Are choke chains/prong collars illegal in the UK?

devils_vixen

I have heard of prong collars and own a choke chain (purchased this from Pet store about 8 years ago). I know pets at home don't sell the choke chains anymoe -well everytime I have been in mine they haven't had any.

Someone mentioned a prong collar so I googled to see what it was :eek: but couldn't really find the answer to my question.
Maybe someone on here has the answer?

Silveralice

A prong collar is like a wide linked choke chain but with blunt prongs on the inside of the links that stick into the dog's neck when the chain is tightened. They are widely available in the USA, but I have never seen one for sale here. As far as I know there is no specific law against them (though i could be wrong on that), but using one would be very controversial. Choke chains are still widely sold as far as I know, certainly slip leads (which work the same way) are.

MaximumImpact

Prong collars are not illegal and are available for sale in the UK. They should only be used by people who know what they are doing. They are controversial and this thread will deteriorate into a slanging match if anyone even tries to explain their use! The same can be said for check (not choke) chains.....it's all down to circumstance, personal choice and experience. There are perfectly legitimate reasons for using both but I'm not going there because as I have already said, it will all turn into a slanging match........

gordikin

devils_vixen wrote: »

I have heard of prong collars and own a choke chain (purchased this from Pet store about 8 years ago). I know pets at home don't sell the choke chains anymoe -well everytime I have been in mine they haven't had any.

Someone mentioned a prong collar so I googled to see what it was :eek: but couldn't really find the answer to my question.
Maybe someone on here has the answer?

I think it depends on the age of the child they are bought for?

gettingready

MaximimImpact is absolutely right and I agree with all said.

I will only add that they all have their uses in EXPERIENCED hands and in certain circumstances.

lisawood78

We use half check (choke if you prefer) collars with our dogs, in conjunction with dogmatic headcollars, would never use one of these pronged things though, they look evil.

walwin

gettingready wrote: »

MaximimImpact is absolutely right and I agree with all said.

I will only add that they all have their uses in EXPERIENCED hands and in certain circumstances.

What bothers me is how do these hands gain the experience?

foreign_correspondent

walwin wrote: »

What bothers me is how do these hands gain the experience?

trial and error I presume...

I think prong collars should be made illegal in the UK - they are in some countries.

walwin

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

trial and error I presume...

I think prong collars should be made illegal in the UK - they are in some countries.

I absolutely agree.

I used to see them being used when I lived in Spain and had naively assumed they were banned here.
I only realised from reading this thread that they're not :mad:

mrcol1000

Just need to look at them to tell they can not be good for the dog. Obviously those "experienced" people who have spoken to the dog about their use and found they don't hurt would disagree. Saying that if you had a dog who could talk you probably wouldn't need to use one.

http://www.schaferkennel.com/M12-14.jpg

devils_vixen

Thanks for answering my question

d_v