Taking A Stand Over Prong/Pinch Collars

For those of you following my social media, you may have seen that I have become involved in a debate around the use of prong/pinch collars. If you are not familiar with these devices, they have prongs that pinch the skin and inflict pain when the dog pulls on the lead.

In the Oct/Nov edition of the Fieldsports magazine, there was an editorial article on six Gundog Gurus. Two of the gurus were photographed using prong/pinch collars (you can take a look on pages 152-153). As a dog behaviourist and gundog trainer, I was appalled to see the use of such barbaric and unnecessary methods to control a dog. I have always used positive training methods and feel that this kind of treatment of dogs leaves the whole dog training world open to question.

I contacted Fieldsports to express my concern but to my surprise, no apology was forthcoming from the magazine or the trainers. In response to my letter, Fieldsports gave a right of reply to the trainers concerned; one condoned the use of the collar, justifying his stance by saying the mindset of the breeds concerned – Pointers & Setters – is totally different to other dogs. He also indicated that in trials it is impossible for him to control the dogs without the use of a prong/pinch collar and that “I might well add that I will continue to use them as it would be cruel not to”.

I was amazed by this response. Articles and opinions such as these only serve to reinforce the arguments of those who are anti-fieldsports and who wish to associate these pursuits with antiquated training methods, discredited and abandoned by the vast majority of gundog trainers. In response to what was becoming a heated and unfortunately from some parties, abusive debate, I sought to clarify the position of the Kennel Club. I was grateful to receive a swift and unequivocal response from them:

The regulation which covers pinch collars is J9.b. (10) – “No person shall carry out punitive correction or harsh handling at a Field Trial.” 

• Whilst not specifically using the name of a specific tool, the use of a pinch collar would fall under this regulation and anyone using one at a KC field trial could face disciplinary action. 
• It is entirely possible to train and control a dog well solely through positive training methods, without the use of adverse training tools that work out of fear and pain.
• There is currently no law against them unfortunately but people need to be aware of the public perception of them, particularly when involved in a hobby that is already criticised (for those who shoot with dogs) and must always put the welfare of their dogs first.

Training dogs is my passion; I have worked with every breed of gundog and also many other dogs with behavioural issues. I have never found it necessary to resort to the use of a pinch/prong collar and I am horrified that they are apparently being routinely used by other gundog trainers. I could not let this matter go unaddressed and hope that my actions in challenging the promotion of these collars in a national and well-respected magazine will go some way towards seeing them banned entirely.

Posted: December 8, 2015