Prong Collars from an Animal Perspective

In Sweden, these collars and other painful methods are thankfully banned. Our Swedish dog experts are unanimous on the issue of discomfort in dog training; it has no place there. All our animals are sentient beings, just like you and me. Our feelings should be taken seriously, and so should the feelings of our animals. There are some so-called dog experts worldwide who insist that prong collars are a good method to use, while many others believe that these dog experts simply lack the right tools to achieve their goals with positive and friendly methods. At Canine Zoone, we strongly distance ourselves from all methods involving pain, discomfort, and coercion. We aim to emphasize reward, safety, joy, and positivity.

Prong collars are painful and unethical training tools. Owners use them on their dogs in an attempt to stop behaviors like pulling on the leash. They can cause severe harm to dogs and are an ineffective training method, as the behavior often returns immediately when the collar is removed or sneaks back. Furthermore, you won't have a dog that knows HOW to behave on a leash; it only knows that it hurts to resist.

Prong collars may be perceived as a quick fix to control dogs. They are often marketed by sellers as safe and relatively gentle. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

What are Prong Collars, and Are They Cruel?

Prong collars are designed to inflict pain or discomfort on the animal to reduce or stop them from pulling on the leash. Prong collars rely on the principle of using something painful or frightening to halt undesirable behavior. When a dog pulls on the leash, the metal spikes on the collar close, puncturing the sensitive skin around the neck. These spikes cause pain and can also lead to injuries and infections from puncture wounds and nerve damage.

Research has shown that aversive training methods, like prong collars, can cause pain and suffering and may compromise the well-being of the dog. Painful and distressing training methods also have long-term effects on a dog's mental well-being and overall happiness. The downside is that dogs often wag their tails and appear happy even with a painful collar, which can lead owners to mistakenly believe that the collar isn't as harmful as many claim. Consider a situation when your dog has suffered an injury and has been at the animal hospital. When you pick up the pain-affected dog, it will wag its tail and in some cases, jump around, displaying happiness despite the pain.

Besides being painful and distressing, prong collars (and similar techniques) do not teach positive behavior to dogs. In fact, they likely cause confusion. The pain a dog feels when wearing such a collar can make them associate it with something entirely different.

For example, if a dog is pricked by spikes while approaching a child, they might link the child to the pain they feel from the spikes. This can make the dog view the child as something to be feared, leading to behavioral problems that weren't present initially.

Prong collars can lead to new behavioral issues. Being painful when walking creates fear, anxiety, and negative feelings that can trigger negatively motivated behaviors in highly excited dogs, including aggression.

Dogs work hard to please us and adapt. Even though excessive leash pulling can be frustrating and sometimes challenging to manage, it's important to remember that your dog isn't trying to upset you. Instead, ask yourself why the dog is pulling. Does the dog know HOW to behave on a leash? Have you taught it to walk nicely on a leash?

Many do not realize that their dog pays a high price both mentally and physically because the owner cannot teach the dog how to behave on a leash. Owners do not realize that what is meant to be a truly pleasant and rewarding experience for the dog becomes the opposite.

Ethical Alternatives to Prong Collars

Walking on a loose leash is a skill that takes time, patience, and consistency. Ultimately, it is well worth the hard work when you can enjoy pleasant walks with your dog. Invest time in training your dog using ethical, reward-based methods. This not only helps the dog learn essential life skills but also builds trust and strengthens the bond between you both.

You can break down the training into small steps and reward each small step with something very enjoyable, teaching your dog to focus on you and walk nicely by your side.

Teaching your dog not to pull on the leash during walks

Be inventive: Turn the walk into an exciting experience by being a bit inventive. Your dog will want to stay close if it associates the walk with missing out on something fun by ignoring you.

Change direction: As soon as your dog starts pulling, change direction. Be quick and make a sudden turn. This keeps the dog alert and attentive to you.

Hide treats along the way: When your dog begins to pull, quickly squat down, place a couple of treats in the grass, and entice the dog as if you've discovered a little treasure. This encourages them to stay close and be attentive to you.

Use rewards off the path: Discover fun spots where the dog can jump up or perform a simple exercise to earn a reward. It could be rocks, stumps, or other objects along the way.

Vary the terrain: Change up the terrain during the walk by going through different environments. This keeps the dog interested and prevents them from getting bored with you, leading to pulling.

Activate mentally: Give the dog a chance to use its brain during the walk by introducing simple obedience exercises or search games. This keeps the dog engaged and less likely to pull.

Work with the dog as if off-leash: Train the dog as if it were off-leash, using play and rewards. This strengthens your communication and prevents dull walks.

Be patient and consistent: Patience and consistency are still the keys. Be clear with your expectations and consistently reward when the dog behaves as you desire.

By turning the walk into an exciting and rewarding activity, your dog will gradually learn to stay close without pulling on the leash.

Every step you take in training your dog is an opportunity to build a deeper understanding and trust. By training with your heart, rewarding with love, and showing patience, you open the door to a world of joy and cooperation between you and your loyal companion. Every moment you invest in understanding and communicating with your dog will be worth it in loving moments, and together you will create beautiful memories. So, let us, with open arms and an open heart, provide our four-legged friends with the love and guidance they deserve on the path to a deep and meaningful relationship.

//Mirabelle Wesden