Martingale collar or harness

[Annette47]

They are not difficult to use, but it does need to be fitted properly. Too loose and it doesn't work, too tight and it could Hirt the dog. If your vet is familiar maybe they could show you how to fit and use it.

This is the one I use. I like the quick release.

Amazon.com : Herm Sprenger Pet Supply Imports Chrome Plated Training Collar with Quick Release Snap for Dogs, Medium, 3.0mm, 21-Inch : Gateway

And I prefer the Herm Sprenger without the quick release as I've had it release unexpectedly, LOL. All prong collars work the same - most of the differences are in quality of construction and to a lesser extent features such as quick release or not.

[Snowshoe]

And I'll just add, we went to regular release on bigger prongs after Oban BROKE his quick release Herm Sprenger. My skinny, lady fingers had no problem with squeezing the link to do it up. I did find the quick release undid itself a couple of times, all on it's own, if the leash and collar got twisted just the right way.

[Amelia]

Just getting a chance to catch up on some of the comments on the prong collars. The Herm Sprenger site states Prong collars are designed for larger, untrained dogs to teach leash manners. They are usually a last resort for dogs whose pulling problems are not resolved through other means. Puppies are new to walking and should not start off with the most intense level of training collar. Prong collars are not safe until at least 5 or 6 months of age and, even then, they are not recommended unless other training methods have been exhausted.

Amber is just past 6 months so have any of you started using them under 1 year of age.

And I prefer the Herm Sprenger without the quick release as I've had it release unexpectedly, LOL. All prong collars work the same - most of the differences are in quality of construction and to a lesser extent features such as quick release or not.

[smartrock]

Amber is just past 6 months so have any of you started using them under 1 year of age.

Yes, the trainers from whom we took our group obedience classes recommends them for pretty much all dogs. I guess Henry earned his by about 5 months of age when the martingale clearly wasn't enough. No harnesses are used in classes.

[Annette47]

Yes, the trainers from whom we took our group obedience classes recommends them for pretty much all dogs. I guess Henry earned his by about 5 months of age when the martingale clearly wasn't enough. No harnesses are used in classes.

Same here .... mostly started them around 4-5 months when they started formal training.

[bmathers]

Have any of you tried the gentle leader nose harness to stop them pulling? If so, how does it compare to a prong collar?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[barry581]

Just getting a chance to catch up on some of the comments on the prong collars. The Herm Sprenger site states Prong collars are designed for larger, untrained dogs to teach leash manners. They are usually a last resort for dogs whose pulling problems are not resolved through other means. Puppies are new to walking and should not start off with the most intense level of training collar. Prong collars are not safe until at least 5 or 6 months of age and, even then, they are not recommended unless other training methods have been exhausted.

Amber is just past 6 months so have any of you started using them under 1 year of age.

I started Sophie at 8 months (after I found this forum), Bruce at 6 months, and Brooks at 4.5 months. I used a much lighter basic prong when Brooks was you, he moved to a 3mm Herm Springier when he was 6 months.

I did have one issue with a Herm quick release prong coming apart unexpectedly. I found that the quick release mechanism can work it's way into the hole you thread the chain through, which can cause it to release unexpectedly. It has to go together a specific way to prevent this from happening, even then I check it as we go to make sure it doesn't become a problem.

Have any of you tried the gentle leader nose harness to stop them pulling? If so, how does it compare to a prong collar?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have not used the gentle leader on my dogs, but I did use one on my daughters golden retriever when I was visiting her in the UK a few years ago. I did not like the way it rubbed a spot in the fur on his nose, and it seemed to me to put undue pressure on his neck in how it pulled it to the side.

[smartrock]

I tried the gentle leader with our first lab. I worked hard to get him accustomed to wearing it. He despised it. When we tried to walk just in our backyard, he'd drop to the ground and try to scrape it off his face. his face got scratched where the nose band would cross his nose and I couldn't keep using the GL. Another thing is that once you've used another collar and have given the leash a little snap to get their attention, you have to learn not to do that or you can injure them. There's an older lady in our neighborhood who has 2 elderly goldens that she walks on Gentle Leaders, so it works for some people.

[Annette47]

I tried the gentle leader with our first lab. I worked hard to get him accustomed to wearing it. He despised it. When we tried to walk just in our backyard, he'd drop to the ground and try to scrape it off his face. his face got scratched where the nose band would cross his nose and I couldn't keep using the GL. Another thing is that once you've used another collar and have given the leash a little snap to get their attention, you have to learn not to do that or you can injure them. There's an older lady in our neighborhood who has 2 elderly goldens that she walks on Gentle Leaders, so it works for some people.

When we had a CCI pup (11 months) visiting us for a week she came with a Gentle Leader head halter that she's been using since she was a baby. She HATES it. Tolerates having it put on but can't stop pawing at her face for a while after you take it off. We only used it while taking her out "on the job" (ie wearing her service dog in training cape to places dogs aren't usually allowed). When we took her for "normal" walks with our dogs we put her on her buckle collar and she was perfectly fine.

I have no problems with prongs and all my dogs have gotten excited when they see them come out as it means either training or a walk or something else fun. If there was some reason I didn't want to use one and felt a regular collar didn't give me enough control I'd try a no-pull harness (the ones with the front clip) before a head halter. I haven't had any experience with how effective those are, but they at least seem more comfortable for the dog to wear if fitted correctly.

[lovemylabby]

Interesting thread.

What are everyone's thoughts on Prong Collars, Choke Collars, Martingale Collars etc, doing long term damage to a dog's neck/trachea.

My Vet tells me to stay away from all of these types of collars.

Any thoughts?