Pinch Collars For Every Dog

Locally, I can be known as “The Tender Tutor.”  That’s not to say I’m too soft or that the dogs I work with don’t respect me.  I believe that every dog is different and there are gentle, positive ways to work with most dogs.

Pinch collars (prong collars or power steering collars, as I like to call them) are a great training tool for some dogs who aren’t bothered by choking themselves with a flat collar or still pull when using a harness.  However, I really disagree that a pinch collar is the only solution and best way to train every dog.

I have converted many people who thought for sure they needed to exclusively use the prong-collar approach.  I have had great success transferring them to a Martingale training collar which looks like a regular flat collar but has a small section of material or chain that will cinch and give a correction without choking.  When used correctly and consistently, they work great.

My biggest objection to pinch collars is that they are used incorrectly.  Also, you don’t want a dog that needs to wear a prong collar in order to pay attention to you.  They are a training tool and not a magic wand for a dog that hasn’t been leash trained adequately.   I have found that by using the prong collar, the human at the other end of the leash relaxes because they have the sense of more control.  That is a good thing.  Once the human feels more in control and is more relaxed, they may be able to switch to a Martingale-type training collar with a greater sense of confidence.

It’s important that training be humane and regardless of the type of collar or harness, this takes consistent expectations and a lot of patience and time.  Before using a pinch collar or an e-collar, please contact a trained behaviorist.   I am happy to answer any questions you have on the correct collar for you and your dog.