In the old days, dogs were trained on chain choke collars and while this is a very good tool it is not always the best choice. There are several choices we have today for training dogs, choke collars, Halti head collars and no pull halters each has it's devoted followers as does the plain buckle collar.

Turmoil surrounds another type of training collar and it has been described as both cruel and in-humane. This type of collar is called the pinch or prong collar. It looks like a medieval torture device, but it is actually a gentle tool for training many dogs with little or no tugging, jerking or pulling. It is not suitable for all dogs,  but it works very well on high strung, strong or pain insensitive dogs.

Pinch collars are the most misunderstood of the training tools. They are not designed for everyday use and they are not suitable for aggressive dogs. They are too harsh for shy or fearful dogs. The pinch collar is not for young puppies although they can be used under the guidance of experienced trainers for older puppies.

The pinch or prong collar is made of interlocking links, each with two blunt prongs that pinch the dog's skin when the collar is tightened. They pinch just like you would pinch your own skin. They put even pressure around the neck and they will not poke or jab the skin.

There are pinch collars that have rubber tips, this in my opinion reduces the effectiveness of the prongs. You want the dog to feel it and the rubber acts as a cushion and the collar won't work as well. If they have to put rubber tips on the prongs then they are too sharp to begin with and if the rubber tip comes off you may injure your dog.

Pinch collars are not everyday collars and you should only have to use one a few times. Some more stubborn dogs may take a little longer. There are many books and videos on training correctly with a pinch collar.

Some trainers only use the pinch collar on dominant breeds, but the choice depends on the owner and the dog. Pinch collars are not a sign of  "my dog is tuff" and should not be used as such. A pinch collar is a training tool not a symbol.

I hope you have enjoyed this guide please vote.

Lee :-)