The Pinch Collar

The Pinch Collar: Pros and Cons

The pinch collar, also known as the prong collar, is a metal collar that is comprised of various links which can be expanded or shortened by removing or adding an additional link. Each of the links in the collar has a set of metal prongs which set against a dog’s skin. A pinch collar should fit close to the dog’s skin but should never be too tight or too small for the dog in question. Smaller dog breeds with more fragile bodies should also never be put in a pinch collar as they can prove to be too dangerous and apply too much force to a small dog’s neck. When putting a pinch collar on your dog the links simply fit in to one another much like they do on a piece of jewelry, the prongs of one piece of the collar fit directly in to the loops of another piece.

The pinch collar also has a small silver ring to which a dogs leash can be attached and this ring should sit on the back of the dog’s neck. As a dog is walked on a pinch collar the prongs simply sit against the dog’s skin; however, as the dog starts to pull the tension in the leash tugs at the pinch collar and pulls it tighter. As the links in the pinch collar pull tighter the prongs on the back side of the collar pinch (hence the name) the dogs neck and cause the dog an unpleasant sensation which forces them to fall back in to step as you walk.

To Pinch or Not to Pinch?

The pinch collar can be used for a wide variety of reasons including teaching your dog to heel, teaching your dog not to pull, teaching your dog not to heed distractions while you are walking and not to pick up “dirty” items from the ground while you are walking together. Pinch collars are also used to control dog aggressive dogs while walking in an area when you may encounter other dogs. Pinch collars are most helpful on “bull necked” breeds (breeds with thick necks or exceedingly “fatty” necks) and larger dogs with hard headed temperaments; they should not be used on small or fragile necked breeds.

Criticism of the Pinch Collar

There are many critics of the pinch collar, namely because when it pinches the dogs skin it can cause the dog pain. While the dog may be cause a slight discomfort, when a collar is fitted and used properly there should be no significant degree of pain associated with its use, there should be more of a discomfort. Much of the criticism of the pinch collar is associated with individuals who use the collar improperly and snap on the leash to suddenly tighten the collar and therefore cause increased pain and potential tissue damage to the dog. There is also the potential of choking the dog if the collar is not fitted correctly. A pinch collar should be fit by your vet or a pet store specialist if you are unsure of how to fit it correctly. When used correctly the pinch collar will work as a preventative measure to help your dog to remember his or her manners in public.

More on Dog Training Collars

Read our article on the dog training collar for more information on the different types of dog training collars available on the market.