How to Use a Pinch or Prong Collar On a Dog

Prong collars are no longer considered a mid evil torture device. They are a tool for training your dog, some people and trainers say that they are really power steering for dogs.
But just like with any other dog training tool there is a right way and a wrong way to use a prong collar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• dog
• prong collar
• Pliers (optional)
• nail polish (optional)
• leash

1. 
   never use a prong collar or any other training aid unless you are willing to try it on yourself first!

   Before using any training device on your dog, I suggest you first put it on your own leg and see how it feels. This will tell you if the particular training device is something you really want to use on your dog.
   Many people feel that prong collars are cruel and not something that a qualified trainer would use, but if you were to use a regular choke chain on your leg and then the prong you would find out that the choke chain actually causes more pain than the prong does!
   Tools are tools and it is never good to get hung up over equipment, what works great for one dog may not work as well for another dog.

2. 
   prong that has been already adjusted for the dog showing a link removed

   Open the prong collar at one of the links that is not considered a master link.
   The master links are the ones located on either side of the link that the chain slides through.

3. 
   This image shows an imporperly fitted collar and then where the collar should have been placed on the dog

   Place the collar high up on the dog’s neck so that it rides just behind the ears and under the chin.
   Remove any extra links so that you get a proper fit.

4. 
   squeeze the two ends of the prongs together

   Reconnect the collar making sure that the prongs face towards the dogs neck and the collar sits high up on the neck just behind the ears and under the chin. This will be a snug fit as you do not want the collar to slide down the neck.

5. 
   insert one prong into place while squeezing to fit the other prong into place

   You should squeeze the two prongs towards each other then first insert one prong into it’s place then slide the other prong into it’s place. This will be difficult until the link loosens a bit. It may help to choose one link to use and paint it with nail polish to help you identify it. Use pliers to squeeze it together just a bit to make it easier to slip into and out of it’s link.

6. 
   properly fitted and adjusted prong collar

   Clip the leash into the larger of the two rings on the collar and adjust the collar so that this D ring is positioned over to the right side of the dog’s neck. for heeling and under the dogs neck if you are training the Down command. Corrections are given in a straight up motion and straight down to reinforce the down command.

7. To remove the collar pick any link that is not a master link and squeeze the ends of the prongs together and pull at an angle till the link slips free.

Tips & Warnings

• You should be able to get the tips of 2 fingers under 2 prongs when the collar is fitted properly.
• If the collar comes apart when you give a correction you do not have it properly fitted and adjusted to your dog it is way too loose

Resources

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