Hi, Like it or not prong collars are going to be used by some people for one reason or another and I strongly doubt it's a deliberate attempt to cause pain to the dog. Any tool, even buckle collars, can be abusive if used incorrectly. I myself train my dogs very much in the pyschological way and actually train my dogs to heel without attaching any collar and leash just using food. When in situations where safety is an issue then we have a leash in use with a martingale collar which is very kind to the dog. Laws are very strong about people safety with respect to dogs and it is imperative that they are under control, not everyone is able to get to dog school because of distances and availability so they rely on lists such as these to help them. Recognising that prong collars are going to be used it is far better that people like myself try to guide owners as to the correct use of them and to avoid misuse. If criticised as propagandists then people like myself will cease to advise and in ignorance more dogs are likely to have a painful experience. Those who have used these collars correctly have reported happy dogs that very quickly can be moved back to the buckle collar. I have had the benefit of training with dog behaviourists and am fascinated by the psychology of the dog and while I agree that Berners are sensitive intelligent dogs they can also be stubborn and single minded and if owners are overly indulgent some characters will take advantage and become difficult dogs that might otherwise end up in rescue situations. There is a good standard of obedience acheived by many Bernese owners this side of the Atlantic as well and those people who have acheived great success with their dogs have applied kind and motivational methods, many of whom use their knowledge and understanding of the breed to help others and rehabilitate dogs that might otherwise have been euthanised.
Rose T.
