Although prong collars are controversial for puppy training, in the right hands, in the right situation, with the trainer having the correct level of training experience, they can be a great training aid for your puppy.
In our opinion, a prong collar should only ever be used as a last resort and even then, most people will need to hire a professional dog trainer to help them correctly use the tool.
That said, we have noticed a number of people reaching out with various questions about using a prong collar with their puppy so we decided to publish this article on the topic.
Our hope is that we will be able to help our readers better understand how they should use a prong collar and more importantly, the right prong collar training age for their puppy.
So many people use their prong collars on their puppy way too early and then don’t understand when the tool doesn’t deliver results.
What Is A Prong Collar?
A prong collar is a type of dog training collar that is made up of metal links.
The links are often spikes or prongs that can pinch the skin of your dog when the collar is tightened.
Prong collars are also called pinch collars and they are often used by professional dog trainers.
When used correctly, a prong collar can be a great training tool.
However, when used incorrectly, a prong collar can cause your dog a great deal of pain.
This is why it’s so important to only use a prong collar under the guidance of a professional trainer.
Are Prong Collars Cruel?
Prong collars have been given a bad rap over the years and many people believe that they are cruel.
However, when used correctly, prong collars are not cruel.
In fact, many professional dog trainers will tell you that prong collars are one of the best training tools available when used in the correct way on difficult dogs.
We still feel that positive reinforcement will be a much better training method for the vast majority of people though!
Why Do People Use Prong Collars?
Prong collars are often used on dogs that pull on the leash.
If your dog is constantly pulling on the leash, a prong collar can help to train them not to do this.
When your dog pulls on the leash, the prongs of the collar will pinch their skin and this will cause them to stop pulling.
Over time, your dog will learn that pulling on the leash is not a good idea and they will stop doing it.
Again, the prongs of the collar will pinch their skin and this will cause them to stop lunging.
When used in this way, prong collars can be a great training tool.
How Old Should A Puppy Be To Use A Prong Collar?
The best prong collar training age for puppies is 8 months old.
Before this age, puppies are still too young to understand what the prongs of the collar mean.
They will also be more likely to hurt themselves with the prongs of the collar if they are not used to it.
If you start using a prong collar on your puppy too early, they may also become scared of the collar and this can make training more difficult.
When Should You Not Use A Prong Collar On Your Puppy?
There are certain situations when you should not use a prong collar on your puppy.
If your puppy is under 8 months old, you should not use a prong collar.
If your puppy is scared of the prongs, you should not use a prong collar.
If your puppy is already well-trained and only needs occasional corrections, you should not use a prong collar.
Only use a prong collar on your puppy if you are having difficulty training them and you have been advised to do so by a professional dog trainer.
How to Put A Prong Collar On A Puppy!
Putting a prong collar on a puppy is not as difficult as you may think.
First, you will need to find the right size prong collar for your puppy.
The best way to do this is to measure your puppy’s neck and then add 2 inches.
Once you have the right size prong collar, it’s time to put it on your puppy.
To do this, you will need to open the links of the collar.
Once the links are open, you can put the collar over your puppy’s head.
Make sure that the prongs are facing inwards so that they will pinch your puppy’s skin if they pull on the leash.
Once the collar is in place, you can close the links back up.
You should only be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck.
If you can fit more than two fingers, the collar is too loose and your puppy may be able to slip out of it.
If you can’t fit any fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck, the collar is too tight and this can cause your puppy a great deal of pain.
Now that the collar is on, it’s time to start using it for training.
How Do You Train A Puppy With A Prong Collar?
The best way to train a puppy with a prong collar is to use it in conjunction with positive reinforcement.
This means that you will reward your puppy for good behavior and ignore bad behavior.
For example, if your puppy is walking nicely on the leash, you will give them a treat.
If your puppy starts to pull on the leash, you will not give them a treat.
Over time, your puppy will learn that pulling on the leash is not a good idea because they will not get a reward for doing it.
Training a puppy with a prong collar can be difficult and it is important to seek professional help if you are having difficulty.
How Long Can A Puppy Wear A Prong Collar?
A puppy can wear a prong collar for short periods of time.
You should only put the collar on your puppy when you are going to be training them.
Once training is over, you should remove the collar.
Puppies should not wear prong collars for more than 2 hours at a time.
If you need to use a prong collar for longer periods of time, you should consult with a professional dog trainer.
