Hi, I have never used a prong collar before but I feel now is the time to as I think it would help control his walks. My German shepherd is 2years 10 months old and was the boss of us until I came across Leerburg and i purchased the pack structure dvd followed by basic trainging, marker training, ME training with food and then his Recall dvd all of which have helped him to be the dog we hoped for, he has a way to go yet but he is loving marker training.
My problem is I want to do leash pressure with him I have got as much info as I can find and in the ME recall dvd I believe he says you need to have taught leash pressure, as I have read the best way is on a prong collar I am trying to get the right one.
I am in the uk so they are frowned upon, I have never seen one on a dog in my area and I think people would think he is aggressive so I intend getting one that is covered. He has to walk alongside my mobility scooter when I take him out, he still has a high drive to chase cats so maybe a prong would give me that extra control.

I found this one http://lolalimited.net/Secretprong.html
you have already discussed this collar 2 years ago but no one had used one. I wonder if 2 years later anyone has used one and can tell me if they are as good as a Herm springer prong especially at teaching leash pressure. If not I will have to buy a cover for a Herm Springer as I know using one will get some negative comments over here.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated I have found your forum to be a huge help in helping him enjoy his training by using markers.

Looking at the pictures Peter, it looks like the way the links are attached inside the collar would restrict it from the pinching action you want. If you're worried about appearance, take an old tee shirt or pillow case and cut a piece a little longer then the length of your collar, sew it into a tube and slip the collar through it covering the prong lengths.

I have a friend who sells them and have actually made them. I would not use them on an incrediably strong dog but for a dog that pulls while being walked it is effective - particularly on AKC grounds where prong collars are a no no ;-)

Given that you want to use the collar to teach giving in to leash pressure I would just get a sprenger. The only value that the "secret powers" collars have over a regular prong is that it is "hidden" so that it can be used without having uneducated people give you the evil eye for having the temerity to use a prong collar.

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77&products_id=3975&zenid=b236523cdcffb9ac08852b32eea0d4ef

What about that?

Thank's Steve and Ingrid I think from what you have pointed out about secret power collar I will forget about it. Good idea about making my own cover Steve, also he is very strong so I think I will go with a Sprenger as you suggested Ingrid.
The link Samantha gave me looks ideal I really like the colour it would be hard to notice on our dog with it being antique copper plated and a black cover. Looks like you have all helped me decide so thank's again.

Hi Peter

I have posted before on here that I am in the UK too, and use prongs on 2 of mine, I also use e-collars, and no one has ever asked about the prongs, well except for a vet nurse who was mildly curious!

If anyone was to ask, in an accusatory manner, I would simply say they are training collars, smile, and keep moving

They aren't illegal here so you don't have to explain yourself to anyone, you could try saying 'thanks for noticing, he is in training'

Just a thought...

thank's Tracey I think I have decided on a Sprenger and will start using it in my own garden getting him used to it ect and will see how it goes from there.

Sounds like you do well with them and I will try telling people that he is training.

Although when we walk into town he often wears a head collar and from the looks we sometimes get Im sure they think its a muzzle.

Hope you get on well with the Sprenger, I have one in stainless, and one in a copper colour, and given the shade of their coats, the copper prong barely shows, I did get a webbing cover from http://www.luvmydog.com here in the UK, but it did restrict the prongs and it didn't work properly, so that was put in the drawer!

Good luck with the training

thank you again Tracey I was about to order a Sprenger collar and webbing cover from the company you linked to but if your cover restricted the prongs I will just get the collar.

I have now ordered and decided on the black stainless steel sprenger collar as it won't sparkle like the silver ones and as he is black around that area it will not be very noticable I hope.

thank's for the luck with the training I think I might need some