What are your thoughts on the choke chain vs. the prong collar?

Question

My bf got his 5 month old blue nose pit Athena a choke chain and an extra grip controlling leash. The choke chain works alright and she gets it but pit bulls are stubborn And she's a puppy.lol I am usually the one walking her when he is at work since I dog sit her. The leash works really good though with a second handle at the bottom to keep her next to me. But she has a big problem with being TOO friendly. If she sees anyone when we are walking she pulls so hard to try to say hi to them she will cough. Other than that she is fine, I just don't want to hurt her. I know the prong collar applies pressure but it looks like a torture device. Does it work better? Also, I know there are choke chains that have fabric entwined in the chain to make it pull hair and skin less, and there are martingale collars that can be worn like a collar but have the control chain. What is best?

Answer 1

Prong collar, high and tight. The name of the game is training, not philosophizing what tool does what and how and when. Prongs work because they were build to work, end of. Those who claim to be able to do otherwise, should meet a few dogs I have that need training, I will be happy to send them over and have them try their methods on them.

Answer 2

Used improperly (which is it seems that the only approach you've gotten obvious them used) choke chains can purpose injury, however then so can a average buckle collar or any other coaching software for that topic. Used effectively a choke chain will have to now not choke a dog, it's meant for a pop and release correction. I individually pick a pinch collar because it has been essentially the most amazing software on my canine. Nonetheless i am a significant proponent of utilising the device that works for a specified canine. If I had a dog that the choke chain was the proper instrument for then that may be the tool i'd use. Reference your extra the collar does no longer must constrict to motive the dog to choke/cut off air give. The canine simplest has to pull tough enough in opposition to the collar to compress the trachea. You see it on average buckle collars relatively on the whole and it most without doubt can arise with a pinch collar. It is the motive puppies which can be prone to collapsed trachea will have to simplest be walked on a harness (my exception to do not walk your canine on a harness)

Answer 3

First off, I'm a breeder/trainer/rescuer of American Pit Bull Terriers and other "vicious/dangerous/aggressive" breeds, and I've trained many to be service dogs.



I would NOT use a prong collar for a couple of reasons. - As you said, this is a very stubborn breed. Even with the prongs, she will most likely pull just as hard as she does with the choke chain. Second, this breed is STRONGLY misrepresented, and we're still fighting to end BSL on them. Using a prong collar, a giant spike collar, or anything else "mean" or "bad" looking only enhances the negative image they have receive from their fighting history and bad media light. If it looks like it's meant to hold back a rabid wolf, don't put it on a well behaved, non aggressive dog.



Next up, the choke chain. I support these under most circumstanced. They are to be used on WALKS..Please never leave it on her when she's alone in the yard or house. If it were to get hung on anything and she didn't remain calm, it could do very serious damage. They were NOT meant to be a collar. It's a device to help train dogs to walk properly. The ones with the fabric entwined in them don't make any difference to me. I've never found that the regular choke chains pinch my dog or pull hair. Others obviously have I suppose, but I haven't had that problem. In most cases, my dogs end up chewing on the collar (as they do everything else they can) and they just chew the fabric right out. Lol Now, if she continues to age and still pulls on the collar that hard, or if you just don't like watching her choke, cough, and get blood shot eyes (depending on how bad she pulls) you can always use a harness.



Harness are (in most cases) excellent for highly muscled or extremely hyper breeds. I especially like the harness that have the large mesh "Y" or "X" front because they don't ride up in the dogs under arms as bad. They rub less. Another one I like a lot is the Dog Whisperer ones sold at Petco. I would not use the regular nylon or leather ones unless it has an X plate at the front.



Martingale collars, in my opinion, are just another version of the choke collar, but usually nylon instead of metal. They were made the way they were because chain collars auto release when the dog quits struggling (usually) and nylon will not if made in the same fashion. That's how they got their specific design, but they are still a form of the control (choke) collar, so you can go with that if you don't like the chain. It may feel easier on her neck to one or both of you.



Another option many people like (I do not) is the head halter or collar. They make them in two "designs." On one, the leash attached at the base of the neck toward the back of the head, and you walk beside or behind the dog. It's like a harness for the head. On the other, the leash attaches under the dogs chin, and it's to keep the dog beside you. If the dog runs ahead and pulls, the leash placement causes him to HAVE to turn his head, which means he will most likely turn back toward you to relieve the pressure. It's the same method used in training a horse to turn. The idea is that in four legged animals, the head controls the balance, so if you control the head, you control the walking. I do not use them because of the breeds I work with. They're strong willed, physically strong, and hyper. I don't like the thing nylon rope cutting into them..especially their face.







I would remain with the control choke chain or martingale until she gets it down, then you can move to a "regular" collar, or try a harness out.



Best of luck! & remember the two most important things

1. consistency in PROPER training..consistency.

2. PATIENCE!!!!

Answer 4

The choke chain is an excellent training and walking device - BUT, it alone won't train the dog. And, THAT is what she needs - training. Sign up for an obedience class or even with a one-on-one trainer (can be expensive). Once the dog has some good solid training on her, there will be no need for gimmicks or heavy-handed training devices. Forget the "halties" and harnesses - you own a strong breed that will use that harness to set her weight against and drag you along for the ride.



She needs training. Get her some while she's still young!



ADD: IMO anyone walking their dog with a Prong collar has an untrained dog and is advertising the fact!



ADD#2: @Deli La - My Heart Looks like a - Good post - but, while I have been looking for quite sometime, I have not been able to find anything that backs up that often repeated German Study. I see it quoted repeatedly on the internet, but would like to see the actual report - if you know where it can be found. Thanks!

Answer 5

Firstly, I'm not comfortable using any training collar other than a nylon martingale on a puppy under 6 months. Secondly, every collar is as good as the handler when it's used properly. If the handler isn't a good one and can't use the collar properly, then you aren't going to get good results. If the handler is an outright bad one and uses the collar WRONGLY, then you're going to get terrible results.



Prongs are one of the easiest training collars to misuse, and one of the most frequently misused.



Flat collars, chokes and martingales all put stress on the front of the dogs throat when the dog puts pressure on the lead. Prongs spread out the tension, thus are unlikely to cause trachea damage which is a main concern when selecting a collar for your dog.



The biggest downside I see in prongs is that they're so easy to misuse, and when they're misused even a little bit, the amount of damage done is astonishing.



Prongs are proven to be safer to dogs than chokes.



I've linked you to a webpage which includes brief information about a study done a few years ago, as well as more info on prongs.



"•100 dogs were in the study. 50 used choke and 50 used prong.

•The dogs were studied for their entire lives. As dogs died, autopsies were performed.

•Of the 50 which had chokes, 48 had injuries to the neck, trachea, or back. 2 of those were determined to be genetic. The other 46 were caused by trauma.

•Of the 50 which had prongs, 2 had injuries in the neck area, 1 was determined to be genetic. 1 was caused by trauma."



It's very interesting. Prongs look like torture devices, and it's so easy to make them into torture devices. Educate yourself before you buy a collar that can cause so much damage, so quickly, with so little effort on your aprt, and your dog will be fine; as well you.



For dogs that pull, I do prefer prongs, because the tension and pressure isn't applied to one area. It's spaced out around the neck. Prongs are uncomfortable, or if you'd prefer "painful" (you'd have to test it yourself, because you won't believe anybody else tellking you that it doesn't actually hurt), so the dog doesn't WANT to pull, which means you can train using a more positive method if you prefer - which you should.



I'll link you up to a bunch of other websites, with different views and approaches, so you can do research before jumping into anything. Every collar that's misused can cause damage. Prongs are one of the easiest to misuse.

Answer 6

Prong collars are only used when a trainer has no better source of training methods. Pits are no more stubborn than any other terrier, and can be taught to walk calmly on a leash with a simple buckle collar when the owner understands how to do this. Put a choker on your neck and pop it....does it hurt? Now, ;put a prong collar on your neck and pop it, hurts doesn't it????

No matter how much you learn about how to use a prong, the whole purpose is to make the dog uncomfortable enough so it pays attention to you. Any fool can make a dog mind with a prong.

EDIT: Over and over you hear prong lovers tell about correct fit. What they all seem to ignore is the very reason for the use of a prong is to create a certain amount of pain. Why any trainer would needs pain to train a dog is simply beyond me, and I've trained a whole lot of different breeds, including terriers. If you have to use pain to get your dogs cooperation, then in my mind you are the one needing obedience training more than the dog.

Answer 7

You should get a prong collar for what you're talking about. Who cares if it looks like a torture device? It isn't one, if you use it correctly. You need to have it correctly fitted with the right number of links, and it's to be worn high on the neck, right behind the ears. The corrections themselves are giving the same as would be if using a choke chain.



Here's a website for you to look at:

http://leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm



Five months old was the exact age I started using prong collar on my current Dobe. She'll be 3 years old in April, and I have NO need to use one anymore, and haven't had that need for a VERY long time now. She's trained to walk just about perfect on a lead, even with distractions such as other people, other dogs, squirrels, etc.



The color of the dogs nose has nothing to do with anything, and neither does it's breed, other than larger dogs call pull harder than smaller dogs.

Answer 8

Honestly, I don't think you should use either unless you absolutely have to. A harness uses even pressure around the shoulders and chest so it does not choke them. It also make it easier to control, stop, and less likely to have back problems.

Answer 9

I use a prong Collar its a tool and in the right hands its a great tool.

never used a choke collar but nothing wrong with using a Prong .You need to know how to fit one how to use it and what they are used for .

Answer 10

Neither one of those things will be the right tool for training or walking your Pittie puppy.

As I said in my other answer, please get a gentle leader and find a trainer who uses Clicker training.

If your puppy doesn't get the right training early, it could easily cost her her life.

Nothing around her neck is going to give you leverage or her attention.

And there is no such thing as a Pittie being too friendly.

Please put nothing around her neck except a pretty collar with her ID tags and a bow.

Answer 11

Do not like either one- a harness or leather collar is best....Training will be the key to the rest of ur problem--always be persistant -- and eventually it will learn

Answer 12

no prong collors can injure the dog the best thng would be a harness