Prong collar question

[olive_gretski]

Are prong collars and clicker training counterproductive? Can I use a prong collar and still get all of the benefits of positive reinforcement?

Background: I have a 75-pound, 4.5 year old German Shepherd named Darla. She came into my life about a year ago after my dad passed away. My parents had her for about 1.5 years before then and I can't

Comments

[goingferal]

Yes, you CAN have the dog wear a prong collar while using clicker training. Clicker training is the strategic use of positive rewards with a marker sound to help bridge the time between behavior and reward.

If having the prong collar on allows you to have good behaviors to reward, then that is a useful thing.

You can also use the principles of positive reinforcement with no clickers and no cookies (and no collar). :)

Disclaimer: I'm not advocating FOR the use a prong collar while clicker training; just saying that it's not automatically impossible. With some dogs who are more sensitive, you might find that a prong collar shuts them down. Other dogs may have no issues.

ETA: The other reply mentions this point, and it's a good one. If your dog is reacting in aggression because of insecurity/fear, the use of a prong collar or leash pressure/pops or even leash tension can intensify the reaction and may be counterproductive. In addition, if you get excited when she gets excited, she's likely to take that as you supporting her response and may also aggravate her reaction.

[olive_gretski]

I'm still new to clicker training, but I am trying to train her in all different rooms in my house, indoors and outdoors. I don't know if I tried with and without her collar yet though. I probably did because we take off the prong collar when we aren't going on a walk. I know I have been reinforcing her with my stance and actions approaching other dogs, so I am actively trying to correct myself.

I may be putting too much human thought and emotion into it still, but it felt like she knew that she wouldn't hurt herself by pulling and that's why she was so much worse on the harness yesterday.