They are very easy to pinch open or closed. Just go to a pet store and practice.

Thank you both for your advice I'll give that video a look and hopefully get to a pet store this weekend for fitting. I'm not sure if the ones they carry at Petsmart or Pet Supplies Plus are herm sprenger or not though.

So on the original topic of excitement, even if I'm able to control his pulling I feel like he is still going to do that screaming at other dogs. Or do you think the prong collar training will keep him more calm all together?

If he's on prong and heeling properly that will stop. Heeling narrows a dogs world view and gets them focused on you , not their impulses. It takes the worry and anxiety about being in the world out of the dog and relaxes them, with a bond to you being the catalyst.

Many dogs who start heeling for the first time and get more calm start getting way more affectionate right away because their mind is at ease, and it was the owner who taught them that.

Please don't buy a cheap prong collar from a pet store, just use them to get your hands on one and practice opening and closing it.

You will need a 3.0 Herm Sprenger, which is a Medium.

Both of those Youtube channels have awesome videos showing how to teach Heel on a prong.

Watch them, repeatedly

I'm curious how the quick release interferes with the function of the prong? (Unless of course I read that wrong.)

I traded in my normal prong for the Herm Sprenger with the quick release. I feel I have a better fit on Mishka since his neck is SO fluffy and it has never failed. I always had a horrible time putting on the normal one.