The Prong Collar

So after looking at my old prong collar poster, I decided it could use a little upgrading and whatnot so I created a new one. This one is clearer to understand and has a lot more photos so you can see just about every example of right and wrong fit/use of a prong collar, and hopefully learn something. I like this one more because of the fact that it can stand alone, and basically tell the whole story, correct and incorrect with how to fit in the middle of both.

However, first let me say a few things to whole those prong collar people out there…
1 there is no such thing as “in the middle”, “sort of right way” to fit a prong, it’s either correctly fit or not, no “in the middle”
2 no, I am not against prong collars because I’m making, as some may want to call a “hate poster”, this is to inform people on how to use a training tool that is used far too often incorrectly
3 the prong collar should be a last resort tool after you’ve tried both training and exercise combined (I’ll go into more detail about this later on)

Now, about bullet 3, what I mean by this is if big Joe is always pulling on the leash, and you think you “need” a prong, actually look at what you’re doing as an owner before just running out in hopes something else will do training for you. By this I mean, maybe big Joe pulls not because he just wants to drag you around town, but because you never give him the full amount of exercise he needs. Believe, exercise a dog properly for that dog’s specific needs can do wonders, I know this first hand. There are so many dogs I know that I’ve walked before that with just a little good play and running around, were already better walking on a leash. Once I was walking this dog, and the owners thought the dog “needed” a prong, wrong, so wrong. When walking to the park, he was pulling like crazy all over the place (note: with a prong collar on), after a good hour of playing, and mental exercise, however, while walking back he hardly pulled at all. Now, some of you may complain that “who has enough time to fully exercise a dog to be tired?!”, well, maybe you should think what kind of dog you’re getting, and the one you own may not be the right one. Because in all honesty, if you can’t fully satisfy your dog’s need for exercise, you shouldn’t own him/her. This happens so many times though, people run out to get a prong collar for their dog because the dog pulls but it does them no good because the dog doesn’t need a prong, just some good old exercise, and training. Now about the training, many dogs deemed “pullers” aren’t even given the chance to learn not to pull. I mean really, if you haven’t even taught your dog basic leash manners, what do you expect, the dog to be Lassie? First, you need to teach your dog what leash manners are, heck maybe even work on the ‘heel’ command, then see, does your dog really need that prong or is it you who's too lazy to exercise and train the dog properly.

Another huge issue I’ve seen people do, usually the ones who don’t actually need a prong, is not using the prong collar as a training tool. Just like how food is a training tool you’re eventually supposed to wean your dog off of it, the prong collar is the same thing. When used correctly, in conjunction with training, eventually with proper training the dog shouldn’t need a prong collar at all. With any training tool, whether it be an e-collar, head collar, prong collar, etc. your end goal should always be to eventually not need it at all, just a simple flat collar and your words to work. I’ve seen countless times people use a prong collar on the dog for life because they aren’t actually trying to use the prong collar to help their dog to learn not to pull, they expect the prong collar to somehow magically teach the dog not to pull, with no help from the handler. Like really, it’s a training tool, not a trainer…. -_-

So, basically to sum up that “intro”….
there is only one way to fit a prong collar, it’s either right or wrong, no “sort of right” fit
the prong collar should be a last resort training tool after other methods have been tried (yes, this includes exercise and training)
the prong collar is a training tool, not a replacement for a human training the dog
the prong collar should eventually be weaned from the dog
Some other things….
ONLY use the prong collar while actively training, that means take the collar off when not training (yes, people have tried to bs me saying the collar was so loose (i.e. incorrectly fit) because the dog was “resting”. BS, no one carries extra links for that, and you shouldn’t if you do)
for your dog’s safety, don’t be lazy, if your dog’s off leash, take the prong collar off (when off leash, the prong collar is useless, all it is at this point is a danger to your dog and other dogs if there happen to be other dogs around)
though this has already been said basically, don’t have the prong collar be your “main” collar, that means the dog should never just simply wear it around the house, that’s a big no-no (unless duh, you just, just came back from a walk or something or are leaving)

Okay, so now onto the actual poster itself, I will move from incorrect to correct left to right like reading……

The Great Dane’s prong collar is way too loose because a prong collar shouldn’t be at the base of the neck, it’s not working like it should, and is just about as bad as a flat collar then. Hitting the trachea and neck not giving the correction the prong collar should give.
The Boxer’s prong is obviously way too loose. If you can slip the prong collar of a dog’s head, it’s too big! Here you can….
This hound’s collar is also too low on the neck, though a bit hard to see, it is not at the top of the neck like it should be.
Although this Husky’s prong is a bit hard to see, it’s a like a necklace on its neck… Ick…..
This Pit Bull looking dog’s prong is once again, way too loose, it shouldn’t sit that low, nor look that huge on a dog’s neck like that…..
Though the Shiba Inu’s prong collar is hard to see, if you look close, you can tell, this too is also way too loose and low….. >.<
This Pit Bull looking dog’s prong is way too loose if you do have a flat on your dog with a prong, the prong needs to be above the flat collar to be actually fitting correctly.
This Pit looking has a prong below the flat also, incorrect too.
Although yes, Doberman’s have a pretty straight neck, and can be hard to tell if the collar just slipped down or is actually too loose, here, the collar is simply too loose because the top of the neck, though not greatly smaller, is a bit and the prong should be able to nicely fit at the base if it’s fit correctly.
A very popular photo of this Pit Bull sadly has a prong so incorrectly fit, it’s sickening, look at losing that thing is, like what? What were those people thinking… -_-
The bi-color German Shepherd’s prong, like many others, is way too low and so, so loose. -_- When a prong is this loose, it’s not even correcting or anything, it’s totally useless…
This Malinois’s collar is also way too low and loose…
This German Shepherd’s collar, though some may think it slid down obviously didn’t, just simply to lose.
The Mastiff’s collar is so low, again.
This German Shepherd’s collar shouldn’t be sitting at the base of the neck, should be right behind its ears.
This American Staffordshire Terrier looking dog’s collar is way too low also, and sadder yet, this was on a dog training site… -_-
Though a super, super small photo, the Malinois’s collar is also way too loose.
The Pit Bull with that pink little thing on the prong collar, also way too loose, and that pink thing doesn’t really help. Doesn’t promote correct prong collar placement, since it tries to make the prong collar look like a flat collar. -_- Never liked those……
That brindle Boxer’s collar is also too low, so therefore not giving the correct single to the dog.
The Bullmastiff’s collar is simply to lose thus low.
The Pit Bull with a blaze has his collar also too low, also.
The dog barking, once again, the collar is way too low.
This Rottweiler’s collar is way too big for this dog’s neck…. >.<
With this Bulldog looking dog, the collar is once again, so loose it’s not even giving correction, simply choking the dog as a flat collar would. I mean really when you can see air between the collar because it’s hanging so low there’s a huge problem with that.
This Rat looking terrier’s collar is to low again, and for a neck size like that, I’d get smaller links to…. It’ll allow for a better fit.
This sable German Shepherd’s collar is at the base of the neck, thus incorrect.
For one, a puppy shouldn’t need a prong collar, but aside from that, the prong collar is also way too loose. Sad thing, this was at a supposed “training” center… -_- Psh, great “trainer” you got there…..
This Boxer’s collar, too loose and low.
Again, this Rottweiler’s collar should be much higher, not sitting at the base of its neck. When it’s this low, for all those people who say a prong is better than a flat, it is… WHEN fit correctly.
This Malinois’s collar, though very, very small, you can tell is too low.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is from the photo above, too low and loose.
Not only do I not like the idea of colored prong collars, because it tries to make them seem like a flat, but there’s also no need for “cute” colors, it’s a training tool, not a regular collar. Anyways, this too is WAY too low.
Again, this Bullmastiff’s collar is far too low on its neck, should be just behind the ear.
The Rottweiler’s collar is also way too low, from where you’re seeing this dog, you should hardly be able to see the prong if it was fit correctly.
These two Beagle’s collars are so loose, it’s sickening and makes me mad. Like you don’t even have a flat collar that loose, why would you have a training collar even loose?!?!
This poor Black Labrador’s collar is also so loose, it’s looser than even what a flat collar would be. Like really, what is with people putting on a prong lose than even your usual flat… >.< -_-
This dog’s collar, although a bit different looking, is still a prong and should be fit like one. Yes, with a very short coat dog, it’s harder to tell if it’s fit correctly, but you can still tell. For one, it’s shouldn’t hang if it’s fit correctly, like this one is…
As I said before, yes Doberman’s necks are a bit harder to fit for a prong, but really, this is obviously way too loose, heck the things bending on itself because it's so loose. So, as with prong collar, when this loose they just choke, they don't’ correct like they’re supposed to.
This Pit Bull’s collar, like way too many I see are hanging farther below than even the flat collar, like how do you think a prong is better than a flat when your prong is looser than a flat.
As with other dogs, the collar is obviously way too low.
This long haired German Shepherd’s collar is way too loose, and for a coat like this, should think about using a fur saver anyways.
The German Shepherd on the far right has a collar too low also, though it looks snug, it’s not.
The little pup at the bottom left has a prong once again, way too low because it’s literally hanging down.
Again, when a dog’s prong collar is hanging around the base of a dog’s neck, it’s WAY too loose and incorrect.
The Chocolate Labrador’s collar is way too loose, you can tell the diameter of collar is bigger than the top of its neck.

Now, onto the correct fit collar, yeah!
Yes, I know, this German Shepherd is hard to see, but if you can see where the handler is putting the collar, you can tell it high and snug looking.
The red and black German Shepherd has a correctly fit prong also, high, snug, and right behind the ears. Also, before you crab to me about a prong being “too tight”, you need to be able to tell snug between tight if you’re going to use a prong…
The sitting Malinois’s on the far right has a perfect fitting training collar arrangement there. If you look close, both the e-collar and prong are snug and high up on the dog’s neck. *claps to them*
The farthest photo right of the brown dog’s neck and a correctly fit prong also. The chain collar isn’t there for correcting also, it’s there for safety since prong are known to sometimes come apart.
This Malinois’s collar, though it seems low, is actually correctly fit. When doing intense work, a prong, even correctly fit, will sometimes slide down a bit, but believe me, anyone who knows how to properly fit a prong can tell the difference. You can tell, even though it’s not right behind the ears, it’s snug.
As I was saying before, short hair dogs can be harder to fit with a prong, but you can tell, it’s still high and snug up.
This Doberman’s collar is high and snug. Yes, of all dogs, Doberman’s have one of the hardest necks to fit, because their prongs can slide down easier than other breeds necks, still, you can tell a correctly fit one. This one is.
The Pit Bull’s neck shots a correctly fit prong collar also, right behind the ears and snug.
The same dog, but a side view. See, even on short hair dogs, you can tell correct fit.
The brown dog also has a correct fit, at the top of the neck, right behind the ears.
This Malinois’s, though he looks like he has a bunch of collars on, only has two. The correctly fit prong, high and snug, and a safety collar so if the prong breaks, you still have the dog on a leash.
So, here is a great example of a prong that slipped down, but still fit correctly. You can tell, although it’s slipped down a bit, it’s still snug on the dog’s neck, but not at the base of the neck.
This Pit Bull’s prong, though the links are smaller than usual, is fit correctly. Right behind the ears and snug.
This Doberman’s collar is high and snug. *claps*
The brindle Pit Bull’s prong collar is correctly fit, even though he’s short haired, high and snug.
The far, far, right German Shepherd heeling has a correctly fit prong also, although it’s slid down a bit, it’s still correct.
This Husky’s collar has a perfect fit, enough said.
Like with other examples I’ve shown you, this prong is correctly fit, yes, you’d think it’s not because it’s not right behind the ears, and high up, but as you can tell, it’s snug, just slid down. When you know what to look for, you’ll be able to tell a slid down prong to a loose one.
The same Husky, perfect fit prong, high and snug.
This Chocolate Labrador also has a correctly fit prong collar, high and snug. Great job.
The Pit Bull, though it looks like it could be a bit lose is actually high and snug up on the dog’s neck.
The brown dog walking also has a perfectly fit prong, live ring on the side which the leash is hooked to, and snug.
This Black Labrador’s collar is also correctly fit, high and snug on the dog’s neck.
Although you can only see the dog’s neck here, you can see where it’s placed, high and snug on the dog’s neck.
The brown dog whose neck you only see also has a correct fitting prong. This one, although it looks like it could have slipped down hasn’t, it’s just the dogs head is up while the view is from below.
As you can see, although yes, this dog does have a flat leather collar on, the prong collar is above the flat collar, like it should always be if your dog has both a flat and prong collar on.
This brindle dog looks like it has a lot going on with it, but it doesn’t, just a safety clip in case the prong breaks open, the leash is still attached to the dog. That’s beside the point though, as you can see, the prong is correctly fit, high and snug.
These last two photos are of the same dog, although a short hair, and yes, you can see air between the hair and collar, which a short hair dog like this, even when correctly fit you will see air between. However, the fit is snug and high up which is correct.

As an end note, to all those positive only trainers out there, I don’t need all your comments coming onto this post about how bad a prong is. Why you may ask? Because though I personally promote not using a prong collar, if you’re going to use one, please, use it correctly. Although I don’t like using one, to be educated on how to use one correctly is always a good thing. And of course, since it's hard to make everyone stop using them if they're not banned, to educate is the least  I can do. (edit: if you're using a prong so long that you think high and snug is bad, you really probably shouldn't even be using a training collar that long....)

*Please, if you see any errors or something in this, I missed a photo, something is spelled wrong, got the wrong photo, etc. tell me*

The old poster:
fav.me/d648j8g