Comments on: Pinch collars are great

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:04:40 +0000

Well said! Thanks so much for your comment! I agree. It’s a great tool, although not the right tool for every dog.

By: koilaf

koilaf — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:02:50 +0000

Kudos to those people with encouraging responses whether they agree with pinch collars for themselves or not. The pinch collar is a training device, not the only strategy anyone would want to use, but for some dogs, an essential tool that works very well. I’ve trained many dogs, and some were so eager to please and well mannered that I thought I was a ‘dog whisperer.’ However, after rescuing a couple of stubborn, aggressive dogs, I realized that I was pretty lucky to have worked with those sweethearts in the past – our success had a lot to do with the dogs willingness to accept me as the leader. Any dog with a dominant personality needs to have a leader working with him/her, and size of dog has nothing to do with it. With the stubborn dogs, I’m so fortunate that there are so many terrific and easily accessible books on dog psychology these days, to help me understand how to work with them. I also have the help of a great dog training school and the community of trainers who model and help coach me/us. For those readers who look down on anyone using a pinch collar, you’re correct to hate it if it’s used inappropriately, but if it’s used correctly, you should know that it can make a world of difference for a dog’s attitude and emotional well-being. The dog will feel protected, part of the pack, and it will develop the strong dog-human bond we all hope for. It’s only used for short periods, and it can be a positive relationship builder, and even a life-saver. Please don’t judge without all the facts.

By: Ria

Ria — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:03:15 +0000

Cool..Pinch Collar..It might be useful, might be not…But for me, I don’t like to use this for my dog, I dont want to hurt her! Could be used for training, but not for me…I love her so much that I dont want her to get hurt, or be pinched…Nice blog anyway…:)

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:47:18 +0000

Thanks so much for your comment! I completely agree that prong collars are often the way to go. Choke collars and regular collars can end up hurting the dog’s neck, but most dogs do not pull against the prong collar.

And I totally agree that there’s nothing wrong with using a prong collar on a small dog! Obviously the collar will be designed to fit that particular dog!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:54:09 +0000

I find these comments interesting. I strongly feel that each dog and human pair needs to find a balance for them that is right.

I have had some people tell me I am crazy for putting a pinch on a small dog… here are the problems – he is a STRONG puller and has no regard for his ability to breathe when I put a regular collar on him. When using a halter, he lunges forward and looks like a sled dog trying to pull his owner down the street. When using the pinch collar, I rarely if ever correct, he walks with this head and tail up. Everything shows me he is happy.

I have tried an Easy Walk Harness, it results in him walking at a slant so that he can PULL harder and twists himself up so that he can slip out. This was a hugely frustrating process and he was being corrected over and over.

Perhaps no one has had a terrier-schnauzer mix with a pulling problem. The pinch is safer for this stubborn little boy of mine.

I would like to also add that his pinch (or rather PRONG) collar is never tight on his neck. The only time it is tight is if he tries to pull me down the street. He stops and his trachea is safe from collapsing as would be the danger if I put him on a regular collar. A choke collar would be devastating for a dog like him so I didn’t even go that route.

** I would like to add that we tried loose leash training at great lengths, and the pinch collar was my final decision which was the BEST decision we made for him.

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:22:06 +0000

Don’t use a pinch collar or choke collar if you are not comfortable using one.

Pinch collars, Gentle Leaders and Easy Walk Harnesses all work for the right human-dog pair. I recommend you use whatever you are comfortable with, but make sure you know how to use it. Training collars like pinch collars and choke collars are not meant to be tight on the dog’s throat.

By: The Trainer

The Trainer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:15:51 +0000

I would NEVER put a pinch or choke chain on a small terrier! If you want to hurt it’s throat go ahead! Constant pressure on its poor little neck is not hard to do if your yanking on them! If they can break their leg by jumping wrong putting prongs to pinch or a chain to choke is very inhumane! I would suggest an Easy Walk Harness! it takes all the pressure away from the neck period but helps with walking tremendously! Plus you won’t hurt the larynx!

By: rebekah

rebekah — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:09:28 +0000

For those that know how to use a Pinch collar or a choker chain fine but unfortunately there are far too many people that don’t so they are instructed to use them become dependant on them for life and the dog is in pain its entire life. I started with a pinch collar but after being introduced to the Gentle Leader I will NEVER go back! My dog didn’t like it at first but now he has adjusted to it fine. Plus when he sees it come out he knows we are going for a walk! After working with him for a couple days I saw definite improvements and I can bounce back and forth from a regular collar to the Gentle Leader without problems! I love it and recommend it!

By: Lindsay Stordahl

Lindsay Stordahl — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:48:18 +0000

I have a pinch collar, choke collar and Gentle Leader and use each one in different situations for Ace. He prefers the pinch or choke collars. He walks the other way when he sees the Gentle Leader because he feels so restricted by it. Still, I also think Haltis or Gentle Leaders are a great option for a lot of dogs (including Ace).

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:11:56 +0000

If you need a choke, pinch or shock collar to manage a dog on a walk or pretty much anywhere else, you are doing something wrong in a major way in your training. You’re not building a relationship with the dog, you’re teaching it to expect pain when it disobeys you. My dog walks at my side during walks just fine based on positive reinforcement and clicker training. It took longer, but I didn’t have to hurt, and yeah you’re hurting them, my dog to get a result and my way is part of a larger and more complete relationship.

As someone who knows at least two people who put their dogs down after pinch collar use and the dog became aggressive about having his neck and scruff area touched… and someone who has done it another way and doesn’t have a dog who is hurting on a walk… you’re doing yourself and your dog a disservice in the long run here.

Using the argument that “many trainers” recommend them is bogus. Many trainers, who seem like nice folks, recommend everything from helicoptering to muzzle grabs to alpha rolling to shock collars to pinch collars with a kind and straight face while your dog is learning to fear walks with you. He’s not getting the positive reinforcement you think you’re giving him as referenced in your article. That’s the opposite of positive reinforcement. Get hurt if you do what I don’t like isn’t positive anything. It’s negative, especially to the dog’s psychological well-being.

You say in your article you would never hurt an animal. You are. Sorry, but you are.