I hate that I'm even asking this...

[Jen and Annie]

I never thought in a million years that I would consider using a prong collar, but Annie is so incredibly strong. I have tried 'stop-and-go' on our walks for her on-leash pulling, and it seems to be slowly working. If she pulls, we stop walking. She is pulling much less often, but it still happens, and we still stop when she does it. I have tried positive reinforcement when she is walking by my side. I feel like I have tried everything, and I need to get her leash walking and jumping greetings under control. I have always thought I would never use an aversive method with her, but I think I am at a loss, especially with her human greetings.
Over the past few weeks I have been researching prong collars, and I have always been against them - but mostly because they look so barbaric. From what I've read, the dog is actually the one in control of the correction for the most part, and that it is more of a 'slight pinch' than it is a stabbing into their neck. I am writing to poll the DK members on your experiences with prong collars.
I am fully committed to the time it takes for training, but no matter how much I run Annie, or try to drain her energy - she is always able to muster up enough energy to exhuberantly jump on people. She is very very stong by now, at over 70 lbs. She almost knocked over a small child at the dog park a few weeks ago, which is what prompted my research on new methods. It's like she sees the person who is LEAST capable of defending themselves against her jumping, and jumps on them. :-{
She just LOVES people. I can prevent her from jumping, just by keeping her on a short leash, but she flails and freaks out trying to get to the person to say hi, in her Annie way. She basically goes deaf and can't hear any of the "SIT! No, ANNIE! LEAVE IT!" when she wants to see someone. Once I'm able to calm her down (usually takes 2-3 minutes, and I have to physically hold my hand on her back to prevent her from continuing to flail around) she will sit and whimper for the person she wants to jump on, and I can hold her back to keep her from jumping on them, but sometimes will just give a HUGE tug and rip my arm almost out of socket to try and greet the person.
I have read that the prong collars really can be a useful tool, but I just feel so bad to put one on her...please tell me of your experiences or suggestions on the pulling on leash and jumping up on people. I know she is such a sweet girl, and I worry that using a prong collar will change her personality. She really is a doll, she just has a hard time hiding her excitement for people. Will a prong collar work to help me correct the pulling/jumping up, without changing her sweet personality ?

I really want what's best for her, but would also like to 'save' the poor people that she meets.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Agree 110%.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

LIKE

[a.k.a. Rodney]

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[a.k.a. Rodney]

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[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Great advice Jane, love your approach techniques.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Great advice, Jane. I've always admired the work you do with your boys, especially Murphy. I would love to see the  video as well. I have been working on leash reactiveness with Monty as well. It's harder since he does not always react to the other dog, so I'm trying to learn the triggers and change his state of mind before he escalates. Lot of work!

[Ginny Nightingale]

You have gotten such great info--I don't have anything to add except my agreement that the gentle leader halter is great and I have had no issues with Rio since using it (except that he occasionally tries to pull it off his face because he wants to pull!) Also, many people with strong dogs in my training classes have been advised to use the prong collar and they were very happy with it. Some had one that did not have metal prongs--it was made out of heavy black plastic links that would turn inward when the collar was pulled, putting pressure on the neck in an even way without sharp prongs--they all liked it--but I don't know anything more about it. 

Training and the right tool, as Jane said, will do the trick-and anticipating her behavior will help too. 

[BG and Gavin]

I perused most of the responses so far and I agree that you have some good feedback.  I will add my two cents and please forgive me any repetitions.

Our first trainer (a second generation professional trainer who has being training for 25 years and titled many dogs including a Canadian champion poodle and who I respect completely) suggested a prong collar to us.  She is dead set against the head halter devices because you cannot make a correction with them without endangering the dog.  The motion caused by the halter is to tuck the chin and pull it back toward the neck and off to one side which can cause injury.  I have seen a dog come down a notch by placing the halter on them but I agree this is a containment method not a training method (but... sometimes you do need a container).  The prong collar distributes the pressure around the neck and avoids that crushing of the throat that a flat collar can cause.  This is apparently a weak point for poodles. 

Gavin started with the prong and once I had more control we graduated to a martingale (or half-check) collar and now we use a flat collar almost exclusively.  I still use the martingale when I know we are going to be in a new high stimulus situation (example a dog fair last week with thousands of people and hundreds of dogs).

As already stated, go with the  Herm Sprenger collar only.  The imitators do not have a good finish and are sharp or have some barbs.  We used the quick release collar as it is much easier to put on and take off.  Also when wearing the prong you need to have a slip collar or a flat collar on her as well with the leash hooked to both because they can and do come undone (right Jane?).  I will try and find a link to that discussion which contains a picture of my old set up.  Also it is better to get the size smaller (links smaller) and buy extra link to make it fit, than the buy the large size links.  You can get a better custom fit (which is super important because you need for it to stay high on the neck under the ears) and again there is more dispersing of pressure.

Do not use the collar in the house, when the dog is unattended or when they are playing with another dog.

Hope this is helpful.  Be back with the link.

 

[BG and Gavin]

Okay here is one of the discussions:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/the-best-250-we-have-ever-...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes....I learned from experience that the prong collars can come undone....and usually at the worst possible time.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

All true but when sizing also make sure the prongs are long enough to make it through the dog's fur.

[Mandy & Benny]

I say go for it, and I'll tell you why.  I'm roughly 110 lbs and while my Riley was still a puppy (but 60 lbs!) I was going through the same problem.  I tried all sorts of collars/harnesses/etc but he still pulled me around, despite obedience training.  One day we were at the park and someone let off a firecracker and he took me for a drag down a flight of cement stairs and I ended up having a very costly knee surgery.  After that, when the trainer of the obedience school dangled a prong collar in front of me, I cried.  i could never do that to him!  She told me just to try it.  After that day Riley walked directly at my side, perfectly.  I was able to control my 80+ lb dog with no problem at all.  I do recommend having someone show you how to use it correctly so you don't unintentionally hurt the dog.  As someone with a small stature and minimal upper body strength, I strongly recommend them to keep all of your muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments attached properly!