speed. My 5.5 mnth pup is good on the leash but my 5 yr old takes some work keeping her focused.
Especially at the beginning of the walk I go fast and vary my direction so she looks at me.

I think your pup is old enough for a prong.