08/28/2025
Prong collar necklaces aren’t cute, and here’s why 😊
🛑 Physical Dangers:
1. Neck and Throat Injuries
• If the collar is too low (around the trachea), it can put direct pressure on the windpipe, leading to coughing, gagging, or even damage to the trachea.
• Nerves, such as the vagus nerve, run through the neck and can be irritated or injured.
2. Spinal Misalignment
• When placed too low or loosely, leash pressure pulls the collar unevenly, potentially impacting the cervical spine, causing pain or long-term issues.
3. Skin Pinching and Bruising
• If the collar is too loose, it can slide and pinch soft skin, creating bruises or hot spots.
• Loose collars also cause the prongs to drag or catch skin at awkward angles.
4. Eye or Ear Pressure
• Misplaced collars can affect blood flow or nerve signaling, potentially causing symptoms like eye bulging or ear discomfort.
⚠️ Training & Behavioral Consequences:
1. Ineffective Communication
• Prong collars are meant to give clear, brief signals. Poor placement can make corrections inconsistent, confusing, or even meaningless to the dog.
2. Increased Reactivity or Aggression
• When a dog is confused or in pain, especially during triggers (like other dogs or people), they may associate the discomfort with those triggers, potentially increasing fear, frustration, or aggression.
3. Collar Sensitization or Shutdown
• Dogs can become fearful of the collar itself or learn to ignore it entirely, especially if it’s constantly causing discomfort due to incorrect placement.
✅ Correct Placement Tip:
• High and snug on the neck, just behind the ears and under the jawline.
• It should sit above where a flat collar would, not mid-neck or loose like a necklace.
• Proper fit allows for quick, light pressure and release — not sustained pulling or dragging.
Using a prong collar, it’s a fantastic tool. But you have to use it right or using it is pointless 🤦♀️ so help your pup out and ensure you have the proper size, with proper placement 🥳
Picture pulled directly from a reference 🙌🏼
