Pinch Collar - Page 1

This moring when i was out walking Goran i met a young Woman with a German Shepherd Dog, It looked much like a Showline anyway i noticed he had a Pinch Collar on.  I asked the woman how old the Pup was and she said 5 months old.
I said why do you have a pinch collar on him at that age, She said he pulled to hard for her without out using it.
There was no answer to that from me looking at her she was not so big a lady. So after a little bit of chat we went our seperate ways but it did make me think a bit.
It turned out that she wants him for showing and i said i know little about that side of the dogs but wished her well.
 But i thought it rather young to put a pinch collar on a Pup that age something i would not do for the reasons she gave.
What are the thoughts of you Guys on it, just a friendly answer because the Dog looked well and seemed happy enough.
Steve1 

I personally would not put a pinch collar on a pup that young.  I have two four month old pups that we just use a flat collar on.  They are doing very well at not pulling with the flat collar on and if they do just a little tug and a no they come right back. 

If she's using the collar correctly and it solves her problem, I don't see a problem. It seems a bit young, but is better than an undisciplined dog learning he can drag her all over kingdom come. Also, if her dog is like mine, there will come a time when the pinch is no longer needed, even if a child is the one at the other end of the leash. 

Pups at that age usually respond very well to directed scent. You can easily guide a 5 months old with a smelly treat (scent) or if very toy motivated with a toy to walk nicely on leash.

Seems odd to me too, Steve.  I don't know much about showing, but when they gait the dogs in the SV ring, don't they teach them to lean into the collar & pull?  I would think if if this pup were meant for the show ring, using a pinch would result in the opposite effect.

Sue, I don't think that is something they need to teach, "leaning into the collar and pull".  

True, but when the pup's size/power can overwhelm a particular person, a pinch collar can work wonders. I remember never getting anywhere, doing the reverse turns all the time. When you want to save your back and arm sockets, and the thing works like magic, what can one say? 

If your arm really hurts you could still use the "Easy Walk" harness for puppies...I would never use a pinch for pups...for older dogs yes, but not for puppies...

LOL, Beetree, they are like powersteering that is for sure.  Some dogs are much worse pullers than others, I have one that walks like a dream, and I have the exact opposite, mind you she has a ton of hair and doesn't  much feel the prong either.

Just curious why everyone is so opposed to it being used on a five month old pup if it is a tough headed puller.  They  can't be worse than a choke I don't imagine, and as long as the owner isn't jerking on it?   (and no, I've never used it on a pup, I'm just wondering what others thoughts are)

I don't think we used one that young, to tell the truth, just a regular choke collar, but there did come a time when the pinch collar just put everything in perspective for the dog. And I'm really talking about safety with the kids on the other end of the leash, too.

The dog knows what collar he's wearing, instantaneously. Like I said, now I probably would have a hard time finding where we put it, we don't use it much anymore, really.  And my son goes skateboarding with the dog only on a flat collar. The dog definately leans into the collar and pulls, LOL