Gentle Leader vs. Prong Collar

gentle Leader vs. prong collar (pinch collar)

That Mutt is supportive of a range of dog training methods. This is not about “one vs. the other” however instead focuses on a few of the pros & cons of different kinds of collars.

There is no dog training collar that is right for each dog.

I have suggested every type of dog training collar to somebody at some point. Every dog is different, as well as every owner is different. What works for my dog is not necessarily going to work for your dog.

I don’t admire dog fitness instructors who try to push a single tool on everyone.

Every type of dog training collar has its location for the right dog in the right situation. This does not mean it’s right for YOUR dog or my dog.

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Some of those tools to stop a dog’s pulling include:

Pinch/prong collars
Gentle Leaders
No-pull harness
Martingale collar
Chain slip collars

Most dogs are going to respond well to a strong, fun leader who utilizes positive reinforcement together with moderate “corrections.”

The two collars I want to focus on for this publish are the gentle Leader as well as the pinch (prong) collar. They are extremely different tools however are a few of the most typical tools suggest for strong pullers.

Remember that both tools are just that – training tools. They will not magically stop most dogs from pulling. We still have to put in the work.

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Gentle Leader vs. pinch collar

The gentle Leader is marketed as a gentle choice to be used over a dog’s muzzle, similar to a equine halter.

The gentle Leader is designed to prevent pulling since if the dog handler controls the dog’s head, he controls the dog.

A pinch (prong) collar is usually constructed out of metal as well as has flat prongs distributed evenly around the collar. It should be used high on the dog’s neck, right under his chin, as well as behind his ears.

When the dog pulls, the owner can provide a slight “correction” by pulling up or to the side. This correction is not designed to cause pain. It is meant to redirect a dog’s attention.

Let me explain what I like as well as don’t like about each of these collars. I hope to disprove a few of the assumptions about each.

In a great deal of ways, these tools work extremely much the exact same even though they look significantly different. Both the gentle Leader as well as the prong collar make pulling somewhat uncomfortable for the dog in order to motivate him to stop pulling.

Gentle Leader for dog training

When I was mentor my mutt Ace to walk well on a leash, I utilized the gentle Leader in some circumstances as well as a pinch collar in others.

With my present dog, a Weimaraner named Remy, I am when once again utilizing both tools.

What I like about the gentle Leader

Reason #1: The gentle Leader assists some dogs stay calm

I utilize a gentle Leader when I want to assist the dog calm down. It’s a great tool to utilize when I want to bring my dog along however may be preoccupied.

However, most dogs do freak out a bit when they very first have something over their muzzle area. So it’s important to slowly desensitize your dog to using a gentle Leader utilizing treats. Don’t just slap it on as well as head out for a walk or he will most likely paw at it the whole time, trying to get it off.

By slowly introducing the gentle Leader over a number of days, you will assist your dog see it as a positive experience.

So, back to being calm …

Once the dog is utilized to the gentle Leader, the tool enables me to relax as well as just enjoy costs time with my dog in hectic situations.

Ace with the gentle Leader

For example, if I’m walking my dog downtown while speaking with a buddy as well as holding a coffee in one hand, the gentle Leader is available in handy. It enables me to “check out” a bit from dog training.

My dog Ace was anxious in the car, as well as the gentle Leader worked to assist him chill out a bit. The material around his muzzle calmed him as well as put him in a less excited state of mind.

As one more example, my foster dog was feeling stressed out at an adoption event we attended. He was barking at me as well as having problem settling down. When I put his gentle Leader on him, he was able to lie down next to me as well as relax.

Reason #2: The gentle Leader stops a dog from making those “choking” sounds

The gentle Leader is likewise a great tool to keep my dog from pulling as well as making those “choking” noises.

Remy is a great example of adog who virtually strangles himself on a regular, nylon collar. He gets so excited, panting, pulling, as well as “choking” that he triggers other dogs to get extremely agitated as well.

When Remy wears a gentle Leader, it eliminates his panting as well as choking noises by about 90 percent. When he’s quiet, other dogs are less likely to react.

Since Remy is still discovering exactly how to ignore other dogs during walks, anything that assists him provide off calmer energy is a great thing.

If Remy is calm as well as peaceful on walks, then walks are much, much more enjoyable! That means he gets to go along on more walks!

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What I don’t like about the gentle Leader

Reason #1: The gentle Leader can put pressure on a dog’s nose as well as eyes

Any collar can be dangerous if the dog pulls for an prolonged period of time.

The gentle Leader is not always a risk-free tool for extreme pullers.

Are gentle Leaders cruel?

No, they are not cruel. The gentle Leader is marketed as a humane option, as well as for the most part, this is true.

However, when a dog pulls extremely difficult for an prolonged period of time, the thin piece of nylon over his nose begins to put method as well much pressure on the dog’s deal with as well as under his eyes.

Dogs that are so focused on moving ahead do not have sufficient sense to stop pulling, even if they are in pain. The pain may even cause them to pull harder, as they are trying to getaway the pain.

Excited dogs do not always understand exactly how to calm down as well as rationalize what is happening.

Example with my foster dog using the gentle Leader

For example, one time I took foster dog Cosmo for a longer walk than usual. He used his gentle Leader. When we came back, he was squinting his eyes for the rest of the night since of the pressure the gentle Leader had caused.

I was truly worried I had permanently damaged his eyes! I was mad at myself for not stopping during the walk as well as changing to his routine collar.

Thankfully, bug-eyed Cosmo was just fine the next morning. Still, the incident was sufficient for me to re-think the gentle Leader. now I rotate which collar I utilize when I’m walking specific dogs.

For shorter walks, a Gentle Leader may be fine. For longer walks, the pinch collar may be better.

And just for the record, the Halti Head Collar is a similar tool to the gentle Leader, however it’s designed much better as well as generally doesn’t put as well much pressure on a dog’s nose or eyes.

It likewise has a security strap that links to the dog’s typical collar just in situation he slips out of the Halti. For more info, inspect out my publish comparing the Halti vs. gentle Leader.

Reason #2: The gentle Leader does not teach a dog to stop pulling

For many dogs, the gentle Leader is a “Band-Aid” if you are not actively working to really train your dog.

By that, I mean a great deal of dogs discover not to pull as long as they are using the gentle Leader. As soon as you eliminate it, they go right back to pulling.

This is not the end of the world as long as you are okay utilizing the gentle Leader whenever you don’t want your dog to pull. If you want to ultimately wean your dog off the gentle Leader, then try to actively work on “heel” or loose-leash walking.

This is one reason why I utilize the gentle Leader in some circumstances as well as the prong collar in other situations.

My goal is always to get to the point where no training collar is needed at all, as well as I discover it easier to shift from the prong collar to a routine collar since both in shape around the dog’s neck.

Reason #3: Some dogs dislike using a gentle Leader

Most dogs do not have any type of problems with a pinch collar since they’re utilized to having a collar around their neck.. however a great deal of dogs do not like having something over their nose/face area.

My mutt Ace quite much shut down at the sight of his gentle Leader. His tail went between his legs, as well as he looked away. when he had the gentle Leader on as well as we went for a walk, he was fine, however he still avoided me every time I got it out.

My dog Remy likewise runs the other method when he sees me grab the gentle Leader. however if I get the prong collar out, he gets excited as well as comes running!

Like I stated earlier, some dogs truly put up a protest, pawing at their nose as well as scrubing their deal with on the ground in an attempt to get the gentle Leader off.

This is why it’s important to slowly desensitize your dog to using this tool utilizing treats.

Reason #4: You can’t provide a dog a leash correction while she’s using a gentle Leader

There are circumstances where I prefer to provide a dog a moderate leash “correction” (tug on the lash) for training purposes.

The gentle Leader is not designed for corrections. In fact, you might potentially hurt their neck by tugging on the gentle Leader, although this is unlikely.

Pinch collar for dog training (also called a prong collar)

What I like about the Herm Sprenger prong collar

I suggest the Herm Sprenger brand of prong collar as it’s the very best quality.

Reason #1: The prong collar enables you to provide the dog a gentle correction

If my dog is focused on a odor or one more dog during a walk, all he needs is gentle tug on the leash as well as prong collar to re-direct his attention.

This is not meant to frighten him or cause pain. It’s just a reminder to get him to focus on the task at hand – walking. kind of like a tap on the shoulder, like, “Hi, keep in mind me?”

Usually my dog’s response to one of these tugs looks something like, “Ha, sorry. I got distracted!”

I tug on his leash so carefully that I believe it is really the slight noise of the chain moving that gets his attention, not the feeling of the prongs on his neck. Remember, these prong are FLAT.

Reason #2: The prong collar will assist teach a dog not to pull

The pinch collar fits around a dog’s neck like a normal, nylon collar. This makes it simple to ultimately shift the dog from the pinch collar to a nylon collar.

My dog Ace

When I was mentor Ace to heel, I would have him wear his nylon collar as well as his prong collar at the exact same time. That method I might switch his leash to one collar or the other as appropriate.

For example, if Ace was walking nicely, I’d clip his leash to his nylon collar. If we saw one more dog approaching, I would clip his leash to the pinch collar.

What I don’t like about the pinch collar

Reason #1: The links on the pinch collar might break apart

I’ve seen a few pinch collars come apart since one of the prongs was bent. This should not occur if you buy a top quality Herm Sprenger prong collar.

I had a cheaper brand for a few years as well as ours did break apart on a walk when or twice. Luckily, Ace had no rate of interest in running away. When his pinch collar fell off, he just stood there looking at me. “Well, aren’t you gonna pick that up?”

Reason #2: The pinch collar gets caught in long hair

I didn’t like the prong collar for my foster dog was since it didn’t seem to work with his thick fur. He was an American Eskimo dog.

It works much better on my dog Remy the weimaraner, who has extremely short fur. I’d like to hear some other opinions on this.

Reason #3: The pinch collar can hurt a dog if it is not utilized properly

Is a prong collar cruel?

The prong collar is absolutely not cruel. It is a humane training tool.

However, I don’t utilize a pinch collar on a dog unless I am calm. If I am frustrated with a dog, I may be as well lured to provide the dog a harsher tug on the leash. This is not what the pinch collar is for.

I likewise see as well many dog owners who do not utilize the pinch collar as a training tool. They just location it around the lower part of a dog’s neck as well as hope for the best.

But the pinch collar is designed to be used high on the dog’s neck, right behind her ears as well as under her chin. If the pinch collar is used on the thickest part of the dog’s neck, it will be as well simple for her to pull.

The pinch collar should be utilized as a tool to prevent pulling, not to just make the pulling more tolerable for the person.

Reason #4: sensitive dogs might overreact to a pinch collar

Cosmo yelped the very first couple of times I corrected him with the pinch collar even though I was cautious not to be harsh. He was so sensitive that any type of correction at all scared him.

He likewise reacted aggressively a few times by biting the leash. This is why some people state a prong collar can make a dog’s aggression worse.

This is not the situation with most steady dogs however can trigger a reaction from sensitive dogs like Cosmo. He would sometimes react on his routine nylon collar as well. I believe his “temper tantrum