Stainless Steel Prong Training Collar with Swivel 23" - Large 3.2mm

Good quality, only recommended if you know to use this

Best dog collar

I have an 80 lb 9mo English Lab, Finn, who is (was) a terrible puller and we had tried everything to get him to walk properly. Nothing that worked with our previous Lab seemed to make any difference with our new furry beast. My petite wife hated walking him and my daughter stood no chance. Being out of options and getting more and more frustrated, I decided to look into prong collars - I was shocked to find that they aren’t the horrible torture devices some misinformed people make them out to be. The good ones aren’t sharp and they are safer because they don’t choke or damage the dog’s throat.After much research into how prong collars are fitted and used, I decided to buy the brand most recommended by trainers: Herm Sprenger. After removing two links to ensure a snug fit, I did about 15-20min of training in our backyard to acclimate my bud to the new collar. I immediately noticed that the collar allowed better communication between me and Finn. With the acclimation process done, I took him for a walk and ... well ... the results were nothing short of amazing. Here was a stubborn dog that zig-zagged, yanked, and lunged at people (in a friendly though inappropriate Lab way) who was now heeling with very little tension on the leash. This was on the first walk! The thing I noticed immediately was how little force it took to “correct” Finn and, most of the time, if he darted to sniff at something, the tension he created on his own was enough to bring him back to a heel. I cannot stress enough how transformative this collar has been and how much it has improved our enjoyment of walking Finn. No pulling, no choking, no stress.Finn is a stubborn dog and, in typical Lab tradition, had no issues hulking out and trying to drag us everywhere on other collars, regardless of the discomfort it caused him (and us). With the Herm Sprenger, and consistent training, Finn has become a pleasure to walk for the entire family. Finn gets so excited when he sees the collar, so clearly he doesn’t mind it either.Important take-aways:- Make sure the collar is fit snuggly around the upper part of the dog’s neck. I find our collar sits about an inch behind Finn’s ears.- Prong collars, when used correctly, don’t hurt your dog. I tried the collar on and even with a firm yank, there was no pain or damage to the unprotected skin of my neck. It’s a hard sensation to describe but it’s more like firm pressure that feels really odd...like if you were to take your finger tips, space them evenly around your neck, and press them firmly. It doesn’t hurt or choke.- The prongs are smooth and rounded. There is no way these can pierce your dog’s skin.- The Herm Sprenger Stainless Steel model is top-notch in terms of quality. No issues with it in the rain or with it getting wet.- You don’t need to yank on a prong collar for it to work. Most of the time you communicate with your dog by quick little pulls without using much force or you use even pressure-then-release. Even the occasional correction is just a slightly more firm “pop”. Watch some videos on YouTube to ensure you’re using this correctly. I highly suggest Solid K9 Training on YouTube.- Do NOT leave this collar on your dog all day or tie them up outside with it on. This is a training tool for walking and correcting inappropriate behaviour (e.g. jumping).- The collars can be a bit tough to clip on and off. You squeeze the arms of one of the links together to remove the collar. Smaller hands might find the links a bit challenging at first due to their thickness (3.25mm for this model). You can either buy the next size down (though will need extra links for a big dog) or get a Herm Sprenger with a quick release.- We’ve noticed a bit of very minor “greying” / discolouration around our dog’s neck when using this collar. I didn’t think the stainless steel version did this but, it’s not permanent nor excessive. It also doesn’t seem to always occur either. I believe Herm Sprenger makes another model (curogan) that supposedly doesn’t do this.- As noted, this collar fit our ~80lbs Lab (who will end up around 90lbs) with removing two links.I hope this review helps someone else who might be on the fence regarding using a prong collar. It truly made a huge difference in walking our dog.

***Be very careful of cheaper imitations of this original design. Other prong collars have pointed ends which inflict unnecessary pain and potential injury to dogs!! I'm all for generic medications and store-brand items, but with this product, Herm Sprenger is definitely a name to be used and trusted!! It was recommended by our dog trainer and works very well!!***The item description is accurate and it is a perfect fit for my dog. I can't believe how much easier it is to walk her without her pulling against the leash! She is a large chocolate Lab (~77 lbs) and, before this collar to help train her, my arm felt like it was being pulled out of its socket! Not anymore! The gentle prong reminders keep her next to me; if she doesn't pull against the leash, there isn't any discomfort. But, if she does see a person, cat, another dog, bird, etc. and wants to run, the blunt-ended prongs remind her to stay at my side. Well worth the price for comfort, durability and preventing injury to my beloved pet while training!

Only buy if you are an experienced handler of large working breeds. Have undergone obedience training, this is not a fashion accessory for your dog. Nor should it ever be used to tie your dog. It’s strictly for professsional use.