Reddit reviews HERM SPRENGER Ultra-Plus Prong Dog Training Collar, 2.25 mm x 16", Steel Chrome Plated Dog Prong Collar, Pinch Collar for Dogs, Dog Correction Collar, Dog Prong Training Collar, Dog Supplies

Like I said, I’ve done my research and I know what I’m doing. It might look big in the picture but it’s really not. I bought it off amazon and checked the tags just to make sure. It is the 2-1/4mm
Herm Sprenger Pinch Collar, 12-Inch, 2-1/4-Millimeter, Silver, Small https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0006L0UGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Z1xSBbH69C8QQ

Here's my list of "favorites" for my GSDs:

Chuck-It Balls. By far, the most durable balls I've found. They've got some "give", so they seem to enjoy chewing/chasing them more. Remember, once the ball can fit between their back teeth, it's time to upgrade to the larger size.


The Shark Vacuum is a beast. We've tried any number of vacuums over the years, this one falls into the "Not Stupidly Expensive and Totally Worth It" category. Getting a decent Undercoat Rake goes hand-in-hand with a good vacuum. Rake once a week (three times during shedding season), brush 1-3 times a week, you'll give your back a break no matter what vacuum you buy.

In terms of training treats, we really like the Red Barn Chicken and Liver Rolls. After a while, we use them exclusively for scent training, but it's an excellent (and not expensive!) treat for any kind of training. Cube small, you'll get a ton of mileage out of one roll.

Herm Sprenger Dog Collars make great training collars. Not everyone likes the idea of a pinch/prong collar, so if it's not your thing, look elsewhere. However, if you are planning on training with pinch, these are the best, bar none. We use the small size and just add links as our dog grows - it's almost impossible to injure them with the smaller prongs and they tend to respond better. Please learn how to use a pinch before using one of these extensively - they shouldn't be used for restraint and you should probably wait until 8+ months (a number of people I know even wait till 14+ months for any obedience aside from the "necessities") before doing a ton of training anyway.

I'll stay away from food recommendations as it seems to be such a controversial topic. I will say that there are a ton of good sites out there to research - first figuring out whether you're feeding raw, tube, or kibble and then what to do once you decide.

Last - look for a dog club in your area. I personally like the German Shepherd Dog Club of America - Working Dog Association, but there are a number of places like this. I can tell you irrefutably that my dogs' favorite day of the week is training day. Nothing like getting out there with other GSD lovers and doing some tracking/obedience/protection work.

Hope this helps! Good luck :)

There's not really too much variety, but I can recommend Herm Sprenger as a reliable, quality brand. One feature to seek out in whatever you choose: in the link below, you'll see that there's a plate right in the middle of the collar. This serves to reverse the direction of the prongs so you get an even distribution of the pressure around the neck. It just works a bit better than the original style with all the links in the same direction. If you need to add or remove links to get the right fit, try to have more or less the same number on either side of the plate.

They also make a quick-release style that has a clip in the chain part so you don't have to undo a link to take it off. I use that type, but it's more convenience than function.

Here's a good collar for your reference:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006L0UGC/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1482773092&sr=8-4&keywords=herm+sprenger+prong+collar+quick+release

Get one of these. We have a pup as well and he hasn't pulled in months since using this on walks

Herm. Sprenger® Ultra-Plus Prong Training Collar, 2.25 mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006L0UGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C4QLxbF7RCRXF