Are prong collars harmful to dogs?

When you go for walks with your dog, you see plenty of neighbors using those silver, seemingly “pokey” prong collars on their dogs. They seem to be enjoying their walk, and so does their dog. But when you do a google search of “prong collars,” you get a slew of articles on why prong collars are harmful to dogs, and see plenty of horrifying pictures of dogs who have been seriously injured by the misuse of them. So, what is the truth about prong collars? Are they safe, or cruel?

The truth is, like all training tools, whether it’s a harness, flat collar, Martingale collar, or head-halter, there is a “right” and a “wrong” way to use the tool.

Please do NOT go buy a prong collar or shock collar from the pet store, throw it on your dog, and give them a yank or a shock when they pull on the leash or jump on your guest. Just like we teach our dogs what our commands mean before we expect them to respond to them, our dogs need us to introduce them to training tools thoughtfully and intentionally so they can understand them clearly — a dog who understands the prong collar should not be confused, stressed, or scared by its use. What will they look like? Well—the same happy dog you know and love! Think of using a prong collar similarly to using a physical gesture with your dog—it’s another tool in your toolbox to communicate with your dog what you’re wanting them to do.

Below is a video of the FIRST session of prong-collar training I did with Great Dane puppy, “Lucky.” What is important to note is that before I decided to introduce Lucky to the prong collar, I did multiple sessions of reward-based training with food only, where I taught Lucky how to lay down and sit. This meant that when I began to use the prong collar, even though she may not have immediately understood the sensation of the collar, because she knew “down” and “sit” well enough, she was able to respond to my verbal communication, and through that, began to understand what I was trying to communicate with the prong collar.

Teaching Lucky the Great Dane puppy about the prong collar. This is Lucky’s first session with the prong collar.

Usually, you will see prong collars properly fitted snug at the base of the dog’s skull. This is definitely how I usually fit the collar, especially when I’m working with a dog who is not very physically sensitive. Because this was Lucky’s first session with the prong, and we were just training in my house, I felt comfortable having the collar fit loosely on her.