The girls are starting "school" tomorrow night - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 04:11 PM

I am a little nervous about using a collar on them. The trainer (who has been training for years) said I couldn't use a harness. I know if you have your dog on a leash and tell them "come" and they don't she will try it...If they still don't come she jerks the leash to pull them back to her. I am a little worried about this because of their throats. Can somebody give me some positive feedback on this. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't bring them.

Xena'smommy · 07-08-2007, 04:14 PM

We are starting training tomorrow too - I haven't asked about the harness yet which makes me nervous. I'll be watching for the responses as well. Good luck to you.

Kona · 07-08-2007, 04:15 PM

Did you ask the trainer why you can't use a harness?

Luckyone · 07-08-2007, 04:17 PM

I'm going through this too. I used the harness on Bella for probably the first 4 classes. When we began teaching come, I did switch her to a collar. I was worried about it because I didn't want to hurt her and sometimes I did feel like I was dragging her.

After a couple of light pops on the collar, they learn quickly and it wasn't necessary anymore to 'pop' her on the collar. As long as you're gentle about it, you're not going to hurt them.

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xena'smommy

We are starting training tomorrow too - I haven't asked about the harness yet which makes me nervous. I'll be watching for the responses as well. Good luck to you.

Good Luck to you and your little one too!

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kona

Did you ask the trainer why you can't use a harness?

She said you have more control of them with a collar

Kona · 07-08-2007, 04:22 PM

When I did the training at PetSmart my trainer asked me to use a collar and I told her I wouldn't...That it was more important for me to know I wasn't hurting his neck then to get him "trained her way".

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckyone

I'm going through this too. I used the harness on Bella for probably the first 4 classes. When we began teaching come, I did switch her to a collar. I was worried about it because I didn't want to hurt her and sometimes I did feel like I was dragging her.

After a couple of light pops on the collar, they learn quickly and it wasn't necessary anymore to 'pop' her on the collar. As long as you're gentle about it, you're not going to hurt them.

My daughter brought her little pekinese (Iris is gone now

and she said a woman had a min pin that wouldn't stop barking...when the trainer told the dog to stop and she wouldn't she snap the leash so the dog just about came off her feet...The dog did stop barking but how safe is that?
I'm just so worried about collasped trachea...And Sadie is such a horrible puller (when walking) that she chokes and coughs..Maybe a "pop" is what she needs to stop the pulling..

kalina82 · 07-08-2007, 04:43 PM

I use a collar on morgan for training purposes sometimes and a little 'pop' isn't going to hurt your girls. Unless they are constantly pulling against it or your dragging them all over the room by it then you shouldn't have a problem. You do have more control over them with a collar because when you give them a little pull they have to turn around towards you. With a harness you can pull them all you like and they don't necessarily turn towards you. It doesn't get their attention like a collar because they don't direct them where you want them to go.

marcerella02 · 07-08-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLowry

I am a little nervous about using a collar on them. The trainer (who has been training for years) said I couldn't use a harness. I know if you have your dog on a leash and tell them "come" and they don't she will try it...If they still don't come she jerks the leash to pull them back to her. I am a little worried about this because of their throats. Can somebody give me some positive feedback on this. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't bring them.

well i can tell you that Layla is fully trained and got that way using a harness... i'd just say that if you are uncomfortable tell her and as your trainer she SHOULD Understand that and be capable enough to train using a harness... and if she feels that she can't, i personally would find another trainer. However, that being said, maybe it won't be that bad with a collar and you'll be able to tell your trainer that you feel you will be able to eveyrthing she wants with a collar, with a harness... good luck hope it goes great!!!!

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 05:55 PM

Thanks everyone. I feel a little better about using the collar now. I have NEVER used a collar on either one of the girls. The problem with Sadie is, she is such a puller. Maybe using a collar with break her of that, then I can go back to the harness once she's trained. I will post tomorrow after class to let you all know how we made out.

BLowry · 07-08-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

I use a collar on morgan for training purposes sometimes and a little 'pop' isn't going to hurt your girls. Unless they are constantly pulling against it or your dragging them all over the room by it then you shouldn't have a problem. You do have more control over them with a collar because when you give them a little pull they have to turn around towards you. With a harness you can pull them all you like and they don't necessarily turn towards you. It doesn't get their attention like a collar because they don't direct them where you want them to go.

I wouldn't be pulling them, they would be pulling. Sadie is 3 1/2 yrs old and Lillie is 13 months. I think Lillie is going to be easier than Sadie. Lillie doesn't pull quite as much as Sadie does.

Thank you for your post.

Gracie2006 · 07-08-2007, 07:36 PM

I trained Gracie using a harness, not a collar. My puppy school teacher said nothing about using the harness and had lots of different methods of training so a collar was not necessary. My vet recommended that I not use a collar. Gracie wears a collar only for her tags. The leash attaches to the harness. No way would I use a collar on a Yorkie for training purposes.

ChiliPepper · 07-08-2007, 07:44 PM

Good luck in class. We start on Tuesday and I will insist on a harness. They use the clicker method so I don't see the need for a collar. I'll let you know how it goes.

BLowry · 07-09-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiliPepper

Good luck in class. We start on Tuesday and I will insist on a harness. They use the clicker method so I don't see the need for a collar. I'll let you know how it goes.

Good Luck to you too! I am interested to hear how the clicker method works. I do know a woman that trains using the clicker method but, I don't care much for this woman.

07-08-2007, 04:11 PM	#1
BLowry Loved by Sadie & Lillie Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,784	The girls are starting "school" tomorrow night I am a little nervous about using a collar on them. The trainer (who has been training for years) said I couldn't use a harness. I know if you have your dog on a leash and tell them "come" and they don't she will try it...If they still don't come she jerks the leash to pull them back to her. I am a little worried about this because of their throats. Can somebody give me some positive feedback on this. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't bring them. __________________ Brenda

07-08-2007, 04:14 PM	#2
Xena'smommy Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 304	We are starting training tomorrow too - I haven't asked about the harness yet which makes me nervous. I'll be watching for the responses as well. Good luck to you. __________________ The dog was created especially for children. He is the god of frolic.

07-08-2007, 04:15 PM	#3
Kona Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 1,864	Did you ask the trainer why you can't use a harness? __________________ Kona Bernie

07-08-2007, 04:17 PM	#4
Luckyone Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 1,088	I'm going through this too. I used the harness on Bella for probably the first 4 classes. When we began teaching come, I did switch her to a collar. I was worried about it because I didn't want to hurt her and sometimes I did feel like I was dragging her. After a couple of light pops on the collar, they learn quickly and it wasn't necessary anymore to 'pop' her on the collar. As long as you're gentle about it, you're not going to hurt them. __________________ BellaBridget http://www.dogster.com/dogs/539922 http://www.dogster.com/dogs/539924

07-08-2007, 04:22 PM	#7
Kona Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 1,864	When I did the training at PetSmart my trainer asked me to use a collar and I told her I wouldn't...That it was more important for me to know I wasn't hurting his neck then to get him "trained her way". __________________ Kona Bernie

07-08-2007, 04:43 PM	#9
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 6,655 Blog Entries: 1	I use a collar on morgan for training purposes sometimes and a little 'pop' isn't going to hurt your girls. Unless they are constantly pulling against it or your dragging them all over the room by it then you shouldn't have a problem. You do have more control over them with a collar because when you give them a little pull they have to turn around towards you. With a harness you can pull them all you like and they don't necessarily turn towards you. It doesn't get their attention like a collar because they don't direct them where you want them to go. __________________ Kellie and Morgan Girls Soccer Team Goalie!!!!

07-08-2007, 05:55 PM	#11
BLowry Loved by Sadie & Lillie Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,784	Thanks everyone. I feel a little better about using the collar now. I have NEVER used a collar on either one of the girls. The problem with Sadie is, she is such a puller. Maybe using a collar with break her of that, then I can go back to the harness once she's trained. I will post tomorrow after class to let you all know how we made out. __________________ Brenda

07-08-2007, 07:36 PM	#13
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 3,835	I trained Gracie using a harness, not a collar. My puppy school teacher said nothing about using the harness and had lots of different methods of training so a collar was not necessary. My vet recommended that I not use a collar. Gracie wears a collar only for her tags. The leash attaches to the harness. No way would I use a collar on a Yorkie for training purposes. __________________ I love my precious babies Gracie and Holly! Gracie Wuvs Bailey! Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls!

07-08-2007, 07:44 PM	#14
ChiliPepper Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 495	Good luck in class. We start on Tuesday and I will insist on a harness. They use the clicker method so I don't see the need for a collar. I'll let you know how it goes.