As dog guardians, we all want to enjoy peaceful walks and a calm, happy home life with our companions. When our dog pulls on the leash, barks at other dogs, or seems anxious, it’s natural to feel frustrated and seek a solution. You may have heard about prong collars and been told they are a quick and effective tool. However, based on my professional experience and scientific research, I want to explain why I do not recommend them and why they often create more problems than they solve.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ: ๐๐๐ข๐ง, ๐ ๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
A prong collar works by causing discomfort or pain when a dog pulls, lunges, or a correction is applied through the lead. The blunted prongs apply pressure to the neck, and while the pain may be momentary, the psychological impact can be lasting. A dog quickly learns that pulling or reacting can lead to an uncomfortable sensation.
This creates a constant state of apprehension for the dog. They are not learning to walk behave differently because the cause of the behaviour has improved, they are doing so to avoid discomfort. This constant anxiety can turn a once-enjoyable walk into a stressful experience, where the dog is always on edge, anticipating a correction.
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ “๐๐ก๐ฒ”
This is one of the most critical reasons to avoid prong collars. Challenging behaviours like reactivity, leash pulling, or general overstimulation are not random acts that your dog does to spite you or to be difficult. They are often symptoms of an underlying issue, such as:
Pain: A dog that is reactive or growls when approached may be experiencing chronic joint pain and is trying to protect themselves.
Frustration: A dog that constantly pulls on the leash may be frustrated because they are not getting enough enrichment, exercise, or a chance to sniff and explore.
Anxiety or fear: Barking at other dogs or people is often a symptom of an anxious or fearful dog who is trying to create distance.
Overstimulation: A dog that appears to be “disobedient” on a walk might simply be overstimulated and overwhelmed by their environment.
This is not an exhaustive list of reasons, but a few common causes.
A prong collar completely ignores these root causes. It punishes the symptomโthe pulling, the lunging, the barkingโbut does nothing to resolve the underlying cause.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
When you use a prong collar, you are not teaching your dog a new, desired behaviour, or improving the cause; you are simply suppressing the unwanted behaviour. This can be dangerous for several reasons:
Only teaching avoidance: the dog is simply learning what to avoid. True, lasting training involves teaching a dog to make good choices because they are rewarding, enjoyable, or fun, not because they are afraid of the alternative.
Behavioural fallout: when a dogโs natural response is suppressed without the underlying cause being addressed, that behaviour often resurfaces in a different, and sometimes more dangerous, form. For example, a dog that was reactive but is now quiet because of the prong collar may suddenly become aggressive without a warning, as their stress and anxiety were never resolved.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ
A strong, trusting relationship with your dog is built on mutual respect, understanding of needs, and two-way communication. A tool that relies on pain and fear can severely damage this bond. We want our relationships with our best friend to be built on trust, and you can teach your dog to behave differently without using anything that will cause them stress.
๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ
There are many humane and effective ways to train your dog without resorting to painful tools.
Root Causes: the first step is to identify and address the root cause of your dogโs behaviour. This may involve a comprehensive assessment to rule out pain, as well as exploring all other potential factors contributing to your dog’s behaviour.
Ethical, choice based methods: ethical methods usually avoid intentional use of fear or harsh handling, will give your dog a voice (an up to date professional should be teaching you how to recognise subtle signs of stress), and explore ways to coach them using kind methods that give them agency.
Front-clip harnesses for strong pullers: for dogs that are strong pullers that you might be struggling to manage, a front-clip harness may help, while you work on the causes for the pulling itself. This might involve some emotional coaching and lead walking training. Choose a Y shaped harness, not one that restricts movement of the shoulders.
By choosing humane and ethical methods, you will build a stronger, happier, and more trusting relationship with your best friend, while working towards your behaviour and training goals.
Sally Lewis 2025
Know Your Dog 