Dog Collar Rumble says...

I am no dog training expert but I do know a thing or two about well behaved dogs. I have to because I have always owned German Shepherds who are a strong, spirited and rather physical breed. Our dogs need to become assimilated family members, house trained, leash trained, socialized... a dog's behavior will reflect the attention it receives from the owner. The dog training itself must reflect the values of the dog owner as well as the personality of the dog. Oftentimes, people will think they've cornered the market on the best method of dog training, when actually they've simply discovered the training that works for them as well as their dog.

I love to walk and hike the hills around my home, so the Shepherd seems a perfect match for me. German Shepherds, like most big dogs, require lots of exersize and play. They are tireless. My first German Shepherd was a black and red male. When I took him on walks, I would be a wreck by the time I got home! No amount of heeling with the leed would give me any semblance that I was walking him instead of the reverse. For one, he was much stronger than me. And secondly, I didn't know why the heck I couldn't train the dog to go on a normal walk with me with all the pooping, leg-lifting, ivy-smelling and leash straining that had to be done. I know you've got to spread your scent man, but come-on! It seemed he would rather choke, than obey. This is also about the time I watched Shepherd training video where they informed me that a bored Shepherd is a bad Shepherd. That's pretty much all that stayed with me!

Walking this dog was pure misery and I eventually stopped taking him out. I could never really implement the basic techniques I had learned. We simply took him to the park and threw tennis balls very, very, very far for him to run after.

With my second German Shepherd, also a male - I determined I would figure it out. We did a fair job initially! Our family soon brought home a female - so there I was needing to train two German Shepherds at once... house train, leash train - you name it. You can imagine what I looked like walking them both at the same time! NOT a graceful site and oftentimes laced with expletives.

I called in a specialist! Actaully the trainer was a certified German Shepherd trainer who had actually trained with German commands. This was the best $500 I every spent. Consider it therapy! He kept it simple for me though. This is when I was introduced to a fabulously, terrific type of dog collar that saved my sanity.

Enter, the dreaded prong collar (also known as pinch collars). I cringed when I first saw it. I was afraid it would hurt the dogs. But he assured me that the dog would only be hurt (correctively, of course), if he disobeyed my wishes. My wish was to be his command. He reminded me that I was the human, the alpha, and the dog was.... a dog. Dog owners... let that one sink in. This is liberating stuff. This is also why Cesar Millan has become so rockin' successful with his message.

I tell you - that within one walk I was walking both dogs together, on their leashes to my left with the recommended amount of give in the lead. It was a dream-come-true.And seriously, it is the prong collar that saved my sanity.

I lost the male, a few years ago. But I still have the female. She is 8 years old and a beautiful walking buddy. We are out on our 4-mile hill walks several times a week and to this day I use the prong collar for walks. I have her leash attached to the prong collar. She always has her purdy, personlized dog collar on. We simply put on the prong collar when we mean business.

These are the best things I learned from that dog trainer who saved my sanity by introducing me to the prong collar - I'm serious... this dog collar was worthy of one of those blue tiffany boxes!

**Make sure the prong collar is properly fitted and placed on the dog - see visuals below.

**Only give a comman once before giving a light but intentional physical correction. Even a sit command should only be given once... not 6 times to no response... but that's a different HUB!

**Use your body and your voice so that they know what you want from them.Dogs can read your energy through the leash. The vocal correction should be simultaneous to the physical correction.

**Once your dog is corrected a few times wearing the prong collar, they begin to understand the rules.

And here is my favorite advice related to your sanity both on walks and in the home....

You are the human, the Alpha and, Your dog.... is a dog!

I definitely recommend the prong dog collars for training. Prong collars are not to be feared, but used with respect for both the dog and yourself. There are excellent resources online to learn how to use them but you have to determine if it is what both you and your dog need to get through whatever it is you need to get through! We wanted satisfying walks where we could both come home happy!

When you've got your doggy all trained and everyone is happy, you can splurge on a happy, handsome or pretty collar - like a personalized dog collar or some other designer dog collar that suits your and your dog's personality!Desginer dog collars abound & come in all shapes and sizes, from the ridiculous to the sublime! There is something for every-dog, that's for sure!

It's all about you and your dog! The more we learn to be good dog owners, the more our dogs will thrive with us in our home... ahhh happiness!