Prong Collars—The Ultimate In Leash Communication With Your Dog
Prong collars get an undeserved bad rap—mainly because they look scary. Sometimes they are even referred to as spike collars and there are misleading and false photos out there showing grotesque wounds on dogs’ necks, but they aren’t designed to work by poking, pricking, or God forbid, injuring your dog.
They are designed to amplify the sensation of pressure, evenly all the way around the neck instead of concentrating it on the trachea and reduce interference with breathing or tracheal irritation. Prong collars don’t choke dogs as they are raised off the surface area of the neck by the prongs, themselves. They are typically pretty blunt and don’t feel sharp and don’t put holes in your dog like the internet would like you to believe.
We always describe it as putting a little microphone on your leash to improve your leash communication. But you do need to know how to use it. The collar won’t do the work for you in most cases. But what we have seen over and over and over again, is how underrated this tool is and how many people have no idea what they are missing out on. You can drastically change your walk and your relationship with the purchase of a collar and a few tweaks to how you handle your leash. It can be life altering!
I know it sounds dramatic, but we see it every day. Here are the links to selecting, sizing, fitting, and using the prong collar!
Fit and put on a prong collar:
https://youtu.be/wIJt4UFWVgI?si=6BewXAMdTos8pZrO
Introducing the prong collar to your dog:
https://youtu.be/QBhvD6kLQQM?si=jIGvIZ5n3-iDLPQ_
EXTREME puller—combining ecollar with prong:
https://youtu.be/BL4WbdK_Sgc?si=x-MeNWZjmI1OR1Vi
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Minute-by-Minute Breakdown
- 00:00 – Host Kati Peppe opens the episode and asks listeners to subscribe.
- 02:00 – Kati says she can’t imagine walking a dog without a prong collar.
- 03:00 – She compares prong collars and e-collars to seatbelts for safety in unfenced areas.
- 04:00 – Flat collars and most harnesses reduce leash communication; show notes include prong collar videos.
- 05:00 – Prong collars are often misunderstood as sharp ‘spike’ collars, but they don’t function by piercing.
- 06:00 – Prong collars are affordable and accessible compared to e-collars, useful early on.
- 07:00 – A quality prong collar typically costs around $40–45, more for quick-release or special features.
- 09:00 – They often use 2.25 millimeter prong sizes even for small to some large sleek dogs.
- 10:00 – They recommend only two prong sizes because thicker collars hinder communication and feel clunky.
- 12:00 – Use a prong collar in busy areas or if your dog isn’t reliably trained for safety.
- 13:00 – Dogs habituate to throat pressure from flat collars, which conditions them to pull instead.
- 20:00 – Begin training emphasis with the leash, teaching pressure application similar to e-collar techniques.
- 21:00 – Pressure on then off teaches dogs responsiveness, especially useful for nervous and fearful dogs.
- 23:00 – With repetition dogs learn to move immediately with the slightest pressure.
- 24:00 – Handler skill matters: apply pressure to cue movement, then release the pressure.
- 30:00 – Verbal cues can drive a dog’s arousal; prong pressure mirrors e-collar taps.
- 32:00 – Never let your dog pull; allowing pulling causes the prong collar to become ineffective.