Pinch collar.

[Lauren]

What a difference a pinch collar makes. I had never tried one, but Xena was pulling a lot at the sheep herding clinic yesterday so they loaned me one. It was like waving a magic wand... Wa LAA! no more pulling.

Unfortunately, she then started leaping straight up into the air to try to head butt me??

Anyhow I don't plan on using one on a regular basis because I think she needs to be able to behave on a flat collar (and usually she does) but around sheep? prong it is!

[Dutchringgirl]

I use one for Sadie on hikes. Otherwise she just pulls and my elbows were starting to hurt. No more pulling!

[ZodiacT]

I used to use a pinch collar to walk Zodiac when I first got her, before she was trained to heel properly, because otherwise she would drag me everywhere to chase rabbits. Now that she is trained we walk with a flat collar but I still bring the pinch collar during rally classes for certain things that she may need a short correction on, although our training is primarily positive reinforcement.

If you decide to use one make sure you have someone to show you how to properly fit it and use it, I was told to get one when I started training Zodiac but without guidance I ended up having it too loosely fitted and a friend who trains dogs had to help me out. I like the pinch better than a choke because it does help if your dog has a tendency to pull, and during training it just takes a short pinch to correct instead of choking the dog like with a choke chain. I also was told by a vet I worked with that the pinch collar when used properly is safer than the choke chain because it doesn't constrict the airway, although if used improperly the pinch can cause pretty bad damage.

[Christie M]

I use a pinch in a variety of circumstances and with a variety of dogs. But with young dogs, I still prefer a head collar. It gives me control of their head and nose so I can TEACH them to pay attention, not just correct them for pulling or looking away.

[Lauren]

I used a Halti with my poodles, but my trainer said that it would not work with Xena, it would just tick her off... The pinch didn't make her angry either (I am a pretty gentle handler. some would say too gentle but I am in it for the long haul). Since she couldn't pull to tell me what she wanted she would jump straight up and down in the air to look at me then look where she wanted to go.

Luckily 90% of the time she is wonderful on her flat collar and even better on her harness. I got a nice wide (1.5 inch)collar for her to grow into and just as it arrived she seems to have stopped growing. Oh, well. It is still beautiful and I am sure at 7 months she has a lot more "filling out" to do.

[Christie M]

I used a Halti with my poodles, but my trainer said that it would not work with Xena, it would just tick her off...

LOL. I train police K9, my own dogs for protection sport, deal with daily foster rescue DS as well as pet dog classes...etc, and have yet to find the dog that got ticked off with the head collar. The dog can find it frustrating if its not conditioned to it. But I do find that many trainers don't want to deal with it, so they come up with the best reasons why. Again, I do use a prong and see nothing wrong with it. But that statement shows a lack of ability on the trainers part....or lack of desire to try.

[CaroleBoaz]

I hate it when I see people who put a prong on a dog by slipping it over the dog's head. That is not the right size, plus there are prongs!!

[Dutchringgirl]

I hate it when I see people who put a prong on a dog by slipping it over the dog's head. That is not the right size, plus there are prongs!!

Thats not how it goes on?? Just kidding

" you could poke someones eye out !"

[Lauren]

hmmm. Christie, I can see that it might be that. I do, on occasion have to touch her face to get her attention redirected . It is those moments that make me miss the halti.

YIKES I did pull the prong over her head as there was no opening......I will protect my little brown eyed girl.

[ZodiacT]

I hate it when I see people who put a prong on a dog by slipping it over the dog's head. That is not the right size, plus there are prongs!!

Yeah, I was one of those people for a couple of weeks after I was told Zodiac needed a pinch but wasn't told how to use it I kept it way too loose because I didn't want to hurt her while slipping it on, thankfully a friend of mine corrected me.

[Flying Dutchman]

Here's an alternative to the traditional prong where you have to pull the links apart to get it off and on:

http://www.gundogsupply.com/medium-herm ... ollar.html

I've used this kind for several years and find it easier to get the right fit and of course have the safety option of quickly releasing the collar if necessary. And once you get the hang of it, it's much easier to put on and take off.

[Choochi]

Here's an alternative to the traditional prong where you have to pull the links apart to get it off and on:

http://www.gundogsupply.com/medium-herm ... ollar.html

I've used this kind for several years and find it easier to get the right fit and of course have the safety option of quickly releasing the collar if necessary. And once you get the hang of it, it's much easier to put on and take off.

I have one of those and honestly I now open and close it like a traditional one. I find it such a pia to loop that chain through the little hole while the dog is moving, etc.. especially now with winter gloves on. I can do the collar much faster by doing the links.

[Dutchringgirl]

I have the kind that you squeeze the prongs together. I actually dont mind it too much. I know it wont come off too easy either. I have heard some horror stories of pinch collars coming off by mistake.

[Marjolein]

Here's an alternative to the traditional prong where you have to pull the links apart to get it off and on:

http://www.gundogsupply.com/medium-herm ... ollar.html

I've used this kind for several years and find it easier to get the right fit and of course have the safety option of quickly releasing the collar if necessary. And once you get the hang of it, it's much easier to put on and take off.

there's better ones with quick release like this http://www.gundogsupply.com/sprenger-st ... small.html
the one you showed is also a "mirrored" prong, which prevents it from turning around the neck because the pinches are pointing to the left and the right, instead of just one way.
And I know lots of trainers that click a "dominant dog collar" or as we say "slip" into the same line. So when the prong releases, you stil have your dog on leash

[Hillside]

I have the kind that you squeeze the prongs together. I actually dont mind it too much. I know it wont come off too easy either. I have heard some horror stories of pinch collars coming off by mistake.

I have had two different pinch collars come off accidentally. Neither one of them were the quick release type, either. Nor were they the cheap pet store pinch collars. Because of this, I ALWAYS use a slip as a back up. I"ve found, too, that by using a backup collar, it is easier to transition off of the pinch collar.