[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

It is so strange that you post this today. Last night was my first night of obedience training (no dogs the first week so I guess it was human training 101), My main concern was when I found out it was required for them to have either a choke collar or a prong collar! Now, maybe that's fine for a Lab puppy who weighs 60 lbs. but my Brandi is 10 times smaller and she wears a harness only. I had to talk to the teacher after class and I explained that she is a Yorkie, and her neck is only this big, and she said to me "Well, I've seen them on Chihuahuas - I know they make them that small" and I told her I knew that too, but that isn't the issue. She said they can't be trained with a harness, and unless there was a medical reason, she needs this collar - so I told her the medical reason is she is prone to a collapsed trachea and/or pinched nerves, etc. (as with the whole yorkie breed) so she finally said "Fine" ... I just can't see pulling a yorkie around with a metal prong collar! It's just not right.

GOOD FOR YOU! That same thing happened with the first few obedience classes Eddie took. I was ignorant at the time and did it. Eddie now has issues and chokes when he's on a collared leash. You can never be sure, but I feel in my gut that that at least contributed to his problems.

We took 3 or 4 classes with a collar, and have since taken about a dozen with a harness. He does fine. I've even taken him through a couple rally courses in a harness, and the instructors watching said he did terrific. No pulling. And no choking. He also passed the Delta Society therapy dog test twice in harness.

My new obedience instructor has never even questioned it.

A suggestion: Normally instructors advocating collars also advocate "corrections," or short tugs on the leash. I would lean against that too. Instead, get your dog to pay attention to you by dangling treats or a favorite toy.