The recent post about Prong collars made me remember that I had a few questions to pose to the trainers here on chaz 
But I didn't want to try to steal the thread.
In the past I've used the collars, and I know the pros and cons of use. I've worked with two trainers recently who use the prongs religiously. I've always been trained to fit the prong relatively snugly, but not tightly-- so that it will not slide around on the dog's neck. I also fit them higher up on the neck, and with the hook slightly off to the side rather than right on the back of the dog's neck. More or less how Leerburg's website shows to fit them.
The two trainers I've worked with didn't have a care in the world where the prong collar was fitted (high or low), and they always use the smallest sized prongs, even for larger dogs. They also didn't seem to fit them very snug at all. This normally results int he collar falling very low onto the neck, and the hook being at the dog's shoulders.
How do you Chazzers fit and use your prongs? Any pictures to show?
Also, have you ever heard of the prong collars causing Dog-Aggression? I've heard of this in the past, and even though the theories made sense, I sort of brushed it off as something that happens with irresponsible use and lack of experience. However, a few dogs have come to me recently with D-A issues, almost directly timing in with the owners starting to use the prong collars with their dogs. I can't guarantee that the owners were using them correctly, either, but has anybody seen this happen?
One more question-- I've made this observation recently at the Pet Store where I work. A lot of dogs that have been pretty much raised using the Prong collars for walks and being taken out in public, even more hyperactive breeds-- are calmer all around. They come in with a LOT more self control than others that I see, even with inexperienced owners and no formal training. I seem to attribute it to the fact that they don't pull like crazy sending themselves into a fit of anxiety and over stimulation every time they come in. Dogs with owners that aren't working on them, and are being walked on harnesses and flat collars, just work themselves up too much. Of course this doesn't excuse training the dog when working around distraction, But has anybody else noticed a similar connection?
But I didn't want to try to steal the thread.In the past I've used the collars, and I know the pros and cons of use. I've worked with two trainers recently who use the prongs religiously. I've always been trained to fit the prong relatively snugly, but not tightly-- so that it will not slide around on the dog's neck. I also fit them higher up on the neck, and with the hook slightly off to the side rather than right on the back of the dog's neck. More or less how Leerburg's website shows to fit them.
The two trainers I've worked with didn't have a care in the world where the prong collar was fitted (high or low), and they always use the smallest sized prongs, even for larger dogs. They also didn't seem to fit them very snug at all. This normally results int he collar falling very low onto the neck, and the hook being at the dog's shoulders.
How do you Chazzers fit and use your prongs? Any pictures to show?
Also, have you ever heard of the prong collars causing Dog-Aggression? I've heard of this in the past, and even though the theories made sense, I sort of brushed it off as something that happens with irresponsible use and lack of experience. However, a few dogs have come to me recently with D-A issues, almost directly timing in with the owners starting to use the prong collars with their dogs. I can't guarantee that the owners were using them correctly, either, but has anybody seen this happen?
One more question-- I've made this observation recently at the Pet Store where I work. A lot of dogs that have been pretty much raised using the Prong collars for walks and being taken out in public, even more hyperactive breeds-- are calmer all around. They come in with a LOT more self control than others that I see, even with inexperienced owners and no formal training. I seem to attribute it to the fact that they don't pull like crazy sending themselves into a fit of anxiety and over stimulation every time they come in. Dogs with owners that aren't working on them, and are being walked on harnesses and flat collars, just work themselves up too much. Of course this doesn't excuse training the dog when working around distraction, But has anybody else noticed a similar connection?
