I love how you get right to the point. A lot of people like to give a whole speech before they start talking about what we actually clicked on the video for. Thanks Robert!
Two days ago I introduced a prong collar to my rescued GSD, Valkyrie. When I tell you its night and day, I mean it. I tried only positive training for a year. While I was able teach a lot of things like sit, down, leave it, and wait, she was a bad puller. The decision came after a lot of research and videos, and getting hurt for the second time because she was reactive to another dog. She's 100lbs, and a beast. In 2 days of working with her, she is not pulling, and is doing great with heel. I have stayed close to the house, going back a forth to have her follow me. Using lots of praise, and treats on occasion to reward her. We will venture out to parts of the neighborhood once she is familiar with the new collar. So far this has been amazing. I cant wait to be able to take her to new places. Eventually I want to ask a neighbor if I can work with them and their dog on Valkyrie's dog reactivity, but I want to see how she does with this tool first.
Well done you ! Assuming you're using some kind of "pressure/release" or "yield to pressure" style leash handling with Valkyrie (epic name), mark and reward immediately after the release every rep. Also pay attention to "reward placement" as she returns to you for her reward and use it to shape her positions etc. Personally, I like the dog to progress into a mindset of "seeking slack" rather than "avoiding tension". It's all in the mechanics and timing of the reward marker to convince the dog that paying attention to subtle leash cues and following them is worth more than having to follow because of the escalating pressure. It's a lot more effort but also a lot of fun to try and achieve and easily transfers to any collar or harness combo you can think of. By pushing the balance towards the positive end we train the dog to be able to sense directional changes from the weight of the lead shifting alone. It should feel like you don't have a dog attached despite the dog being "at liberty" (not locked into a trained behaviour). The leash becomes a system of cues (a language) that the dog responds to like any other trained behaviour forming an entirely different relationship with the lead.
@@TeslaNick2 Yes, and she is so much better on her walks, and in obedience training as a result. She now looks to me instead of trying to take the lead. We gave her that name because she was found abandon in a cemetery by a friend who works there. Since the Valkyries decided who lived or died in battle, and then took the dead warriors to Valhalla, to feast with Odin, we decided it was perfect name for her. She was about 4 or 5 when we took her into our family last spring.
@elizabeth-ld1sm I have the 3.0, but her fur is extra thick at her neck. I would probably go with the 2.5 on my other GSD if I ever needed to due to the shortness of her neck fur. But, I am definitely not an expert. Hope this tool helps you the way it did for me. So many great trainers on here like Robert and Tom Davis that can explain it way better than I can. 🐾💙🐾
I just joined as a member today--the Members Only is AWESOME!! You know what one of the blessings with a German Shepherd is? I DIDN'T do everything PERFECT with training at first. Fortunately, I didn't do anything terrible--but your methods are SO MUCH BETTER. And the blessing? You can re-teach a German Shepherd fairly easily. Today, I'm getting a great sustained sit & down while placing treats all over yard and opening gate, walking outside gate--and he's STAYING in position despite treats and distractions until I give release with tactile command as well as release word. We'd been working on this, but he INSTANTLY improved as soon as I tried it YOUR WAY, Robert. He would have gotten up before, or required a lot of corrections and replacing him into desired position. I KNOW you ❤❤❤ Malinois, but German Shepherds are ALSO the BOMB, lol!!🐾❤🐾😂
Bull crap. The shortness of the video left out CRITICAL details of how to set up the backup collar. As he described it, it leaves the action of the prong collar useless. There are various techniques and options that are VERY important and he just glosses right over them, leaving you with NO useful and practical information.
Awesome information! Prongs are an invaluable tool when it comes to working with my 80-100 lbs male Borzoi. They are very large, very strong, and VERY fast hunters with a TON of prey drive, and the prong enables me to walk both of them without going dirt-surfing when a rabbit or squirrel runs by.
Excellent video. I just had a conversation about how a prong collar should fit on a GSD. I said it should fit high behind her ear and this woman (who thought she knows everything because she is a judge that runs a rescue) said that was too high and needed to fit lower. Some people you can’t tell anything! Keep up the good work!
I appreciate this video. I am a dog trainer. I work with very special needs cases and I do not use prong collars in my work and the dogs I work with end up very well trained happy and adjusted. However I do not judge trainers for using these. I think most trainers have the best intentions which is to save lives. These collars take A LOT of skill and technique and I think they get a bad rap for their appearance and that folks abuse them so they end up in vet offices with marks on their neck and other health issues. However constant pulling even on a flat collar can be very damaging. If you do choose to go this route do not do this on your own especially in working with aggressive dogs as it could backfire really quick and be very dangerous. See a professional with a lot of experience in using these tools. Remember the tools do not train the dog you train the dog.
My backup to the prong is a 6" backup strap I got, which is built for this purpose with clips at both ends, and goes between his regular flat collar ring and onto the leash (usually on the frame that surrounds the leash's clip). I don't have the chain collar you're using. With my backup of the prong collar comes apart the I still have control of him, leash to flat collar.
Months back, you answered my question about prong collars. I had never used one before. I decided to try one. I have trained MANY DOGS in my life time. I have never used any "special" training devices. But I am caring full time for my autistic grandson. And this is his dog I was needing to train. I simply did not have the time to invest that I would normally have. He is a VERY WELL BEHAVED DOG! But time was slipping away. I decided to try one. I was SHOCKED how FAST THESES WORK! It is not cruel. Not the way I used it. And my dog simply understood FASTER than with a typical flat collar. I want to thank you! It is because of you that I even considered one. I have not even had to get it out in over a month. Training never stops with your dog. But the BASICS are complete. He is an aussie. So no need for it for "safety" reasons. I recently got a few chickens, and his instintcts kicked in. He seems to know just what to do! Without being told. He watched for a few days of me getting them out in the morning and rounding them up for bed at night. And he just joined in the chore. WONDERFUL PART TO OUR FAMILY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS!!! AND THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME AOBUT THESE COLLARS!
Thank you so much for this post.. I LOVE to hear from people who care about their dogs and are willing to step outside of their comfort zones to help. You did a great thing. Thanks again for letting me be a part of your dog training!!!
I just seen this video before I took my mal on our normal walk...I was never taught about the back up collar and I'm so grateful for this video today, because his quick release snap came off which has came off before, but not in a situation where another dog was lose due to the owner not having their dog under control. Mopar is now fear reactive towards other dogs due to a foster pitbull we had for a short time. He became possessive over me and aggressive towards Mopar. He became fearful of him and my boyfriend said the pitbull had to go because he was fearful for the both of us and this being mopars home and being only 6 months old at the time he definitely had to go. Well now we are dealing with the aftermath and my trainer is deployed so kinda left with a situation I've never had to deal with before so watching your videos on help with this but definitely grateful for this video and putting a back up collar on before our walk...Watch alot of your and some how missed your prong collar videos.
Great video. I was pretty much doing things right, except your final point of having a backup collar, which I'll now start doing. Thanks for the useful tips.
Short to the point. Love it! I use check chain and have not used a prong collar myself. However, I now have the info I need should I require the use of a prong collar. You're the best Robert! Thank you!
The prong collar is a great tool, if you know how to use it. The problem is, everyone can buy one and without the knowledge you can seriously injure you're dog. Please keep making these kind of videos, so there is a good supply of information available!
I totally agree, ppl also injure their dogs with flat collars because they insist that the prong collar is "worse" . They just don't understand how it works.
@@katk7505 true, unfortunately I've seen a lot of idiots giving extreme corrections with a prong. I think its a lack of knowledge, that's why I support this video.
Your the 2nd person to suggest the 2.25 for a smaller GSD. I just got mine and it is tiny. I am afraid it wont be strong enough for a 70 lb GSD it is only rated for 66 lb dog. I am going to try it anyway and get rid of the overly large one I got initially. I actually just ordered a 3.2mm because I thought the 2.25 was too small / light duty. Good tip on the backup collar. I have bent the tips outwards to help with that issue as well and avoid the prong collar coming loose. But I was using a much too large collar. Not too loose, just too big. And too low - so thanks!
Nice video, great tips. Now to get local pet supply stores to carry appropriately sized prong collars. Around here, seems the carry sizes for mastiffs and St. Bernards only, not GSDs. Herm Sprenger can be purchased on line, thankfully.
Mystery solved- O cam snap into the martngale live ring. I hadn’t considered this. Thinking I might be giving mixed signals while correcting. Thank you
LOL Love the thumbnail Robert : ). Brilliantly demoed and excellent,concise points made. A back up is a must. I don't edit my videos. Making me look bad my friend lol : ) Thank you Robert and Janet. Miya and Goofy : )
Thank you for this. Have been using a prong collar on my shepherd/husky/malamute and I never knew about using a backup collar. Have been correctly doing the first 2 .
I love your videos Robert and I rate you very highly as a trainer - just one question from me - why do you refer to the ‘chain’ collar as a Choke Collar? - I was taught many years ago when working with clients to refer to the collar as a ‘check chain’ as we NEVER want to ‘choke’ our dogs - rather - to ‘correct or check’ their behaviour. I suppose it’s just ‘terminology’ - but it’s important isn’t it? 🤷🏻♂️
You’re right. Old habits die hard. It was always called a choke chain , but the more PC crowd changed it to a check chain or just chain. Eases the featherweights, but names don’t matter. You’re right we do NOT choke our dogs.
In my opinion you need a balance of reward and consequence. Consequence can be done with a different collar than a prong. My dog works fine with a martingale. Some dogs need something stronger like a Prong. I recommend a slip lead or martingale to start to see how your dog responds. However rewards are the most important and are needed throughout training. You need to shape commands first which is treats only, then once your dog is responding then you can add consequence if your dog doesnt respond sharply.
Robert. I have added you to my Related Channels on my channel . Plus did a video highly recommending your channel and website. Hope that is ok? Loving your Website during the long sleepless times. Brilliant website. Thank you ,Janet, Alin and all the Dogs . I forgot Bozzmans name in my video and feel bad, sorry. : )
The problem with prong collar is that they are too many people using them and only a tiny minority know all the extensive training behind the use of corrections in the first place
Hi Robert. Our 18 month boxer is a high energy dog. We train her daily and she is incredibly better than before, great commands, good loose leash walking to left side etc. However she’s always been reactive to other dogs. Lately I’ve had time with other friends dogs in an enclosed open space. There is an initial confrontation, but then she plays really wel with them. What do you suggest? Is there hope for her to have better first encounters with other dogs? We live in a populated area and it would be great to not have to consider constant reactivity. Thank you.
You're on the right track. She sounds like she just needs a little more practice to build her confidence. Boxer's are a bit special and can benefit from trainers who specialise in socials with experience of boxers.
If you look at wearer greyhound trainers put their collar on their racing ddogs it’s always right behind the ears and you rarely see a greyhound playing up on the leash in any environment
Aww, you tease. The thumbnail shows you with the prong collar around your own neck. I was so curious to see Goofy walking you! 😆 But Noooo! You didn't wear the collar in this clip. Great vid anyway, but I'm waiting with bated breath to see Goofy walking you.
I got the herm sprenger collar for my 4month old and lplaced it behind his ears and he went nuts pulling on it. He kept pulling and while screaming at the top of his lungs he just keep pulling. I had to calm em down and take it off. It felt abusive. What am i doing wrong here?
Hello! One of my 4 dogs is a massive puller, she did fine in the beginning with the prong, now she started pulling again, even after beeing corrected she still pulls, what can I do? Thank you!
Thank you Robert. I'm in between prongs for my GSD 10 month pup. He's about 80lbs and I have a 3.25mm. If I add a prong it's fairly loose and slides down his neck. If I remove the prong I feel it's way too tight. I have to tighten the collar quite a bit to reconnect the prong. It will eventually slide down but tight so not much room for correction. Do you have an opinion which is the better option?
You probably have a 3.2 mm collar, and not a 3.25 mm, although the difference is not important. You might try a Herm Sprenger 3.2 mm collar with a quick disconnect. I found these easier to fit well. Some claim these are unreliable due to the potential of an accidental release of the quick disconnect. I have never had that happen, but have had links come apart, but this has been very rare. In any case, when using any type of training collar with links, it is imperative that reliable backup system is used.
our prong collar always slip down on his neck. we put it on same as you its really really hard to connect it so its nice and tight on it without continous pressure but when i try to correct the dog its just slip down on his neck and he not really care is I correct or not as he not feel it.
@@RobertCabralDogs Robert, I have the 2. 25 and mine slips down more than I want as well. I have tried to take out a piece of the prong collar however that makes it too tight so I can't get a perfect fit. My guess is my dogs neck is just a bit smaller than the typical german shepherd. She is a lab, husky german shepherd mix but looks like a full black german shepherd. The prong collar however is the only thing that works so I can walk her. If you have any tips let me know. Thanks!!
Where can I buy an original herm sprenger prong collar in Australia? Anyone know? I don't want to get a ripoff one and be scammed, or to hurt my beautiful dog by accident ❤️❤️
Hi Robert, will a prong collar scratch my dog's neck should he suddenly stop behind me? We run together but sometimes he will get spooked and stop abruptly. A few times I didn't notice and almost dragged him long.
I've been using herm sprenger prong collars for a while now under the guidance of my dog's trainer. Only problem is if I take a link out its too small, if I add a link its too big and slides down too low. He doesn't see any problem with it, but I do. Do you have any ideas how to fix this?
Hi Robert, before I started taking my shepherd out on his prong collar I did a few leash pressure lessons.. but he still pulls on the prong collar ? Can you help?
If you're struggling you probably need to get some professional help to show you exactly how to do it. You've already accidentally trained him to pull into the prong and adding frustration so that needs fixing before anything else. You're only make the problem more intense at the moment. You probably need to put a lot more time into developing the relationship and lay off the prong collar until you've been shown how to use it correctly.
That's not true, but you need a license to import them. And they are banned in Victoria. You can buy them online in Australia for example at K9pro. Some balanced Trainers sell them as well, that's where I got mine from.
They use them in Western Australia. (Don't think the obedience clubs do but I know there are people that use them). I know of someone who does protection training in Perth and they use them there for sure.
When I have the prong collar on my dog he lunges at me and my other dog when we are on walks...but when I have him solo on the prong collar he is fine. Can anyone help?
She's one of those crazy high strung, high drive sport dogs that can't sit still for long and the collars probably mean something exciting to her as well. She probably one of those dogs that barks non stop when they're performing.
I introduced the pinch collar to my 6 month old GSP today and she really fought it. I am sure I had it fitted right but when I tried to start teaching pressure she dug her feet into the ground and yelped like I was hurting her and would nit give into the pressure. Am I doing something wrong? What can u do to help this?
Wolf Revenant Nonsense Wolf. When sized, fitted and used properly as intended these collars are not painful to the dog. So the information you recommended to Mia is not helpful.
Mia Barlotta Hi Mia. It is the case that a small percentage of dogs are very sensitive to the feeling of a prong collar. I am guessing maybe 5% or so. Most dogs do well with a prong collar when sized, fitted and used properly as intended, but for a few dogs a prong collar seems to cause an overreaction to the physical way it works. Nothing wrong with you if that is the case with your dog, and nothing wrong with your dog. It just is what it is, and you should not pack your bags for a guilt trip to escape the collar police that will try to shame you for using this collar by claiming that you are inflicting pain on your dog. There are however alternatives. You can try a snap-around collar, or a high-quality electronic training collar under the guidance of a professional trainer.
David Miller thank you so much for your reply. We have had great success with using the pinch collar on my other GSP (he’s 2 now) so I was really concerned when our other one was fighting it. If I keep working with her would she eventually get used to it? Can you also explain the snap around collar a little bit more? Thanks!!
Mia Barlotta You might try some prong collar conditioning exercises to start in a distraction free environment. Robert Cabral likely has some videos related to prong collar conditioning on his UA-cam channel. Otherwise you can search UA-cam for some videos. The main point is that the goal of these exercises is not to acclimating the dog to the collar using any corrections, but merely getting the dog used to the feel of the collar and hopefully not feeling the need to be reactive. The Good Dog channel by Shaun O’Shea has some videos on this. Also, Consider the Dog by Tyler Muto as well as the channel by Cheri Lucas. In any case however, if the dog truly is one that has some inexplicable reactivity to a prong collar, forcing a dog to wear one seems to be without question something to avoid if alternatives will be better. There may be some ways to try counter conditioning, but I am not aware of any specific examples. You can get the best information about snap-around collars from the manufacturer that originally developed this type of collar and markets them online - handcraftcollars.com. These collars are also sometimes referred to as “dominant dog” collars or Volhard collars, both of which names are technically inaccurate. The use of these collars has been popularized by the Monks of New Skete. It is not a failure on your part or your dog if a prong collar simply is not a suitable tool in your specific case. It is also false that the the cause is that the tool is somehow inherently painful and its use abusive.
David Miller I tried introducing the collar again today and she actually took to it very well! I went a lot slower and she did great! I just wanted to say thanks again for your kind reply :)
Come apart.. and your dog is gone... no sooner the words out of your mouth then she disappears..(good training -quick response to.the command)..ha ha..
Yeah trained every single shepherd I’ve had without one perfectly fine. Your dog will hate you for using these, wouldn’t recommend. The dog is literally crying the second you put it on... it just frustrates and causes unnecessary anxiety. Maybe I’ve been luck with my dogs but never needed to stoop to that level.
Neuron Cell yeah maybe I was a little bias there. It’s just an opinion. My shepherds have all been rescues with behavior problems, and I’ve been very successful at rehabilitating. Maybe the prong thing doesn’t work for me due to the already existing anxiety and mistrust from previous humans. I just think there’s better, more efficient ways of correcting your dog on a leash. These prongs should never be used on dogs with these kind of anxiety problems IMO.
thi big mistake is NOT using a prong collar on a dog. A prong collar is NOT to coerce or intimidate or hurt a dog. It is a tool to help a dog by being able to apply pressure and control the dog when needed. TRAINERS who are reasonable and called 'balanced' know what to do and why,.... HIRE one ! Stop bluffing and lying to yourself about dogs
And always a distressed dog beside you. As soon as the collar is off, your dog runs away from you. You should ask yourself why in your incompetence you cannot read this simple body language.
Oh thank you so much random anonymous UA-cam commenter for your valuable insight. I’d so much rather take your word over that of a professional with a long history of being a fantastic trainer and evidence to back him up. Your word is gospel. Who needs proof?
so NOT true!! I have a herm sprenger and it has come apart more than once. I always have a back up , you can get a coupler and attach it to a slip collar and the prong. Please don't take a chance on this.
I love how you get right to the point. A lot of people like to give a whole speech before they start talking about what we actually clicked on the video for. Thanks Robert!
Two days ago I introduced a prong collar to my rescued GSD, Valkyrie. When I tell you its night and day, I mean it. I tried only positive training for a year. While I was able teach a lot of things like sit, down, leave it, and wait, she was a bad puller. The decision came after a lot of research and videos, and getting hurt for the second time because she was reactive to another dog. She's 100lbs, and a beast.
In 2 days of working with her, she is not pulling, and is doing great with heel. I have stayed close to the house, going back a forth to have her follow me. Using lots of praise, and treats on occasion to reward her. We will venture out to parts of the neighborhood once she is familiar with the new collar. So far this has been amazing. I cant wait to be able to take her to new places.
Eventually I want to ask a neighbor if I can work with them and their dog on Valkyrie's dog reactivity, but I want to see how she does with this tool first.
Awesome
Well done you ! Assuming you're using some kind of "pressure/release" or "yield to pressure" style leash handling with Valkyrie (epic name), mark and reward immediately after the release every rep. Also pay attention to "reward placement" as she returns to you for her reward and use it to shape her positions etc.
Personally, I like the dog to progress into a mindset of "seeking slack" rather than "avoiding tension". It's all in the mechanics and timing of the reward marker to convince the dog that paying attention to subtle leash cues and following them is worth more than having to follow because of the escalating pressure. It's a lot more effort but also a lot of fun to try and achieve and easily transfers to any collar or harness combo you can think of. By pushing the balance towards the positive end we train the dog to be able to sense directional changes from the weight of the lead shifting alone. It should feel like you don't have a dog attached despite the dog being "at liberty" (not locked into a trained behaviour). The leash becomes a system of cues (a language) that the dog responds to like any other trained behaviour forming an entirely different relationship with the lead.
@@TeslaNick2 Yes, and she is so much better on her walks, and in obedience training as a result. She now looks to me instead of trying to take the lead.
We gave her that name because she was found abandon in a cemetery by a friend who works there. Since the Valkyries decided who lived or died in battle, and then took the dead warriors to Valhalla, to feast with Odin, we decided it was perfect name for her. She was about 4 or 5 when we took her into our family last spring.
what prong size do you use? i have a 100lbs gsd and i have the 2.25 is that too small?
@elizabeth-ld1sm I have the 3.0, but her fur is extra thick at her neck. I would probably go with the 2.5 on my other GSD if I ever needed to due to the shortness of her neck fur. But, I am definitely not an expert. Hope this tool helps you the way it did for me. So many great trainers on here like Robert and Tom Davis that can explain it way better than I can. 🐾💙🐾
I just joined as a member today--the Members Only is AWESOME!!
You know what one of the blessings with a German Shepherd is? I DIDN'T do everything PERFECT with training at first. Fortunately, I didn't do anything terrible--but your methods are SO MUCH BETTER. And the blessing? You can re-teach a German Shepherd fairly easily. Today, I'm getting a great sustained sit & down while placing treats all over yard and opening gate, walking outside gate--and he's STAYING in position despite treats and distractions until I give release with tactile command as well as release word. We'd been working on this, but he INSTANTLY improved as soon as I tried it YOUR WAY, Robert. He would have gotten up before, or required a lot of corrections and replacing him into desired position.
I KNOW you ❤❤❤ Malinois, but German Shepherds are ALSO the BOMB, lol!!🐾❤🐾😂
I love the style of this short video and the way it was filmed and set up! The content was great too. Thanks Robert!
Bull crap. The shortness of the video left out CRITICAL details of how to set up the backup collar. As he described it, it leaves the action of the prong collar useless. There are various techniques and options that are VERY important and he just glosses right over them, leaving you with NO useful and practical information.
@@samwdavis
He says; what I showed in the how to use a prong collar. Just go to that video and get informed. Short and simple. 😊
Awesome information! Prongs are an invaluable tool when it comes to working with my 80-100 lbs male Borzoi. They are very large, very strong, and VERY fast hunters with a TON of prey drive, and the prong enables me to walk both of them without going dirt-surfing when a rabbit or squirrel runs by.
Excellent video. I just had a conversation about how a prong collar should fit on a GSD. I said it should fit high behind her ear and this woman (who thought she knows everything because she is a judge that runs a rescue) said that was too high and needed to fit lower. Some people you can’t tell anything! Keep up the good work!
I appreciate this video. I am a dog trainer. I work with very special needs cases and I do not use prong collars in my work and the dogs I work with end up very well trained happy and adjusted. However I do not judge trainers for using these. I think most trainers have the best intentions which is to save lives. These collars take A LOT of skill and technique and I think they get a bad rap for their appearance and that folks abuse them so they end up in vet offices with marks on their neck and other health issues. However constant pulling even on a flat collar can be very damaging. If you do choose to go this route do not do this on your own especially in working with aggressive dogs as it could backfire really quick and be very dangerous. See a professional with a lot of experience in using these tools. Remember the tools do not train the dog you train the dog.
My backup to the prong is a 6" backup strap I got, which is built for this purpose with clips at both ends, and goes between his regular flat collar ring and onto the leash (usually on the frame that surrounds the leash's clip). I don't have the chain collar you're using. With my backup of the prong collar comes apart the I still have control of him, leash to flat collar.
Months back, you answered my question about prong collars. I had never used one before. I decided to try one. I have trained MANY DOGS in my life time. I have never used any "special" training devices. But I am caring full time for my autistic grandson. And this is his dog I was needing to train. I simply did not have the time to invest that I would normally have. He is a VERY WELL BEHAVED DOG! But time was slipping away. I decided to try one. I was SHOCKED how FAST THESES WORK! It is not cruel. Not the way I used it. And my dog simply understood FASTER than with a typical flat collar. I want to thank you! It is because of you that I even considered one. I have not even had to get it out in over a month. Training never stops with your dog. But the BASICS are complete. He is an aussie. So no need for it for "safety" reasons. I recently got a few chickens, and his instintcts kicked in. He seems to know just what to do! Without being told. He watched for a few days of me getting them out in the morning and rounding them up for bed at night. And he just joined in the chore. WONDERFUL PART TO OUR FAMILY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS!!! AND THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME AOBUT THESE COLLARS!
Thank you so much for this post.. I LOVE to hear from people who care about their dogs and are willing to step outside of their comfort zones to help. You did a great thing. Thanks again for letting me be a part of your dog training!!!
That's so cool to hear. Your dog sounds awesome !
I just seen this video before I took my mal on our normal walk...I was never taught about the back up collar and I'm so grateful for this video today, because his quick release snap came off which has came off before, but not in a situation where another dog was lose due to the owner not having their dog under control. Mopar is now fear reactive towards other dogs due to a foster pitbull we had for a short time. He became possessive over me and aggressive towards Mopar. He became fearful of him and my boyfriend said the pitbull had to go because he was fearful for the both of us and this being mopars home and being only 6 months old at the time he definitely had to go. Well now we are dealing with the aftermath and my trainer is deployed so kinda left with a situation I've never had to deal with before so watching your videos on help with this but definitely grateful for this video and putting a back up collar on before our walk...Watch alot of your and some how missed your prong collar videos.
Please learn how to make sentences.
Great video. I was pretty much doing things right, except your final point of having a backup collar, which I'll now start doing. Thanks for the useful tips.
Short to the point. Love it! I use check chain and have not used a prong collar myself. However, I now have the info I need should I require the use of a prong collar. You're the best Robert! Thank you!
The prong collar is a great tool, if you know how to use it. The problem is, everyone can buy one and without the knowledge you can seriously injure you're dog. Please keep making these kind of videos, so there is a good supply of information available!
I totally agree, ppl also injure their dogs with flat collars because they insist that the prong collar is "worse" . They just don't understand how it works.
You'd be hard pressed to injure your dog with a prong collar. Only way to really do that is to give super extreme corrections or leave it on 24/7.
@@katk7505 true, unfortunately I've seen a lot of idiots giving extreme corrections with a prong. I think its a lack of knowledge, that's why I support this video.
Even his dog is just sitting there, whining. Maybe cuz of pain.
Your the 2nd person to suggest the 2.25 for a smaller GSD. I just got mine and it is tiny. I am afraid it wont be strong enough for a 70 lb GSD it is only rated for 66 lb dog. I am going to try it anyway and get rid of the overly large one I got initially. I actually just ordered a 3.2mm because I thought the 2.25 was too small / light duty. Good tip on the backup collar. I have bent the tips outwards to help with that issue as well and avoid the prong collar coming loose. But I was using a much too large collar. Not too loose, just too big. And too low - so thanks!
This is an incredibly important video. Thank you for touching on this subject again!
Nice video, great tips. Now to get local pet supply stores to carry appropriately sized prong collars. Around here, seems the carry sizes for mastiffs and St. Bernards only, not GSDs. Herm Sprenger can be purchased on line, thankfully.
Mystery solved- O cam snap into the martngale live ring. I hadn’t considered this. Thinking I might be giving mixed signals while correcting. Thank you
LOL Love the thumbnail Robert : ). Brilliantly demoed and excellent,concise points made. A back up is a must.
I don't edit my videos. Making me look bad my friend lol : ) Thank you Robert and Janet. Miya and Goofy : )
As always, awesome content. Easy to understand and follow 👏 thank you for sharing this!
As always...thank you!!!
Thank you for this. Have been using a prong collar on my shepherd/husky/malamute and I never knew about using a backup collar. Have been correctly doing the first 2 .
Love you robert, and the dogs! Thank you..
Howdy, Robert! What do you think about HS ultra line? They do not choke, no martingale. A fixed prong collar.
I love your videos Robert and I rate you very highly as a trainer - just one question from me - why do you refer to the ‘chain’ collar as a Choke Collar? - I was taught many years ago when working with clients to refer to the collar as a ‘check chain’ as we NEVER want to ‘choke’ our dogs - rather - to ‘correct or check’ their behaviour. I suppose it’s just ‘terminology’ - but it’s important isn’t it? 🤷🏻♂️
You’re right. Old habits die hard. It was always called a choke chain , but the more PC crowd changed it to a check chain or just chain. Eases the featherweights, but names don’t matter. You’re right we do NOT choke our dogs.
That was great! It was like she left on cue!!
Is it possible to only train with treats and get good results ? Thank you for your videos.
In my opinion you need a balance of reward and consequence. Consequence can be done with a different collar than a prong. My dog works fine with a martingale. Some dogs need something stronger like a Prong. I recommend a slip lead or martingale to start to see how your dog responds. However rewards are the most important and are needed throughout training. You need to shape commands first which is treats only, then once your dog is responding then you can add consequence if your dog doesnt respond sharply.
Balance is the answer
@@charliehall8295 thanks
@@RobertCabralDogs thank you
Depends on the drive of the dog and what you’re trying to train, I my opinion and experience. But likely no for anything serious.
Robert. I have added you to my Related Channels on my channel . Plus did a video highly recommending your channel and website. Hope that is ok? Loving your Website during the long sleepless times. Brilliant website. Thank you ,Janet, Alin and all the Dogs . I forgot Bozzmans name in my video and feel bad, sorry. : )
Thanks Laura. Appreciate your support.
@@RobertCabralDogs Always support you and Janet and your excellent training ethics .
The problem with prong collar is that they are too many people using them and only a tiny minority know all the extensive training behind the use of corrections in the first place
Can someone help me ? How many more links do I need to buy for a German Shepherd? it is still growing and I want to save on shipping to Brazil.
Hi Robert. Our 18 month boxer is a high energy dog. We train her daily and she is incredibly better than before, great commands, good loose leash walking to left side etc. However she’s always been reactive to other dogs. Lately I’ve had time with other friends dogs in an enclosed open space. There is an initial confrontation, but then she plays really wel with them. What do you suggest? Is there hope for her to have better first encounters with other dogs? We live in a populated area and it would be great to not have to consider constant reactivity. Thank you.
You're on the right track. She sounds like she just needs a little more practice to build her confidence. Boxer's are a bit special and can benefit from trainers who specialise in socials with experience of boxers.
Any tips on pick eaters
What one could I use on a cane Corso at 45kg
3.0 -3.25
I am thinking of getting a prong collar for my Mali but she is 10week old and pulls like hell what age will it be bet to get one from
If you look at wearer greyhound trainers put their collar on their racing ddogs it’s always right behind the ears and you rarely see a greyhound playing up on the leash in any environment
Do I leave a question in the comments for your ask me anything videos?
Aww, you tease. The thumbnail shows you with the prong collar around your own neck. I was so curious to see Goofy walking you! 😆 But Noooo! You didn't wear the collar in this clip. Great vid anyway, but I'm waiting with bated breath to see Goofy walking you.
A big 👍noskippingadsfor this how to
I got the herm sprenger collar for my 4month old and lplaced it behind his ears and he went nuts pulling on it. He kept pulling and while screaming at the top of his lungs he just keep pulling. I had to calm em down and take it off. It felt abusive. What am i doing wrong here?
Mr Robert pls advice what is an ideal prong collar size for one year old male Rottweiler and his weight is 42Kg.
At what age is it appropriate (safe for the dogs health if used correctly) to introduce a prong collar for a GSD?
Hello! One of my 4 dogs is a massive puller, she did fine in the beginning with the prong, now she started pulling again, even after beeing corrected she still pulls, what can I do? Thank you!
You should do a video of getting an shelter dog with no training a train him
Did you buy extra links for that prong collar? My dogs the same size but my prong seems a bit short.
Yes buy extra
excellent i think i need to remove a link.
Thank you Robert. I'm in between prongs for my GSD 10 month pup. He's about 80lbs and I have a 3.25mm. If I add a prong it's fairly loose and slides down his neck. If I remove the prong I feel it's way too tight. I have to tighten the collar quite a bit to reconnect the prong. It will eventually slide down but tight so not much room for correction. Do you have an opinion which is the better option?
You probably have a 3.2 mm collar, and not a 3.25 mm, although the difference is not important. You might try a Herm Sprenger 3.2 mm collar with a quick disconnect. I found these easier to fit well. Some claim these are unreliable due to the potential of an accidental release of the quick disconnect. I have never had that happen, but have had links come apart, but this has been very rare. In any case, when using any type of training collar with links, it is imperative that reliable backup system is used.
our prong collar always slip down on his neck. we put it on same as you its really really hard to connect it so its nice and tight on it without continous pressure but when i try to correct the dog its just slip down on his neck and he not really care is I correct or not as he not feel it.
try the 2.25mm
@@RobertCabralDogs Robert, I have the 2. 25 and mine slips down more than I want as well. I have tried to take out a piece of the prong collar however that makes it too tight so I can't get a perfect fit. My guess is my dogs neck is just a bit smaller than the typical german shepherd. She is a lab, husky german shepherd mix but looks like a full black german shepherd. The prong collar however is the only thing that works so I can walk her. If you have any tips let me know. Thanks!!
You can get wider plates that replace the centre bit where the two side join that give you a half step size change.
@@TeslaNick2 where can you get wider plates?
Where can I buy an original herm sprenger prong collar in Australia? Anyone know? I don't want to get a ripoff one and be scammed, or to hurt my beautiful dog by accident ❤️❤️
Check my Amazon store. Https://robertcabral.com/shop
Can it be used on a 12 week old German Shepherd
I don't normally start puppies on prongs till about 6 months or older. Usually can be avoided!
Hi Robert, will a prong collar scratch my dog's neck should he suddenly stop behind me? We run together but sometimes he will get spooked and stop abruptly. A few times I didn't notice and almost dragged him long.
Use a harness, not a prong collar.
Goofy heyyy is my show not hers 🤣🤣
I've been using herm sprenger prong collars for a while now under the guidance of my dog's trainer. Only problem is if I take a link out its too small, if I add a link its too big and slides down too low. He doesn't see any problem with it, but I do. Do you have any ideas how to fix this?
Try the 2.25mm
@@RobertCabralDogs that's the size I use
Hi Robert, before I started taking my shepherd out on his prong collar I did a few leash pressure lessons.. but he still pulls on the prong collar ? Can you help?
you didn't do enough conditioning...
@@RobertCabralDogs what do you suggest I do? He has been wearing the collar for about 4 months now.
If you're struggling you probably need to get some professional help to show you exactly how to do it. You've already accidentally trained him to pull into the prong and adding frustration so that needs fixing before anything else. You're only make the problem more intense at the moment. You probably need to put a lot more time into developing the relationship and lay off the prong collar until you've been shown how to use it correctly.
You're supposed to clip into both rings of the prong collar
That thumbnail tho hahaha
Importation of prong collars is banned in my country (Australia), such a shame, it's noteworthy that our IPO/Schutz scene is very weak. Coincidence ?
probably not!
That's not true, but you need a license to import them. And they are banned in Victoria.
You can buy them online in Australia for example at K9pro. Some balanced Trainers sell them as well, that's where I got mine from.
They use them in Western Australia. (Don't think the obedience clubs do but I know there are people that use them). I know of someone who does protection training in Perth and they use them there for sure.
@@oliverwolf5074 it's a very odd thing. It's not illegal to use but illegal to import, except in Victoria.
PSA is pretty healthy if you're looking to get into protection sports. Check out Pat Stewart for example.
Is a good size to use 3mm for an adult doberman?
whatever size results in a snug fit behind ears
Mine has thicker fur I can use 3 mm right?
Yes you can use the 3mm
When I have the prong collar on my dog he lunges at me and my other dog when we are on walks...but when I have him solo on the prong collar he is fine. Can anyone help?
I have a prong coller but I never use it
how can you tell if it's too tight?
It should not be digging in at all when loose, just barely resting on the skin kind of thing.
Why was the dog so anxious, nose licking, whining?
Curtis Frost probably just wanted to play with Goofy. He treats his dogs very well. The dog didn’t seem anxious to me.
She's one of those crazy high strung, high drive sport dogs that can't sit still for long and the collars probably mean something exciting to her as well. She probably one of those dogs that barks non stop when they're performing.
I introduced the pinch collar to my 6 month old GSP today and she really fought it. I am sure I had it fitted right but when I tried to start teaching pressure she dug her feet into the ground and yelped like I was hurting her and would nit give into the pressure. Am I doing something wrong? What can u do to help this?
Wolf Revenant
Nonsense Wolf. When sized, fitted and used properly as intended these collars are not painful to the dog. So the information you recommended to Mia is not helpful.
Mia Barlotta
Hi Mia. It is the case that a small percentage of dogs are very sensitive to the feeling of a prong collar. I am guessing maybe 5% or so. Most dogs do well with a prong collar when sized, fitted and used properly as intended, but for a few dogs a prong collar seems to cause an overreaction to the physical way it works. Nothing wrong with you if that is the case with your dog, and nothing wrong with your dog. It just is what it is, and you should not pack your bags for a guilt trip to escape the collar police that will try to shame you for using this collar by claiming that you are inflicting pain on your dog. There are however alternatives. You can try a snap-around collar, or a high-quality electronic training collar under the guidance of a professional trainer.
David Miller
thank you so much for your reply. We have had great success with using the pinch collar on my other GSP (he’s 2 now) so I was really concerned when our other one was fighting it. If I keep working with her would she eventually get used to it? Can you also explain the snap around collar a little bit more? Thanks!!
Mia Barlotta
You might try some prong collar conditioning exercises to start in a distraction free environment. Robert Cabral likely has some videos related to prong collar conditioning on his UA-cam channel. Otherwise you can search UA-cam for some videos. The main point is that the goal of these exercises is not to acclimating the dog to the collar using any corrections, but merely getting the dog used to the feel of the collar and hopefully not feeling the need to be reactive. The Good Dog channel by Shaun O’Shea has some videos on this. Also, Consider the Dog by Tyler Muto as well as the channel by Cheri Lucas. In any case however, if the dog truly is one that has some inexplicable reactivity to a prong collar, forcing a dog to wear one seems to be without question something to avoid if alternatives will be better. There may be some ways to try counter conditioning, but I am not aware of any specific examples. You can get the best information about snap-around collars from the manufacturer that originally developed this type of collar and markets them online - handcraftcollars.com. These collars are also sometimes referred to as “dominant dog” collars or Volhard collars, both of which names are technically inaccurate. The use of these collars has been popularized by the Monks of New Skete. It is not a failure on your part or your dog if a prong collar simply is not a suitable tool in your specific case. It is also false that the the cause is that the tool is somehow inherently painful and its use abusive.
David Miller
I tried introducing the collar again today and she actually took to it very well! I went a lot slower and she did great! I just wanted to say thanks again for your kind reply :)
Come apart.. and your dog is gone... no sooner the words out of your mouth then she disappears..(good training -quick response to.the command)..ha ha..
A prong collar can't really be too big, you just remove prongs to fit.
I seriously doubt Robert Cabral needs a prong collar to communicate corrections to his dog. Goofy is probably wondering what it is
I live in sweden and there is such a dog collar forbidden thankfully
Yeah trained every single shepherd I’ve had without one perfectly fine. Your dog will hate you for using these, wouldn’t recommend. The dog is literally crying the second you put it on... it just frustrates and causes unnecessary anxiety. Maybe I’ve been luck with my dogs but never needed to stoop to that level.
Neuron Cell yeah maybe I was a little bias there. It’s just an opinion. My shepherds have all been rescues with behavior problems, and I’ve been very successful at rehabilitating. Maybe the prong thing doesn’t work for me due to the already existing anxiety and mistrust from previous humans. I just think there’s better, more efficient ways of correcting your dog on a leash. These prongs should never be used on dogs with these kind of anxiety problems IMO.
thi big mistake is NOT using a prong collar on a dog. A prong collar is NOT to coerce or intimidate or hurt a dog. It is a tool to help a dog by being able to apply pressure and control the dog when needed. TRAINERS who are reasonable and called 'balanced' know what to do and why,.... HIRE one ! Stop bluffing and lying to yourself about dogs
And always a distressed dog beside you.
As soon as the collar is off, your dog runs away from you. You should ask yourself why in your incompetence you cannot read this simple body language.
Are you watching the same videos? 😆
@@RobertCabralDogs yap, and I can read body language. Learn basics., lol😂
unsubbed !
Herm Sprenger collars never come undone. No need for a backup.
Totally untrue. please don’t post things like this. Backups are a lifesaver.
Backups are a must
Oh thank you so much random anonymous UA-cam commenter for your valuable insight. I’d so much rather take your word over that of a professional with a long history of being a fantastic trainer and evidence to back him up. Your word is gospel. Who needs proof?
OK Karen
so NOT true!! I have a herm sprenger and it has come apart more than once. I always have a back up , you can get a coupler and attach it to a slip collar and the prong. Please don't take a chance on this.