When to use a prong, choke and electric collar

The loudest people are always the ones with the strongest opinion.

Yet again I read another training article on training a dog not to pull. I am curious by nature and sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, other times (most times) I am greatly saddened by the state of affairs in the dog training community.

And I quote "The good ol' choker is a classic. It works very simply to cut off the dog's air supply until he does what you want. If he can't figure it out, you just keep jerking until he learns how to avoid being suffocated. Fun for the whole family."(for my own sanity I wont publish the link outright but if you want me to send it send me a private message)

If you seriously think this is how they work. You are so terribly wrong and I feel so sorry from you and you should really just shut up till you know better.

My 'abused' dog in his shock collar a year ago.

Giving a correction is an art form. It is not for a newbie or really anyone who has never given a correction before, and would probably take a whole book to define let alone teach. The prong, choke and electric collar are all for giving corrections. Used properly they can change a dogs behavior and outlook without harm to the dog. My belief is they are a band-aids, I want my dogs to be able to work on a flat collar but hey they can't always yet. If the environment is to stimulating I need to be able to keep control. Corrections are by feel, I want subtle and soft dogs. I know how to use a prong, choke and shock collar to get me there. I know how to be safe, my dogs are excited when I pull out the chains cause we are going somewhere interesting and new. They do not fear me. If I have to correct them more than I few times I have an error somewhere in my communication.

I wish I could teach the correction in words but I can't. If you think you may need one of these ask someone who has spent years using them. General positive trainers don't know how and I think it's unfortunate. If you don't know how they work you will never learn how to help a dog off one.

But please find someone who knows how to use one nothing rubs me raw then seeing them on wrong with the dog chocking and no one figuring out that's not supposed to happen. Some people call 'em chokes, I call them a chain because it's what they are not because enough idiots got together and got their dogs gasping for air and snapping their trachea's.

If you have learned to use one, then you will know when you need one. It is that easy. I know my dogs, I know when to use one. There is no magic cure all in training and no magic answer. You have to do what you think is right and if your wrong, learn from it and try something else.