The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar was created by a pet company referred to simply as Guardian Gear. Guardian Gear is one pet company that has a lot of pet products. Its range of products includes all sorts of things like pet strollers, pet jackets and even pet feeding bowls.
It also has a range of pet collars. From basic collars and martingales, to prong collars and choke collars and even the collar leash combo. Our product for review today, the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar, is a prong collar.
A prong collar is a training collar used to teach a dog manners and normal behavior. The idea is for the prongs to dig into the wearer’s skin when the collar is pulled on. The wearer begins to attach that digging to whatever ‘wrong’ behavior he is exhibiting.
Now, let’s get into the review.
Table of Contents
Is The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar For All Dogs?
You have to first understand that the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is a training collar and a prong collar for that matter. So, be very careful. Your very young puppy should not be wearing this collar because his neck is still quite tender.
Generally, dogs who are not in training should not be wearing this collar. We advise that you speak with your veterinarian and/or dog trainer before you decide to use this collar on your dog. It is that sensitive.
We should point out here that this collar does not feature any type of clasp whatsoever. You’ll just have to slip the collar right through your dog’s neck. Or, you could remove one of the links. We’ll explain better later.
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Features Of The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
1. Material
This collar is made of steel. The steel is made in such a way that it shouldn’t break. Seeing as you’ll be doing quite a bit of pulling, expect that this collar be made to last. Also, the links are put together such that they don’t come apart unless by deliberate action.
It is coated in chrome which gives it a long lasting characteristic because it protects the collar against rust and tarnish.
This then means that your dog can wear this collar in and around water. It doesn’t really need anything by way of maintenance. Just wipe it down with a clean rag if you really think it is necessary.
2. Prongs
The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is kinda divided into two like every other prong collar. The main loop is what holds the prongs. The prongs are slightly curved inwards for better reach. They are also blunt at the edges which should mean that your dog’s throat shouldn’t get punctured or torn.
In addition, the prongs are covered with rubber stoppers. The rubber stoppers are meant to serve as extra barrier and protection for your dog’s neck. This way, when the prongs dig in, your dog doesn’t feel metal.
All the prongs have rubber stoppers and you can get extra stoppers from Guardian Gear if you happen to lose some.
The other part of the collar is a regular stainless steel chain. That chain is what is responsible for determining how tight the collar can get when it is pulled on.
Bear in mind that this collar is not a martingale but a prong collar. What this implies is that the responsibility for tightening and releasing the collar rests on you (or the trainer). The collar will tighten as long as you pull on it and will only release when you release your hold on the collar.
That said, because, the loop chain is what determines how tight the collar can get when it is pulled on, pay very close attention to the length loop when picking this collar.
3. Adjustment
Bear in mind that this collar does not have any form of adjustment mechanism. So you have to be careful about picking the right collar. The right collar is comfortable when the loop chain is lax and is snug (not choking) when the chain is tightened.
However, the links can be removed just in case you get a collar that is too big. Consider removing the links at the edges first. They are easier to remove than the ones in the middle.
You could decide to remove one link to get the collar on your dog’s neck or just slip the thing down his head.
4. Rings
There are two round rings on this collar. The round rings are used to attach the loop chain to the main collar.
Also, there is one D Ring. This one is used to hold the two ends of the loop chain together but is also used to hold the leash. So make sure you are attaching your dog’s leash to the D Ring and not the O ring.
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Is The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar User Friendly?
For a prong collar, we could say that the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is user friendly. Seeing as you really need no training to work this collar well.
However, we think your veterinarian and/or dog trainer are in the right position to decide if your dog really needs a prong collar. And if they think it is necessary, they should provide the help you need (if you need some).
Pros Of The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
1. Durable
The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is made to last. The entire collar (including the loop chain) is made of solid steel. The entire steel is also coated with chrome to make it resistant to rust and tarnish. All these come together to make this collar a solid one.
2. Safe
We use the word ‘safe’ cautiously. The reason we say this is because the safety of this collar is only relative. There are some training collars that are a better option than a prong (like a martingale). And yet, there are some training collars that fair worse than a prong (like a choke).
Aside all these, the prongs of this collar are covered with rubber stoppers which should help reduce the discomfort that the prongs can impact on your dog.
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Cons Of The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
One issue with the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is that the rubber stoppers tend to come off. They are not fused to the prongs so they will come off faster than you think. If you have no problem with the bare metal prongs touching your dog’s neck, you’ll have no problems.
Alternative Options To The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
Is the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar not what you are in the market for? Check out these other options:
Plastic Option
StarMark Training Collar
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Not comfortable with having metal poking your dog’s neck even if the metals are covered with rubber? Check out the StarMark Training Collar. It is a prong collar but is made of plastic.
The StarMark Training Collar is constructed in such a way that it looks like a band. When your dog wears it, it is difficult to figure out that your dog is wearing a prong collar. Making this collar a good way to quell the nagging tongues and still train your dog well.
The article we’ve written on this collar should give you more comprehensive information.
Martingale Option
Rogz Training Half-Check Dog Collar
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We think that a martingale collar is a more humane option of a training collar. And the Rogz Training Half-Check Dog Collar is a fine choice.
It doesn’t have any pointy thing (sharp or blunt) and allows you set the limit of how tight the collar can get. It is also made with reflective stitching. Go check out the review we wrote on this collar for more information.
Opposite Spectrum
The Company Of Animals Opti Fit Collar
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We’ve listed The Company Of Animals Opti Fit Collar as opposite spectrum because it is specific in the training it is used for. This collar is specifically a walk training collar.
That is, it can only be used to teach dogs proper walking behavior; no pulling, no bounding, no jumping and such. Of course we have a review on this collar that we really think you should check out.
Comparison Table
Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
|
StarMark Training Collar
|
Rogz Training Half-Check Dog Collar
|
The Company Of Animals Opti Fit Collar
|
|
| Material | Chrome coated steel | Plastic | Nylon and metal | Nylon |
| Adjustment | Remove links | Remove links | Tri glide | Tri glide |
| Unique Feature | Rubber stoppers on the prongs | Doesn’t look like a prong collar on the outside | Reflective stitching | Has a buckle |
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Guardian Gear Chrome-Plated Steel Prong Dog Collar, 20" | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | StarMark Training Collar, Large, Black | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Reflective Nylon Choke Collar; Slip Show Obedience Training Gentle Choker for Large Dogs, Pink | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Halti Head Collar, Adjustable Head Halter Collar for Dogs, Head Collar to Stop Pulling for Small Dogs | Prime | Buy Now |
What People Think About The Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar
People who are into prong collars seem to like this collar well enough. The only major complaint is with the rubber stoppers coming off too easily.
Our Opinion
If you really want to use a prong collar, the Guardian Gear Steel Prong Collar is a good enough choice. However, be sure to get consent from your veterinarian and/or dog trainer.
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