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Originally Posted by Britster  I'm glad we're on the "same page!" hehe. I totally do get what you're saying. Our personal experiences will, of course, always effect our opinions on issues like this. I'm sure I'd be the same way had I been with a dog with CT.
But with a dog that has no pre-existing tracheal issues, I just think the chance of getting CT from simply wearing a collar are really minimal.
I just don't see a difference between wearing a collar all day vs. wearing a harness. Harnesses have a chance to get hooked or stuck on something JUST as much as a collar, imo. It also seems much more uncomfortable so I never like to leave a harness on Jackson for a large portion of the day anyways. He has chattiesmom and Puppia harnesses. I even usually take his collar off during the night just for comfort reasons, or if it's just the two of us home during the day with no visitors or guests, or doors open. I don't know, I just don't see the difference between collars and harnesses in the wearing safety sense (obviously, I see how harnesses are much safer for walking on leash with). |
No -- I don't think collars often cause CT, that would take quite a tug -- I think many yorkies are pre-disposed to CT and getting pulled on with a collar can make it worse and start to show symptoms or worse collapse to the point of danger. Most CT pups just honk, but they can get worse and actually die from it.
Yes, harnesses do have just as much of a chance of getting caught on something as as a collar. The difference would be that the dog would not be putting pressure on their trachea when they struggled against being caught. That is the big difference.
Mine don't mind their harnesses. I think they must be pretty comfortable since Ben doesn't try to take them off. He is the one that will rub his head on the couch to try to dislodge a topknot band.
But I always take them off at night too. Just figure they want to relax in the nude.
We are on the same page though -- either way -- collars with caution or a harness with caution too. But .... (you knew that was coming, didn't you?
) I'll stick to my harnesses.
You know it does not happen often but sometimes I do change my stance. I think you have made me look harder at collars as an acceptable alternative to harnesses. I may not use them myself, but I understand better that they may not be AS unsafe as I thought for all yorkies. Of course if anyone knows that there are CT pups in the line, or that their pup as exhibited possible symptoms of CT, then they should not use a collar. But I googled and read more about the break-away collars and I don't see anything being written about dangers. In fact 93% of the vets recommend them (not sure if they recommend using the collars or if you use a collar 93% say they should be break-away) but .... they do seem pretty safe.