I’ve just seen a UK sit where the HO uses a prong collar on their dog for walking. I am shocked. They are banned in many countries (rightly so), but it seems they are allowed in the UK.
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They aren’t banned here in the US, but that would be a pass on that sit for me.
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It seems they are legal in UK?
I don’t apply for sits with practices I don’t like. Legislation and habits could differ between countries, and I assume people don’t use habits they are against. As I do.
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That’s correct, they are legal here in the UK, although organisations such as the RSPCA aren’t keen on them.
I also found a great Trusted Housesitters blog here, it’s more about dog harnesses vs collars, but it also discourages the use of choke collars and prong collars.
I think @PNW has the right idea of passing on any sit where use of a prong collar is used, if you’re against using them.
There was an interesting discussion a few years ago around various types of collars, with a suggestion being that information about any specific type of collar being used should be shown in a listing as standard.
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They are illegal in Wales, UK. But sadly not in the rest of the UK. It makes me sick that people still use these. They hurt and create a fearful dog. I had a business chat with someone in the US and they said they have an “underground fence” for the dog. I could not imagine what that was. But I felt stupid asking, so I googled it afterwards. It’s a buried electric wire that causes a shock on the dog’s collar when it goes past the perimeter. It’s a good job I didn’t know on the call what this was, because I would not have been able to keep my opinions to myself!
The dog trainer Cesar Millan is a fan of these collars, but british dog trainer Victoria Stilwell hates them.
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I don’t like the idea of an underground fence, but my cousin had to get one for his dog because no matter what, the dog would run away (rest assured this was a completely spoiled dog and was not trying to escape maltreatment - it just liked to run). Dog would hop the fence, dig under the fence, bolt out of the gate at the tiniest opportunity, etc. They could not build a fence high enough or deep enough - they genuinely tried. They lived near a major highway and the dog was almost killed in traffic multiple times.
Finally they broke down and got the underground fence - and within two days the dog stopped bolting and now stays in the one-acre fenced yard where it was intended to be. Was it cruel? Maybe. Did it save the dog’s life? I’m sure it did. I still have mixed feelings about it but I do understand why my cousin did it.
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Invisible Fences are popular here in housing developments that have homeowner’s associations or covenants that don’t allow fences.
We don’t live in such a place but a neighbor down the street has an invisible fence and the dog still runs out of their yard.
Not sure if the dog has a high pain tolerance or the power isn’t turned up high enough–I’m not clear on how the whole system is supposed to work.
Obviously it doesn’t work for that dog.
I’ve run across lots of people over the years using choke chain collars (different from prong or pinch collars) and they have them on wrong. You have to have them so the collar loosens when the lead is slack but people put them on wrong so that once the collar is pulled tight it won’t loosen when the lead isn’t pulled.
They’re always surprised when I show them it’s on incorrectly.
FYI I don’t use choke collars.
I would love this. I don’t sit dogs a lot, but I definately prefer walkig a dog with a harness to a leash. It’s not quite a dealbreaker for me, but it’s close!
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My family had a very enthusiastic standard Schnauzer when I was younger, and we used a harness. He would get so excited whenever he saw it, because he knew it meant walkies were coming 
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Yes, I can understand how an underground fence could be useful in that kind of situation. The dog will experience a shock a few times, which isn’t great but actually maybe not much worse than trying to break through spiky brambles and backing out.
I have come across bark collars, and collars used for training purposes. I don’t like these: they give control via pain and fear. I’ve seen dogs who’ve been wearing them become very anxious and subdued. It’s a pass for me - I simply couldn’t agree to use one.
I’d like to see electronic control devices included in listings.
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