Anyone else think that this is extremely cruel?

Question

http://www.petco.com/product/8062/Aspen-Pet-Mighty-Link-Chain-Training-Collars.aspx

And no I dont have one or would never even consider getting one!
Surely any dog that wears one of these only behaves out of pure fear and this collar must be agonisanely painful!
Does antone own one of these or what are your views on them?

wow wasnt really expecting this much answers. Obviouisly a very controversal issue!! Thanks for all your views tho, keep em coming!

Answer 1

Actually, there is no pain with a pinch collar. The main down fall is if the dog is a horrible puller and squirrel chaser, the collar will do more harm than good if the dog takes off after the squirrel. As the pinch of the collar will mean nothing as he's darting off after the squirrel, which could in turn cause terrible next trauma.

These collars are actually used in training, but most people do not know how to properly fit or use a pinch collar. Dogs do not react from fear just because a particular collar is used over another. They act fearful if they are a fearful dog or come into contact with something they fear. I have used this collar, but I would not reccommend it unless the person knows what they're doing or it is another resort. I always reccommend gentle leaders for dogs who pull. But sometimes, a pinch collar works better with certain individual dogs.

The points are not sharp, as they may seem in the picture, but rather dulled points. You can even purchase plastic tips to make them even kinder to the dog. But the dog is not hurt using one of these. A choke/chain collar, is worse on the dog than a pinch collar. Choke collars are known to cause more damage to the dog if not used properly. If used properly, both collars (choke and pinch) will niether hurt or harm any dog.

I've heard of cases where dog will have a medical concern where their trachae will collapse with undo pressure on the front of the neck, so the only option for a colar is a pinch collar, as it puts pressure around the entire neck versus the front.

Answer 2

That's a prong or pinch collar. I have a few of them here, and use them occasionally. They're actually less harmful to a dog's neck than a choke chain would be. I've tried both out on my arm, and the prong pinches the skin, while the choke feels like a judo chop. I myself put the rubber caps on the prongs to make it a bit more comfortable. I also only use them under certain circumstances, like going out to a parade or a festival where I want my dog to stay at my side on her own. If she's wearing the prong, she will pretty much remember her manners voluntarily, without me having to correct her.

Everybody has their own tools they like to use in dog training. A prong is just another tool, which can be either useful or destructive, depending on the user. Its like a lot of things.

Answer 3

Oh geez, I had no idea what that link went to, was all apprehensive and stuff -- and it was a pic of prong collar !

They're awesome. I had a pit / boxer mix foster dog who performed wonderfully with one. Without it, I was not strong enough to control him.

Do what I did -- put one around your neck and tug tug tug. No hurt, no pain. It's actually safer and more humane than a regular chain collar, which puts all the pressure on the trachea. A prong evenly distributes the pressure.

As long as they are used under the supervision of a trained professionaly, these collars can be life savers (literally)

Answer 4

It is WAY more humans than putting a metal choke collar on a dog and letting it pull until the trachea collapses!!!!

It is a very effective training tool. You should get a clue before you call something cruel. These have been used for a LONG time for training. The should be fitted by someone that knows what the heck they are doing, but they are NOT cruel. They are NOT spikes designed to impale the dog!!!!!!

I have THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeez some people are idiots!!! They have been selling these at pet supply stores for YEARS!!!! You have all been living under the rock too long!! I have seen the Dog Whisperer use them too!!!!! Everyone seems to LOVE the metal choke collars that can cause severe damage to a neck and trachea....but something that makes them STOP pulling so they do not choke themselves is cruel????????

It is FUNNY when total clueless people try and talk about something they know ZIPPO about!!!!!!!

The one above me is PRICELESS!!!! "Schutzdog" training!!!

Doesn't that just KILL you!!!!!!!!!

Go hug a tree!!!!

Answer 5

No, the collar is not "agonizingly painful". I tried one of these on MYSELF before I ever used one on a dog. They are a VERY effective tool when positive reinforcement techniques for training do not work. There is far less likelihood of permanent tracheal damage than with a choke chain type collar and less likelihood of neck damage than with an improperly fitted or improperly used Gentle Leader.

I train dogs. As a trainer I use the training aid that gets the result I need with the least number of issues. If the dog will work for praise and cookies, then I use that... But in the case of a 210 lb Saint Bernard who simply has a great NEED to go THAT way (into traffic) I can tell you NONE of the other collars are going to keep him from what he wants to do... and when it comes to the safety of the dog, I'll do what is necessary.

Now, before you get all judgemental.. I would recommend you do some research... including putting one of these collars on around your thigh over your jeans (which most closely approximates the skin type of dogs with fur covering their necks) and then try to tell me that its "agonizingly painful".

I'm going to hope you NEVER have a dog that has a hard temperament.

Answer 6

They don't use these in the UK (thank goodness) but are widely used in the USA I believe.

To be honest I think anyone using one over here in the UK could be charged with cruelty for using one of these barbaric collars.

I asked a question a while ago asking how we managed to have any well trained dogs at all in the UK as we don't resort to using torture implements such as these. In my opinion someone needing to use one of these collars uses it because they are unable to, or too lazy to train a dog by positive reinforcement methods used in the UK by the majority of trainers both proffessional and the man in the street.

Reading back some of the answers to this question it is obvious that the majority of posters are American and agree with the collars judging by the thumbs down scores for people against these collars! I look forward to seeing how many thumbs down I recieve!

Answer 7

To the ignorant, scroll down the page and read this:
"Preferred by obedience trainers for control and safety of hard to control and large dogs.

Extra-strong steel links won't break or rust.

Delivers a mild correction with a slow pull and release motion."

These are to be used on very stubborn dogs and they cause virtually no pain if used properly. Theyre more effective than a choke chain on many dogs, and are safer if used properly.

Misuse or leaving this on the dog all the time is abuse. Using it properly as a training tool, only when the dog is on a leash is a great training method for some dogs.

Answer 8

It shouldn't be used in a way that's painful to the dog. I don't have one, but I know plenty of people, even dog trainers that use them (on larger dogs) that would never in a million years hurt their dog. It's not like they're choking or yanking and pulling the dog around with it. It should fit loosely and be used just like any other training collar.

Answer 9

Spike collars have been a source of controversy since their inception.

there are folks that believe no dog can listen with out one.

There are folks that believe they should be outlawed.

For me, personally, I have been a dog trainer professional since 1981, and we do not allow spike collars in our class.

While they may be effective, many people who have them are not trained in the proper way to use them, and many vets have had to remove the collar after the dog lunges and the spikes get imbedded into the dog's skin.

Answer 10

I am appalled about the number of people who assume that this collar is horrible and don't even know how it is used.
I certainly can't believe someone who claims to be a vet tech for 6 years never heard about one either. This is nothing new people. I see all of the folks who know about dogs and dog training are the ones supporting it.
Unreal.