Herm Sprenger Pinch Collar - which one?

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

After using the pinch collar(which i bought from the trainer itself) for Berry for a while now, I have decided to splurge a bit - Herm Sprenger stainless steel, so that it does not stain her fur. Now, i see that there are different kinds - regular kind, one with buckle and and one with snap-on hook(similar to regular). I would like to go with buckle or snap-on hook since I have problem all the time putting it on her. But which one? Buckle looks real good but does it give the same effect? Also, i would like to get a cover for this...Anybody know where i can get one with patterns?

 

On the same note - Our trainer only trains with pinch collar...and i have to agree that it has done wonders with Berry. Berry is more than half my weight and it was definitely not a pretty sight when she dragged me every which way she could think of:-) So, my question is - do we have to keep using it or do we eventually take her out of it at some point in her life? What have you all done? I read that therapy dog certification test do not allow pinch collars, so do I have to start training her without the pinch collar if we plan to take the test?

[Adina P]

What has your trainer said about weaning off the pinch collar?
I use just a plain Herm Sprenger stainless steel collar. I got the smallest and added extra prongs so it fits around Rosco's neck. We don't use it often, but every now and then. We trained using a choke chain and use that most of the time.

However, Rosco is a Delta therapy dog so we could not and do not use it for therapy session or the test. You can use martingale collars (no metal), head halters, harnesses, or flat collars only.

But the goal for a trained dog is to NOT need corrections (eventually)...does it seem that Berry is needing fewer and fewer corrections or the same amount? We trained with the choke chain until the very day of his therapy dog evaluation and at that point took off the choke chain and used only the flat collar. If Berry is pretty well past mistakes...she should be fine. The only downside to starting therapy if she's not really reliable already is that she may start to test you and become collar-wise...where she knows she can get away with more on the flat collar and therefore TRY to get away with more.

I would definitely talk with your trainer and find out what the plan is for weaning off the prong collar.

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

Adina, I have not talked to the trainer about this...at this point I am just wondering if this going to be there for her whole life. Berry is 1.5years now and I can say that she is reliable but not completely. She is very good walking, very obedient, calm and mellow at home. She is the best in her class if I may so say myself:-) She is advanced obedience and beginner agility. But this is again having the pinch collar. She just loves people...That is the only time that i need to correct her...She is just excited to meet people and that lasts for about 30sec. So, she still needs to learn what we call polite greeting...Still work to do. Next time, i will definitely bring this up with the trainer.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Shanthala -- We have always used the Gentle Leader Head Harnesses on the girls, but have just recently switched Lucy to the Sporn Halter shown below. She was doing so well that I just went out and got one today for Sophie. Just took the first walk with both of them on these Halters (walking both by myself) and we did great. Sophie tested with Delta using the gentle leader so she will have to continue to use that on visits, but we will use these going forward for everything else.

http://www.sporn.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=SPU...

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I know what you mean about having trouble getting the pinch collar apart and together. I found the one with the snap on hook even more difficult. Have not tried the buckle one. I have found if you take the pinch collar apart in about the middle it is much easier to to pinch the hooks in the middle - I have no idea why. Buy the medium weight one at most, the heavy weight one is just too too hard to fasten and unfasten.

I have always used pinch collars ( I had hukies prior to my doodles). I have my two doodles in a canine good citizen class that requires flat collars. I am only in week seven and am having little trouble transitioning to the flat collar. Both dogs seem to realize that the flat collar is for really working and the pinch collar is for just walking. Both dogs are over two years old and are moderately well trained using a pinch collar. Tigger is as good in a flat collar as a pinch collar, but he is my mellow dog and highly food motivated. Roo needs the occasional work ( once a week maybe) in a high stress situation in a pinch collar, to remind him to pay attention to me, but he is my high energy, easily distracted, not as food motivated dog.

This is just my experience, but with the trainer for the CGC class the transition has been much easier than I had imagined..... basically I imagined Roo pulling me all over the room in a flat collar, but only a couple of embarassing incidents.

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

Good to know that the transition would not be bad. Berry is kinda of middle of the road. She is not high energy dog but she does get excited for about 30sec when she meets people...Nowadays, i ask her to fetch her toy and amazingly her behavior is much more subdued with a toy in her mouth. She is very food motivated but not in that 30sec:-) After that she is just the most obedient dog. I did not know there are classes geared towards CGC...I need to find this here...Thanks for the info.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The best place I found for this sort of thing is Leashesbydesign.com. She has easy release fasteners, all sorts of things she can do with the collars. I just have the stainless steel ones with the easy release. Shannon, if you speak with her is very helpful. She has gorgeous leashes and collars. I still use and love the pinch collars. Here is a picture of the kind I have:
http://c2.null//storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2120861...

[BG and Gavin]

I have the HS collar with the easy release. It is very easy to get on and off. My trainer recommended gradually turning the prongs around (so they are facing out) here and there on the collar to wean them off it. I haven't tried this yet. I just have the chrome collar and honestly am glad I did not spent the extra $$ on stainless. For the 1-1.5 hours per day that he wears it for walks, I have never noticed any staining. Now tags are a different story - they are on 24/7 and have stained his fur.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca got staining from the collar so when Calla came along I got her a stainless steel one right away because her fur is lighter.

[Gail & Max]

Max was 2 in March and he mostly goes for walks with just his flat collar unless I know that there will be alot of distractions...thats code for other dogs, because of doggie day care he thinks he should play with every dog... and than I will use the prong collar. I think that its just gives you more control in certain situations.

[Shanthala Rajagopala]

Hi all, thanks for all your replies. I went ahead and ordered small stainless steel collar with extra links, buckle and purple leather...Now, i cannot wait for it to arrive:-) Though the website leashesbydesign is not taking any orders, direct email to Shannon helped...She took the order since they are still in the process of packing up.