Why I (usually) don't use a prong or e-collar

When people ask me about prong collars or e-collars, I always give a qualified answer. I won’t say they’re evil tools, or that I would never use them, but they’re rarely my first choice. Let me explain my reasoning—and when they might have a place.

You’ve probably seen dog trainers insisting that “purely positive” is the only humane path—and that prong collars or e-collars are inherently cruel or damaging. Nonsensae.

Sure, you can find horror stories. But the truth is: when these tools are fitted and used correctly, they offer clear, quick communication. That gives the dog a chance to learn the right choices. They are not magical. When fitted and used properly, they aren't automatically abusive. Used improperly, sure—they can hurt. But dismissed entirely? I don’t believe that’s wise.

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Proper Fit

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For an e-collar to be properly effective, it has to fit snugly enough to maintain contact with the dog's neck through fur. Similarly, a prong collar must fit properly and be placed in the right spot. If everything’s set up and used properly, it can deliver minimal pressure and instant information to the dog. However, the necessarily snug and proper fit keeps a certain amount of pressure on the dog's neck even when the dog is behaving perfectly.

My preference is that the dog should feel pressure only as a correction or redirection. There should be absolutely no pressure when he's doing the right thing. With proper-fitting prong or electronic collars, there’s always pressure—even if minimal. Instead, I believe you should remove pressure completely when the dog responds correctly. To me, that is proper disengagement. Disengagement is as informative to the dog as pressure of any kind, and is important if the goal is to have the dog obedient off-leash without an e-collar.

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The Best Tool

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At the end of the day, I believe the most effective “tool” is who you are to your dog. If you're fair, clear, and consistent, your dog can learn to trust you and training is more productive.

So yes—prong collars and e-collars can be used humanely. But I use them very rarely, only when I need to "break through" dangerous or highly inappropriate behavior immediately, and never for long. Used correctly, they should quickly become unnecessary.

My goal is always to get to a point where the training, my leadership, and mutual trust between me and the dog are the only "tools" we need. If you want help assessing what's appropriate for your dog, or fitting one safely, I’m here to help.

Who you are to your dog is EVERYTHING

Shawn Hines
Dog Trainer, Best Buddy Dog Training