faerie

thanks everyone. i happen to like the prong collar.

i am starting back in training on wednesday (she took puppy classes and this is beginner which will really focus more on training and less on baby socialization).

they recommended the prong and i love it. i hope at end of this session to haev her better trained to not pull so i can walk her w/out pulling on a regular collar and leash.

Margotsmom

I started using a Sensation/Sensible halter after seeing my Spoo's out of control brother turn a corner using one. My girl has not been that much of a problem, though she is still dog reactive about 10% of the time which often takes the form of a lunge. I like the Sensation/Sensible better than the similar one made by the Gentle Leader folks as it sits a bit higher and is simpler. Still it is off her neck, but at her center of gravity. If she lunges I can easily control her. And at 14 months I have a girl who walks very nicely on a loose leash with few reminders. I have not seen much difference if I use her collar instead of the halter, so I don't think she is "addicted" to the harness.

Mandycasey'smom

I have used both and its different for each dog Casey is amazing on the prong but on the halti he shuts right down and refuses to move.
Mandy can wear both but I hate how the prong makes her neck look dirty LOL.
I use both in different situations and had great success this past few weeks on flat collars untill Sat I took just mandy to a fair withjust a flat collar what a mistake
There was thousands of people and dogs and she wasn't after other dogs as she just didn't walk nice. LIve and learn next time she will probably have a trainng collar

I will NEVER use a choke chain I hate them though am going to try a martingale to help with the switch to flat collars

SnorPuddel

I agree with you, no choke collars or prongs in my household either, since having poodles I have never used anything other that a plain buckle collar.
Yes it does take patience, I don't believe in "quick fixes".

whitepoodles

[QUOTE=SnorPuddel;114531]I agree with you, no choke collars or prongs in my household either, since having poodles I have never used anything other that a plain buckle collar.
Yes it does take patience, I don't believe in "quick fixes".[/QUOTE]

I can honestly say I never met a person who owns a standard poodle and walks/obedience trains them with a prong collar.

I believe it is cruel and unnecessary.. There are other methods.

While I respect some trainers' choice in using prong collars I feel that standard poodles are not a breed one should train or do obedience with the prong.

They are not german shep. or rotties that need these "tough" measurements.
I have raised many poodles and trained them to walk properly on a leash and not to pull. I never once used a prong collar to do so.

Maybe there are poodles out there (which I am not aware of) who need the prong but in general this breed aims to please is very easily trained and only needs really a regular chocke chain collar but not a prong. I took several obedience courses with my keepers and never came upon a trainer who suggested a prong collar.

Imagine putting a spiky prong around your wrist and having someone leash walk you with the prong tightening around your writst..
Painful isnt it ? And the neck area is much more sensitive than the wrist.

CharismaticMillie

A regular choke chain collar can do more damage than a prong collar. A prong collar, if used correctly, is less damaging to the trachea than using corrections with a flat buckle collar. We have used prong collars with all of our poodles.

I do not believe that using a prong collar is in ANY way cruel. I also know people who DO train standard poodles for competitive obedience using prong collars.

In fact, I tested my poodles' prong collar on my own skin. A pull of the collar does cause a pinch, but a pinch is much less damaging than a choke collar or flat buckle collar popping against the trachea.

SnorPuddel

Poodles do live to please, both Foxxy and Baldr are that way, and they were the only dogs in their training classes that did not have choke collars on, they only had regular buckle collars. With the exception of Foxxy's puppy classes back in Portland we had clicker training and our instructor insisted on buckle collars. Wish we could have stayed with her, she was awesome !

Are there times that they decide to have a little fun and not turn on a dime, but more like a quarter, or sit immediately but a few seconds later...sure, but they are not robots, and that is one reason I would never want to do competitive obedience, it is so rigid, agility on the other hand is fun

whitepoodles

[QUOTE=ChocolateMillie;114544].

I do not believe that using a prong collar is in ANY way cruel. I also know people who DO train standard poodles for competitive obedience using prong collars.

Chocmillie:

I have never come across a stand. poodle in any obedience school/class whose trainer insisted on a prong.

I can only speak from my personal 16 years experience of raising and selling dogs to people who do go through obedience school with standards purchased from me and I have yet to see one needing a prong collar.

Maybe my standards are very easy to train while others need much firmer corrections.. who knows.. as I said I can only speak from personal experience and in no way disrespect those who are prong users. But not for me and not for my clients...

Keithsomething

Elphies obedience class trainer tested each person and dog to gauge whether they needed the prong or not ((hes a firm believer that the prong is easier to train with than any other collar invented)) evidently Elphie and a border collie in the class were the only ones who didn't need it...I wasn't able to go with my mom to the classes because of school but we still purchased the prong and I use it on occasion if I know theres going to be a bit of chaos when we go out

I'd rather see the prong used occasionally than seeing the halti on a dog all the time, but thats just one persons perception

OH and Elphies prong collar has the little plastic nubs on it so that the metal doesn't dig into her neck tooo bad when she pulls ((the trainer wasn't a fan of the plastic nubs))

cbrand

Well I can speak as someone who has actually titled three Poodles in Obedience. I know many, many Poodle people who use prongs. Heck, my trainer has Minis and she uses prongs. She has put an OTCH on one Mini and a UDX/MACH on another. Oh.. and she has put OTCHs on two other breeds as well.

Prongs are not about strong arming a dog. Prongs allow handlers to give very slight and subtle corrections. I equate the prong to using a full bridle on a well trained dressage horse.