The Truth about Prong Collars

It has been widely published that the original purpose in inventing the prong collar was to ensure effective communication and control whilst minimising any possibility of abuse or injury to the dog. In fact, the prong collar is usually the preferred tool of choice among veterinary chiropractors. For example, Dr. Daniel Kamen, (who is one of the most highly respected veterinary chiropractors in the industry) states:

“The improper use of collars is the number one cause of cervical (neck) subluxations in dogs...The flat collar is the most common type, and can be dangerous if misused...It should not be used for obedience training...a frustrated owner who has difficulty controlling his pet will pull the dog in such a manner as to cause tremendous cervical muscle tightening, thus producing subluxations.”

Writing specifically about prong collars he states:

“Most literature suggests that this is the most effective and least dangerous of restraining collars. The prong collar distributes pressure evenly around the neck, and requires only a small amount of force...Incidence of canine upper cervical subluxations is far less with the prong collar.”

"Extracts from his book The Well Adjusted Dog p24-27"

The prong collar has been designed in such a way that, even if misused, it is virtually impossible to harm or cause injury to the dog. Obviously, we would always recommend proper training with a professional when using any tool, and the prong collar is no exception. But it is worth noting that, as Dr Kamen states, there is a much greater potential for physical harm from using flat collars and harnesses incorrectly, than from using a prong collar.

Dispelling the Myths: Of the many myths and negative propaganda surrounding the prong collar, you may have read that “prong collars dig into the sensitive skin around the neck, risking severe damage to the thyroid, esophagus, and trachea.”

In fact there is no truth to this statement whatsoever. There have actually been no veterinary studies performed which link prong collar use to any of these three conditions. On the contrary, in a study to investigate the affect of prong collars vs slip collars, the findings showed that there was no sign of damage whatsoever on the dogs being trained with prong collars. In fact, the prong collar has been shown to be the best tool to protect your dog’s trachea - in applying even pressure around the whole of the dog’s neck, rather than just the front, the trachea is protected from undue force. In addition to this, prong collars are effective with a very small amount of pressure - owners are often amazed at how gentle they need to be to produce an successful change in their dog’s behaviour.

(NB: Flat collars and even Martingale collars put pressure directly on the dog’s throat which can lead to collapsed tracheas. Head collars and Haltis can cause whiplash-type injuries as the dog’s head is whipped round to the side suddenly when they lunge. Harnesses have been shown to restrict the natural gait of the dog which can cause long term damage to the shoulder joints and/or spine, and lead to conditions such as arthritis and inflammation.)

Another popular use of anti-prong collar propaganda is the well-known image on the web of a dog with deep sores on it’s neck. This is a very sad story of a dog who was kept by a negligent and abusive owner where the prong collar was left on the dog 24/7, tied up and with constant pressure. If a dog is tied up constantly on any type of collar or harness then these type of injuries would also occur - in fact I have personally seen horrendous sores and injuries (caused by many different types of restraints) on multiple dogs I have worked with in rescue centres. So, this picture is no way an indication of prong collars causing harm, only of an owner causing harm through negligence and abuse.

The only conclusion to be drawn from all the literature and studies available is that prong collars are inherently one of the safest tools to use on your dog. Proper sizing, fitting and training with a professional is definitely recommended, but there is clearly no reason for this tool to be vilified or shunned in any way. Rather, it should be seen as an excellent way of providing effective communication with your dog, and is one of the best tools available for helping to resolve many behaviour problems - especially pulling on the lead, reactivity, aggression, hyper-vigilance and other anxiety-based issues.