How happy birthday turned into a collar debate.

I’m on a few breed specific groups on Facebook. I find that of all the groups on Facebook or even dog forums on the internet the breed specific ones tend to be the most crazy. Today a topic came up on one of them that bothered me a bit. The photo was of a beautiful dog wishing the dog a happy birthday. Nothing that should have started anything just a fun, cute picture and message right? Wrong. The dog was wearing a prong collar.

Instead of seeing it has a cute picture a member decided to make an unhappy comment about the prong collar. I know we’re not all going to agree on what training tool should and shouldn’t be used but on a picture that was taking during a walk and is not showing any misuse, the dog doesn’t look the least be harmed or uncomfortable just an owner wishing her beautiful dog a happy birthday why not just stuff it? It’s uncalled for and no one is forcing you to use one on your dog. This member urged the poster to use a halti instead. Seemingly under some false pretence that a halti is less damaging than a prong when in fact it can be just as harmful if used improperly. Prong, choke, halti, harness, martingale they can all be harmful if not used properly, heck even a regular, flat collar can be dangerous. Nothing is 100% safe but if used with care and sense there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Some dogs dog not adjust to halti use they claw, rub and thrash their heads around often causing minor damage to themselves like scratches. If used incorrectly they can cause serious trauma to the neck and spine, if the dog lunges forward with a degree of force their head will be snapped sideways which can seriously damage the spine. The nose band can cause irritation and damage to the eyes if not fitted properly.

Prongs if used incorrectly can seriously hurt the dog’s neck, those blunted tips can puncture the skin but that is extreme misuse! They should also never been flipped outward, I’ve seen some people doing that lately and that is not only the wrong way to use this collar, it cane cause injury to the dog and other dogs also makes me wonder why you didn’t just buy a martingale. 

 Neither of them should be left on your dog unattended or in a situation like a dog park.I also would never use one on a puppy or overly sensitive dog. I’m not saying that one tool is more superior. To each their own. Look at the pretty dog, in the pretty picture with the owner wishing it a happy birthday, wish them a happy birthday and bite your tongue unless your ugly opinion is asked for and quit suggesting something you only partially understand.