First question is, how do you know when you can transition away from a prong to a flat collar? --specifically for casual exercise walks.

Second question is, I'm a bit concerned about Dixon wriggling out of a simple flat collar; he has managed to get himself out of a harness (properly fitted) twice now. What are your opinions on the martingale style collars?

I started using the prong because of a combination of mild pulling and general over-excitement at cats and loose neighborhood dogs. He hasn't pulled in a long time, and he's much better at paying attention to me either with a verbal reminder or a very mild leash-pop. The prong popped off the other day when he gave a really good shake; I did not stop to put it back on because there was a stray following us and I didn't want to give it the opportunity to get any closer. We finished out the walk without difficulty. I also tried our walk this morning with just the dom dog collar as a test and it went very well. I can still see using the prong at the vet's office, for example, where there are too many distractions, or in an unknown area where I am unfamiliar with the number of loose animals. For morning neighborhood walks though... the prong is beginning to seem overkill. Maybe I shouldn't mess with a good thing (as in he's been doing so well), though? I am undecided.

Thanks for input!

What about trying the walk with the prong still on, but the leash attached to the flat collar to see how well he does? This would allow the option of moving to the prong w/dd collars if needed. I doubt he could get his flat collar slid over the prong if he decided to be an idiot... I've never used the martingale so I'm of no help on that one!

If you are going to use both collars at the same time....I would put both on but attached to seperate leashes. Get a thin puppy leash, for the prong, if you find it difficult to walk with 2 regular leashes. Just let the prong one hang somewhat loooser then the flat collar leash & only snug up the leash on the prong if & when needed until he gets the idea over multiple walks. I would rather the dog not be able to have the time to realise that you are stopping & changing the leash clip from one collar to the other during a walk. Let him 'think' that it is there..all the time. Eventually he will just assume it is there & be less likely to challenge you thinking he is on the flat collar. After some time, you can try to just walk with the flat collar or use the prong intermittently, if you think that you need to as a reminder.

I will also say that most dogs get collar wise. Some just take longer then others to figure it out. If your dog is collar wise enough to 'know' when you place what collar on....just use the two.

I spent a great deal of time swapping out collars on my dogs when young...didn't matter they all figured out what collar was on when...so basicaly it's a matter of OBEDIENCE in the long run, NOT which collar is on them.

If your dog slips out of collars, try this:
http://leerburg.com/711.htm

I have this collar for my boy and two similar ones for my girls...love them! You can clip the leash to the one ring for the collar to be a slip collar or the other for it to function like a flat collar.

When transitioning my dogs from a prong, I would attach a short tab leash to the prong, so I could reach down and grab it if necessary.

To me reaching down & grabbing the tab or changing the leash clip still give the dog 'clues'. This is not the message that I would want to be sending. You want him to 'think' that the collar is on there ALL the time. You don't want him to think that you have to do something & the transition from one collar to the other should not have you 'telegraphing' the change. It should be seamless to work with the 2 collars at the same time.

IE: If any of you have worked horses in double bridles...it's the same principle. 2nd bit is there for when you might need it. You would ride off the snaffle & have the curb there as your aid to collection, as in dressage, or collection or stopping power is needed x-country. You would be holding both reins (one to each bit) but one would be more slack then the other.

Love the analogy! That is perfect. (and I hate double bridles! lol)

To Kelly: Actually, I love them. I used one for years out of the ring with my guy. He was a crazy boy & I needed the stopping power x-country with a full head of steam, especially inbetween jumps. He would get too strung out & unbalanced without it. In the ring he would collect nicely in only a snaffle, even jumping.

Many of the horses I rode even as a young kid were tacked up with bits requiring 2 reins..so I guess it was never a big deal to me to ride with 2 reins. It also taught me, almost from day one, to have 'soft hands' & ride off my seat & not my hands, because you didn't need to haul on their mouths.

Sorry...back on topic...