Are choke chains/prong collars illegal in the UK?

Agutka

I own one and have used it with no real success, but I grew up with these being the norm. I did find people were extremely rude if they noticed the prongs in her thick fur. So legal or not, they're not worth it imo.
She responds much better off lead or with a harness or halti.

ali-t

Personally I wouldn't use one but I go on a breed specific american forum and most people on there use them on their large powerful breeds. Keeping hold of a stroppy dog that weighs more than you is beyond most people when using a flat buckly collar but I prefer to use a head collar.

some people would say that a headcollar is just as cruel as a prong collar as both aim to prevent the dog from pulling by providing an aversive experience when the dog pulls. I suppose it is each to their own but FWIW I don't believe any of these tools should be an alternative to training.

tandraig

a headcollar works on the same principle as it does on a horse - it allows you to lead or control without hurting the horse/dog. the head of a horse is far stronger than that of a dog so a really determined or crazy horse cant be controlled - as it weighs about three quarters of a ton! a dog however, wieghs far less even the giant breeds! and an adult can control a dog wearing a halti or head collar.
I abhor choke or check chains! my OH wanted to get one for our first dog saying oh they dont hurt etc.............so i put one on him and gave a gentle yank............he changed his mind! so I cannot imagine how the pronged ones must hurt!!!!!!!!!
oh and OP - I hope you dont intend using one on an animal? Because if I saw one - they would be reported straight away!!! the sale of them may not be illegal - but the use of them probably is!!!

lisawood78

If/when my youngest does her bucking bronco routine (possibly later today at the vets) her headcollar helps me to hold onto her, she weighs almost a stone more than I do so is essential back up in case she does 'have a moment'

foreign_correspondent

I cannot see anything comparable about using a headcollar - it gives a great deal of control without applying a pain stimulus. It physically limits movement for sure, in the same way that putting those raigns on a toddler, or holding their hand when crossing a road does - but it is not aversive in terms of applying pain, like a prong collar is. A dogs neck is one of its most vulnerable points - I cannot see any humane rationale for fastening this round a dogs neck when there are many safer, kinder alternatives:



Prong collar injuries:
http://gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Discussions.Components.Files/31/3073.index_5F00_2.jpg

ali-t

Foreign Correspondent, perhaps you cannot see anything comparable between a head collar and a prong collar but there are many who do. Turid Rugaas for one. Headcollars can also cause significant injuries, particularly if used with a long line or flexi lead and the dog pulls. Badly fitted head collars can also cause a dog pain.

As I have already stated I do use a headcollar (often with a flexi lead) and I do not and would not use a prong collar. TBH I think for many people (myself included) the headcollar is the lazy way out that comes from not putting in enough training.

foreign_correspondent

ali-t - fair point, but almost anything can cause injury if used wrongly - even an ordinary collar can cause injuries if too tight, or used with a long line. The difference I see is that a prong collar's sole purpose is to inflict pain stimulus on a dog to discourage unwanted behaviour.

I do not use either, as my dog walks to heel, but if I had to use one for whatever reason, I would choose a head collar over a prong collar every time.

gettingready

Shoot me now but I actually own a prong collar - never used it on Zara though.

Exactly the type as on FC photo above.

I have to say I though of using it some time ago - but for a very different reason and in a very different way.

You do know those can be put on inside out with the spikes out not in?

Zara has been attacked several times while I used to live in another part of East London - by staffs owned by idiots. And the always wend for her throat.

So at some oint I was actaually thinking on putting the prong collar on her, inside out - to protect her throat in case of another attack.

I was so fed up with coming across those idiots that this REALLY crossed my mind.

But them we moved.....

Buttonmoons

Gosh, that thing looks painful!

Never owned a dog, but I used to walk my Gran's dog when I was a kid, he was a collie, and nuts! He used to take me for the walk :rotfl: and he had a choke chain thingy, and it totally didn't bother him, he would still try and run ahead even though he was gasping for air, and he would NOT allow you to be in the lead when walking him. Obviously some sort of dominance issue, and he used to like to hump my mum, and always growled if you walked past him when he was scoffing....

Lovely dog though Well apart from those things :rotfl: