A Washington, D.C., dog sitter was asked to use a prong collar on a client’s dog during walks.
But before strapping the intimidating metal device onto the pup, she decided to test it on herself first. Some praise her for her clear empathy toward animals. However, others say that she doesn’t understand the function of the collar.
Training Tool Looks Like Medieval Torture Device
Content creator Norah Simm (@getinwerehealing) showed what it’s like to wear this controversial dog collar. Her video has more than 4.2 million views.
“POV you’re dog sitting, and they said to use this scary collar, but I needed to try it for myself first and see how it’d feel to decide if I was going to listen,” the text overlay read.
In the video, she looks distrustfully at the device before placing the metal prong collar around her own neck and immediately grimaces in discomfort.
“Ow. Oh my god,” she says, testing the collar’s pressure. “You walk in this? Oh my god. Oh my god. No. No. No,” she says, seemingly talking to the dog.
Simm’s caption makes her decision crystal clear: “1. I’m throwing this collar away bc why does it exist and 2. We went with the harness cause wtf??”
The prong collar (also called a pinch collar) features interlocking metal links with blunt prongs that face inward against the dog’s neck. When a dog pulls on the leash, the collar tightens, applying pressure designed to discourage pulling.
Proponents claim the sensation mimics a mother dog’s corrective behavior with puppies. Critics call it a pain-based training tool that has no place in modern dog training.
Why Are People Divided?
The Case Against:
Organizations like the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) strongly oppose prong collars, calling them “painful and unethical training collars.”
According to their website, prong collars are designed to cause pain or discomfort to stop dogs from pulling. When a dog pulls on the lead, the metal prongs close and dig into the sensitive skin around the neck, causing pain and potentially puncture wounds, infections, and nerve damage.
Research has shown that aversive training techniques like prong collars can cause pain and distress and compromise dog welfare. These painful techniques have long-term effects on mental well-being and overall happiness.
The RSPCA argues that prong collars don’t teach positive dog behavior; they only suppress behavior through pain.
This can cause confusion and create new behavior problems. If a dog is pinched by prongs while being approached by a child, they might associate the child with pain, leading to fear-based aggression that didn’t exist before. Being in pain during walks creates fear, distress, and anxiety.
The Case For:
However, Herm Sprenger, the leading manufacturer of prong collars since 1872, maintains they’re safe training tools when used correctly. Their safety guide emphasizes that prong collars are training tools, not something to leave on dogs all the time, and should be used under guidance from experienced trainers.
Some trainers and dog owners argue that prong collars actually prevent injury compared to flat collars. Dogology argues that prong collars can be “a kinder way to walk your dog,” claiming pressure is evenly distributed around the neck, making it impossible to cut off air supply—unlike flat collars that can cause trachea damage when dogs pull and choke themselves.
Proponents claim prong collars enable “gentle communication” to direct dogs without hurting or choking them. They argue that when dogs pull on flat collars or harnesses, owners often yank harder, potentially causing more damage than properly used prong collars. Some veterinary chiropractors reportedly recommend prong collars, arguing they’re “the most effective and least dangerous of restraining collars” because pressure is distributed evenly and requires only small amounts of force.
Commenters React
“It’s wild how much people will hate on you when you have empathy for animals. You did the right thing,” a top comment read.
“Using a prong collar has helped my dog understand how to walk peacefully and safely on a leash, without pulling on a flat collar or harness. it’s really upsetting that these people left their dog with you without explaining how to properly use their training tools tho,” a person said.
“If a person sees a prong collar for the 1st time & doesn’t know how to place it, it’s probably better they don’t use it,” another wrote.
BroBible reached out to Norah Simm for comment via email and Instagram direct message.