Just Curious....

[Zoee]

Sure, as soon as my parents get back with their digital I will start a thread with Zoee's pics andone with the head collar as weel, I am sure in anybody REALLY wants one it could be arranged, after all it is 31 canadian, probably the same price with shipping in us dollars?

[kerriebeth21]

I vote leather.

[dollface]

I use a buckle leather collar on my dogs...

I don't think prong collars should be used unless the person has had training with them, well to me that goes for all the corection collars. If not used right you can do more damage then good to your dog...If a buckle doesn't work then try a choke (many different ones out there), then if that don't work and have tried everything then I would only use a prong as a last resort.

[Rip's Girl]

I agree dollface. ALL training collars can be easily misused and it can be painful for the dog if the handler has no idea how to use the collars. For example, I see so many dogs with improperly-fitted prong collars, that are sagging down near the bottom of the neck (PAINFUL when it's used this way. I try them all out on my own neck)

But I have to disagree on correcting a dog with a buckle collar and even a check chain first, particularly if the dog is under 20lbs.. it can be stressful to the neck and trachea, even in large dogs.

More damage than good done on the prong? Try it on yourself.. The prong pinches your skin, but it doesn't yank your neck around.

[Carrie]

I agree. I'd much, much sooner use a prong than a choke collar. With the prong, the pressure is distributed evenly and before any depression is made on the trachea or vertabrae, the skin feels it and they stop pulling. With a Doberman who can be very prone to cervical vertebral instability (wobblers syndrome) I have to be very, very careful about yanking or putting pressure on his neck. A flat collar is every bit as bad if the dog is pulling. A prong, as ouchy as it looks, (it can pinch their skin) is still safer really than any other. The head collar type things are very dangerous too if the dog bolts and turns.

[Rip's Girl]

i actually am considering getting a gentle leader for Dakota when I'm sitting down with him at night, to direct him and easily turn his head away from the many bad things in the TV room that he tries to chew on, without getting up and making a big fuss about it. The GL is great for dogs that need to have their attention directed elsewhere, but it's not at ALL a solution to a pulling problem, as they so decievingly advertise it as.

The prong is supposed to pinch the skin, and not even put ANY pressure on the neck. It is supposed to mimic the bite that another dog would deliver as a reprimand. Unless the collar is fitted wrong (many people put it on WAY too loose and down low on the shoulders, where it will dig into the neck instead of pinching the loose skin) it doesn't harm the neck at all. I like the prong collars with the rubber tips on the ends, so they don't rip up the fur and scratch the dog's neck.

And yes, they do look 'mean', but y'know what? I don't care if it LOOKS like I'm being mean to my dog. My dog's trust in me will tell them otherwise.

[PitBullie09]

I use regular nylon collars for mine. But Tink has a leather one with spikes on it!

[Zoee]

I don't like the GL, only use the specially designed head collar, that doesn't cause the jerking movement available only here, I would prefer to see somebody improperley use a prong than a check chain, as they cause more damage, but EVERYBODY who uses ANY corrective collar should be shown how to fit it, and how to administer proper corrections.

[Rip's Girl]

Well, I did it.. I bought Dakota a head halter today.

Generally I'm pleased with it, because I'm using it for gentle directing and to make eye contact, not to yank him. I know that as he gets older he won't be able to use it, particularly on walks, but for now it's great to get his attention off of things he shouldn't be paying attention to.

Zoee do they only sell the head collars in Canada?

[Zoee]

From what I have found so far, they only sell them through my vet, but I will get pics up with Zoees on and if you are really wanting one I am sure we can arrange something.

[Rip's Girl]

OK, let's do that.. I'm going to wait until Dakota is a bit older so I can buy one that will fit him into adulthood, maybe when he outgrows this one halter. Thanks a bunch!

[Zoee]

not a prob we only want the best for our fur babys.

[Rip's Girl]

Absolutely.

[dollface]

With Taz I use a haltie.
Sativa and T-Bone I use a choke. All they have to hear is the clang of the chain and they walk to heal so no tugging on them at all, but slowly getting to a buckle.
Dozer just a buckle cause he walks nicely to a heal, no pulling.
Junior is the one I use a prong on and we are slowly getting back to a buckle.

I'm hoping to have the boston's walking nicley on a buckle soon, Junior will take a lil more work and T-Bone is almost there....With all of them I pretty much just have to say Heal and they walk to your side, when they get distracted and you give just the noise of the chain they are right beside you.

[DFrost]

I like the slip chain, (choke collar) and the leather collar, depending on the situation, but I'm also a proponent of electronics in certain instances. Used properly, particularly in our line of work, it is one of the most humane ways to gain behavior control.

DFrost