This is Part Two in our series on communication tools. Please see Part One first, Pressure and How Dogs Communicate. These tools are not recommended without the guidance of a trainer. The introduction of these tools using motivation is key to creating a positive association for the dog. We will go into greater depth on this in future posts.
Prong collars are beneficial because they distribute the pressure evenly around the neck so that we can give very minor feedback to the dogs and have a very clear communication system with them. Nylon slip collars or a metal slip collars do not distribute pressure evenly to the dog and instead provide pressure in a very blunt form. Although we won’t end up using a metal slip collar in our training program at all, there may come a point when your dog may be well-suited to a nylon slip collar or a nylon slip lead depending on their progress.
Whether or not a dog is ready for this type of communication depends on their understanding of pressure and the owner’s ability to time their communication appropriately. The prong collar has the added benefit of providing clear communication to the dog no matter what stage of training they’re in and no matter what stage of understanding of timing the handler possesses. For this reason, many dogs will remain on a prong collar.
