How Should You Place A Prong Collar On A Dog?

A prong collar (pinch collar) is a dog collar with spikes inside, often used as a highly effective item to train dogs, including the most demanding ones. Unfortunately, prong collar misuse during training can be cruel, harmful, and painful for dogs, although many owners believe it is the best way to teach the dog obedience.

When it is wrongly placed or too tight, it can severely injure your buddy. However, some experts claim that it is beneficial when using a properly sized model that fits correctly. Let’s see how should you place a prong collar on a dog.

How A Prong Collar Works

The prong’s collar purpose is to imitate the mother dog’s behavior and provoke particular memories and behavior patterns in the puppy. You should know that mom dog bites the pup on the neck back as a warning when it behaves unacceptably. It hurts a bit, but there is no harm of such a punishment.

The best dog pinch collar mimics this sensation after mother’s bite. The point is to choose the right design and learn how to size a prong collar to control used force successfully. Well-designed models distribute an equal pressure amount to the dog’s neck, so you can use them during the training to enforce obedience.

Be aware that a rounded prong collar is an entirely different thing from using a choke collar. It has metal links that pinch the skin around the dog’s neck as a warning. The purpose is to teach your furry friend to react adequately on command.

The crucial thing is to use the training chain collar properly. Only that way will the lessons be successful, and the collar won’t harm your buddy. Keep in mind that this collars type is not the best solution for an aggressive dog.

How To Place A Prong Collar On A Dog

1. Adequate Preparations

You need to prepare yourself adequately before placing a prong collar on your pet’s neck.

2. Ask An Expert For Advice

Before starting the training, you should choose a specialized prong collar harness for your dog. The best option is to use it under professional supervision for the first time and ask the expert for guidance on how to use a training collar on a dog.

Always look for someone who has enough experience in using this collar type. Improper use will result in pain and probably hurt your four-legged friend. Moreover, you won’t get the desirable results, which can be frustrating. Practical use of a prong collar means it is helpful during the training, but you shouldn’t put it around your dog’s neck for casual daily walks. Mixed signals will only confuse your buddy and will be counterproductive.

3. Buy An Adequate Prong Collar

Metal training dog collar is convenient but can be frightening for some dog owners. The truth is that only a substandard model can hurt your buddy. Purchasing a high-quality one will never cause pain.

You can also choose the best prong collar made of other materials, such as:

There is also an option to buy a quick release pinch collar, but you need to check the quick release prong collar instructions before using it.

Other factors you need to keep on your mind when picking out the best prong collar for dogs available on the market include:

4. Properly Place A Prong Collar On Your Dog’s Neck

The procedure includes placing the prong collar underneath the jaw, behind the dog’s ears. After hooking it up and setting the attachment for the leash appropriately, you should adjust the prongs. Let’s check out how to do this the right way.

Way Of Placing Prong Collar Correctly

1. Connect The Links

Dog training collar instructions will help you to connect the links appropriately. Remember that this step is the biggest issue for most owners. The point is to link both prongs the way it can’t harm your buddy. If you fail to do it correctly, the unattached link can fall off at any time and hurt the dog.

The most common mistake is to connect only one prong to the following link. It often happens when you try to attach the link without putting enough pressure on its sides. The trick is to squeeze both sides and make a link small enough to place both prongs into the following link. Otherwise, it will come apart as soon as you loosen the collar.

2. Place The Spikes Properly

It is necessary to place a dog collar with spikes inside to get the desired effect. The prongs need to be against the dog’s neck, although it seems cruel at first sight. Be aware that your buddy has fat tissue along the neck, so gentle poking won’t hurt it. Your goal is not to use a prong collar by force but to allow your furry friend to control its pulling strength.

One of the most common mistakes is to leave dog collars with spikes on the inside too loose. You need to snug it enough to let it work correctly. The rule of thumb is that recommended space between the dog’s neck and collar should be at least 2 to 4 inches (5 – 10 cm). That way, the collar will fit properly without choking the dog unintentionally.

Otherwise, the collar will pressure the front neck at one spot, hurt your buddy over time, and even cause internal injuries. Plus, it can quickly slip over the dog’s head and cause significant problems at decisive moments.

Keep in mind that the dog pinch collar with the quick release will loosen after a while, which is its worst flaw. Therefore, you should always simultaneously use another collar that won’t restrict a prong collar but will do the job when the prong collar comes free. An excellent option is to use a prong collar leash adapter to connect those two appropriately and safely. It is necessary to check if the prong collar is adequately placed. If it is too tight, you should add one to two links. On the other hand, it will be necessary to remove links when the collar is too loose.

3. Place The Collar

Always familiarize your buddy with the new collar before using it. As always, a bribe is the best option, so you shouldn’t skimp on treats. The first step is to unhook a collar link to open it and place the collar under the dog’s jaw. Finally, connect the links around its neck.

Remember that the right option is to put the collar just below the ears while the position of the ring for the leash attaching needs to be behind the dog’s neck. Never place it under the animal’s chin.

4. Attach The Leash

You can see that there are always two rings on the prong collar:

You should attach a leash to the D ring to give your furry friend some slack when it pulls ahead. Some dogs don’t respond well to the leash attached to only the D ring. In that case, the best option is to connect the leash to both rings to allow less slack in the moment of pulling.

Prong Collar Benefits

Many experts and experienced trainers claim that a metal prong collar can solve most dog’s behavioral problems. It will help your buddy to become more confident and balanced and accept commands better without mixed signals the owner can show during traditional training. There are a few situations that answer the question of why use a prong collar.

It will deter your furry friend from:

I don’t like using the prong collar with my dog and never recommend it as an excellent option for training. However, as long as it fulfills the United Kennel Club and American Kennel Club standards, you can use it when necessary.

Remember that you can sometimes start with one collar, but it is necessary to change it if you realize it is not the best option for your buddy. Another crucial thing is to check a prong collar size chart and pick out the adequate model, depending on your dog.

You can find three types available:

Reasons To Avoid A Prong Collar

There are numerous reasons why using the prong collar is not recommended.

The crucial ones include:

Remember that you can always find better options for your beloved pet.

Conclusion

The prong collar is a handy option to train any dog because its design doesn’t cause physical harm or pain when used correctly. It mimics the sensation that the puppy had when its mother bit it, which is the main reason for its effectiveness.

On the other hand, the improperly placed prong collar can severely hurt your furry friend. Therefore, it is probably better to consider an alternative to the prong collar as a better training option.