Head halters vrs prong collars vrs...?
If you're using or contemplating using a head halter, make sure you fully understand how they work and the accompanying risk and drawbacks. That doesn't mean they should never be used, but personally they are my collar of last resort since it takes a great deal of skill to use them correctly, and for many dogs they are simply an inappropriate choice(note: I will never under any circumstances use a choke collar except for ornamental purposes - i.e. on a fully trained, never pulls in any event, dog). Suzanne explains the head halters much better than I ever could. (My dogs' chiropractic vet agrees): http://www.flyingdogpress.com/headhalters.html Me? I'm a self proclaimed, unapologetic cookie trainer. Which is why most of my dogs, as well as the rescue foster dogs' - training starts with no collar at all (nor does it start next to a busy highway, mind you!) But in a pinch - no pun intended - dog/handler/collateral safety at risk, I'd use a prong over a head halter any day. For more information on the prong: http://www.flyingdogpress.com/prong.html Use what works for you and your dog, but make sure you fully understand the basic premise so you can make an educated choice. Kristine - whose sheepdogs shamelessly prefer being naked, circumstances permitting.  |
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| Very interesting read (the links).
Imagine my surprise, as I am reading through the 2nd link and get down to the author's comments at the bottom, and come across a mention of "Sylvia's Tackbox". It is in mention of the micro-prong collars they make. This is a company that a friend and fellow trainer has. Our Min Pin Dino (and remotely Tazz) are from her kennel. Many of the people I train with that are competitive use her micro collars - they are quite interesting. 
I personally dislike gentle leaders and the like - they are not something I would ever put on one of my dogs. Maybe because I have a chronic bad neck, and know I never would function if a person used it on me.  Also, the orthopedic nurse in me just cringes thinking about the anatomy involved and the potential injury that can happen.
I am all about using a buckle collar or martingale at the most. Any of the dogs I have had in the last 10 years have never known any more than that, and they are wonderful dogs to walk and show. A pinch in my classes maybe if I am trying to help a student with a training partnership that has gone bad, or (more often!) never happened, or a small person with a dog who totally is blowing them off. And then only to get the person and dog working together. Never as a forever thing. |
| I totally agree with both your views...both are training tools..both must be used correctly or they can do damage...as a choke of even a buckle ....
The dog is also a very strong consideration.... A trainer bullied me into putting a prong on my Beardie, Millie at her first training class...she was a rescue and had never been walked when I got her at 9 months...As soon as the trainer put the prong on her...she went limp...layed on her side and wouldn't get up...I IMMEDIATELY took the prong off..and left the class...lost the money for the class with no second thoughts about it....Millie just didn't have the (what's the word...spirit??? personality?? she was a very sensitive dog..she was trained on a choke and alot of treats and heeled beautifully after a GOOD trainer and a great class..went on to become my first Therapy Dog. Pearl...my OES...also a rescue..but very different...she was wild...and she responded well to the prong... (had her on the prong for about 5 months).She is my second Therapy dog...NOw she can be leashless...but I do use a choke (the Therapy Group requires the dogs to be on choke...for some reason). Heart...my 10 month old OES...seems to do well on the prong...we'll see...tomorrow she may hate it and I will try something else... thanks for the links ...very imformative....  |
| I used a gentle leader head harness for Sophie for several months. Previously, we had used the body harness for her and for Sherman, both bad pullers. Sherman gradually improved so that we could discontinue the harness, much to the relief of most of the humans who hated putting it on him. Sophie managed to destroy 2 or 3 of them, so we switched to a head harness. She hated it. Hated it. Destroyed one or two of those So we discontinued them,opting for another lead and she's done fine with that, but when she was younger, no way.
But I have to say that the gentle leader was an effective choice for her--she pulled fiercely and unrelentingly on other leads. With the gentle leader, very, very minute correction was effective immediately. It was a good temporary training option for her. I haven't used a prong collar. I admit they looked too mean for me but now, I think I would consider using one. |
| Thanks so much for the links! I´ve trained my dogs to walk without a collar, but my boyfriend and I are getting a new puppy, he is hyper... so I think it´s safer to start with a collar |
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