Quote:
Originally Posted by La Princesa  My breeder told me it was ok to use a collar as well. I think as Yorkies were bread smaller and smaller lately someone came up with that IMO. I don't think it applies to all Yorkies, then again why breed a dog that is so frail that the neck can break with such ease? But I even asked my vet and he said the same, their necks have strong muscles and they wont just break because you correct them to heel as they walk with you. their necks will break or whatever with some strong physical abuse like any other toy breed dog. |
The concern is not that their neck will break.
* The problem is that a collar puts pressure on the neck which weakens the trachea and can contribute to or cause tracheal collapse. A collar puts pressure on the neck whereas a harness puts the pressure on the chest.
* The other problem is that the collar can get caught on something and the dog will strangle itself or their lower jaw will get caught in the collar and break their jaw or choke them.
* The biggest problem with collars is that when dogs play, one dog's lower jaw can become caught in the other's collar. The collar twists and tightens as they panic and try to free themselves from each other. Even when you are watching them and this happens, you often aren't able to cut the collar in time to save them. Thousands of dogs die each year from this.
Hopefully that helps you understand why so many of us are against collars.
That's why I use the breakaway collars. They come apart if too much pressure is applied to the collar. The girls (puppies) wear the ones made for cats because they are smaller and have a bell on them. My boys (seniors) wear the breakaway collars that are actually made for dogs.