Petco promise:

• Prong training collars help you control even the most stubborn dog
• They’re electronically welded for maximum strength
• Nickel and chrome plated for durability, and resistant against rust, tarnish, or breakage
• Swivel ring to prevent the leash from becoming tangled
• Quick release allows for easy application and removal

Sniffing Snout review:
I will admit that by the time I bought a prong dog collar, I was at the end of my proverbial leash with walking my dog. I was ready to get Mr.Brown to walk at any cost and frustrated with his constant pulling and tugging.  By this point, we had been through leather collars, nylon collars, a Gentle Leader, chain collars, a harness, none of which were able to give him the proper correction when he became fixated during walks.  Most dog owners, myself included thought these prong dog collars were inhumane and abusive.  But, after a lifetime of growing up with dogs, some basic anatomy, and studying dog behavior, I have realized that my labrador retriever has pretty thick skin around his neck.

I am happy with the Petco brand that I bought for Mr.Brown because the links are fairly easy to remove and so I was able to quickly customize the size.  Also, the easy relase contraption makes getting the collar on and off pretty simple.  I also saw some gel caps that you can place on the prongs once your dog gets better at walking but can’t find the link for it on the website.

To be honest, when we first started using this dog collar on Mr.Brown, I was probably not using it correctly and my frustration and ineptitude may have inflicted some inadvertent pain.  However, after months of watching the Dog Whisperer and reading body and behavioral clues from Mr.Brown, I can (usually) do a minor correction at the right time to alter an undesired pattern or reaction.

The prong collar *snap* should be used more as an unexpected stimulus to alter a state of mind rather than as punishment.  One *snap* to regain the dog’s attention and the release should result in a loose and slack leash.  Long term pressure would achieve the opposite result since the dog would grow desensitized to the prongs, or worse, physically injure the dog.

Yes, I’m drinking from the Cesar Milan-ade.  Not to sound preachy, and I am still learning how to do this myself, but its always good to approach your dogs problems from a calm and objective state of mind.  Why is he/she constantly pulling? Is it fear? Aggression? Over excitement from lack of exercise? Poor leadership from the owner? Only when you address the root of the problem will walking your dog get easier.

..if only i could consistently practice what I know!!

–edit–
Since I’m writing a review for this dog collar, I did some basic research online and have realized that I’ve been using it all wrong!!

Mistakes I have been making:
- prong collars should not be slipped over the head. links should be detached and fit around the dogs neck.
- collars should not fit loosely on the base of the neck, they should fit snugly where the head and neck connect- right below the ears and up under the jawline

Writing this blog might just be Mr.Brown’s saving grace…

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The Gentle Leader Promise: The principle behind the Gentle Leader Headcollar is one that allows owners to communicate with their pet in a way that dogs instinctively understand…Because of the placement of the nose loop, the dog immediately understands his/her place in the hierarchy. The dog considers the owner his/her leader.

Sniffing Snout Review:
Umm, no, sorry Premier Pet. Among all the dog supplies and dog collars that we own, I would say that this was one of the more expensive dog products and most disappointing. Perhaps Mr.Brown has been so humanized and far removed from his canine roots that his “instinct” is gone but he definitely didn’t understand his place in the hierarchy.

I have purchased this dog collar on 2 separate occasions- once in CA when Mr.Brown was ~4years old, and again after moving and losing my first one, recently, Mr.Brown age ~7years old.  On both occasions, I was very fastidious about the initial fittings. From a human perspective, I could sympathize with Mr.Brown. This looked like an extremely uncomfortable product to have strapped to your face, but I would have continued to use it because I was so desperate to get him to behave on our walks.

The initial (prolonged) discomfort of using this particular dog product did cause Mr.Brown to slow down, only because of his discomfort. However, during the course of the walk, he became either desensitized or too consumed by to the outside environment to be bothered and would continue to pull.

As a huge advocate of Cesar Milan’s psychological approach to dog behavior modification, I would say that this dog collar failed us because we weren’t addressing Mr.Brown’s main excitement and issues with being outdoors.  We retired the Gentle Leader and have been working on correcting Mr.Brown’s instinctive tendencies, and I can say that so far it has been more effective.

As a disclaimer, I see PLENTY of happy, calm, and behaved dogs enjoying strolls through NYC streets.  I do believe for a dog with an existing calm disposition, this dog collar does work. However, before you spend ~$40, try and figure out what the root of your dogs unruliness is… otherwise you can leave me a comment and I would be happy to lend you out my gentle leader

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