How to correctly and safely use a prong?

[Labradorks]

She has a trainer that she has been going to for about six years now, nearly every single week. I don't know if the trainer is aware that she uses a prong; I doubt it.

It doesn't sound like there is anything good out there that might work to help her keep her dog safe, so I'll figure out something. Perhaps I'll just talk to her about it in passing and try not to offend her. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Annette47]

You're preaching to the choir! There are, unfortunately, a lot of things at the heart of her problem. I learned to keep my mouth shut unless she asks, but this being a safety issue, I feel like I need to speak up. But at the same time, I don't want to alienate her. I read the Leerburg article and thought it was OK but it was about fit, not function.

They also have some videos about proper usage but I find it hard to search through them. I know I saw one but can’t find it again!

[MontananDakota]

Great article, in fact I see right away what I have been doing wrong with Dakota. I did the same with Montana but he was just a naturally great walker that I never questioned anything.
Dakota pulls and I see that her collar sits too low on her neck.
I have several friends like this-you can't say a word or else they get offended and they think they are doing it right anyway. Hopefully she will get the picture.

[barry581]

She has a trainer that she has been going to for about six years now, nearly every single week. I don't know if the trainer is aware that she uses a prong; I doubt it.

It doesn't sound like there is anything good out there that might work to help her keep her dog safe, so I'll figure out something. Perhaps I'll just talk to her about it in passing and try not to offend her. Thanks for the suggestions.

Six years??!!! And she's still having this problem?? Seems to me she just may want to find a new trainer.

Sophie used to pull against the prong collar when she was trying to greet someone. I found that if I gave her a good "pop" to get her attention, she was less likely to do it. Bruce very quickly figured out it was counter productive to pull.

[Labradorks]

Six years??!!! And she's still having this problem?? Seems to me she just may want to find a new trainer.

Four+ years with her old dog, 1+ years with her young dog (he is 18 months). The trainer she uses is fine and if my friend asked her for help, she would have gotten it. And if the trainer saw something dangerous, she would speak up. The younger dog, for the most part, is fine in a class setting so this issue is not addressed. Like I said, I highly doubt the trainer is aware that the dog even wears a prong or that there is a problem.

[mhb]

Prongs have gotten such a bad reputation from people like this. They are often fitted incorrectly, and used incorrectly and for the wrong purposes. As stated above: The prong must be rather snug requiring just a slight tug to impact the dog, it must be kept high on the neck at the base of the skull, and its to be used by a handler not a tie out, to give instant and targeted correction to pulling on a leash, not a run. As you point out, so many things wrong with how your friend is using it. I hope the links you've gotten can help.

I share your concern and would keep my dogs from playing with hers while its wearing a prong.

[Labradorks]

Well, the dog, while on a prong, lunged at a bird or something. The leash was wrapped around her hand as he was in a parking lot (at the vet) and she wanted to make sure he didn't get loose. So, instead of getting away from her as usual, her hand was broken.

I don't know what to say. If this isn't a wake-up call for her to take a different approach to her training, I don't know what will be.