Thank you Eileen Anderson for writing an informative blog on the physics of a prong collar.
Please see additional note at the bottom of the post.
Prong collars, also called pinch collars, are metal chain collars for dogs that include links of prongs whose ends press into the dog’s neck.
When a dog pulls on leash, moves out of position, or is “corrected” with a quick snap of the leash, force is exerted on the dog’s neck through the points of contact of the prongs.
Force is also exerted in these situations when the dog is wearing a flat collar. A correction applied to a dog on a flat collar can also be uncomfortable or even harm the dog.
But when we look at the physics, we can see why the prong collar is more uncomfortable, painful, and potentially damaging.
