Quote:
Originally Posted by AnneJ68 
I don't honestly know why he responds better on the collar and it's sure not because of pain or irritation. Maybe he's like some skin kids, give a little extra freedom/responsibility and they are more attentive and willing as opposed to restrictions. |
Dogs control other dogs when they place their mouth around the neck of a dog being reprimanded or attacked and it usually serves to immediately control the dog being mouthed. Often the use of the teeth to bite or tear isn't necessary. Dogs are pretty well hard-wired to stand still or give in if their neck is being placed at risk, as the dog senses the neck is fairly vulnerable. It's very like the human head, face and eyes which humans will instinctively try to protect if suddenly attacked. If we're near where something will pop or explode or hit us in the face in a few seconds, we usually turn our heads away from the coming blast or place our hands over our face ahead of time. Imagine if our hands were tied down and our heads controlled so we couldn't turn away how we'd probably be more compliant to prevent what could place that vulnerable area at risk.
Dogs are like that with a collar around their necks, trying to become more compliant to prevent a coming compression or jerking to the neck, which they immediately find happens when they pull or attempt to bolt, jump. Dogs are very protective of their own necks usually and only the dogs with shorter, very muscular necks will usually continue to pursue an activity when their neck is being compressed, jerked, pinched or incised. Most dogs sensing neck control will become more obedient but there are always exceptions and some hyper, overly nervous or aggressive dogs will continue on even when their neck is compromised. But the reason most dogs behave a bit better with a collar around the neck is that they innately realize that their neck is vulnerable and they become more compliant to the person controlling the neck, all things being equal. This usually doesn't apply to the puppy, though some do seem to be neck-aware quite early on, or the overly excited dog when outside with its senses being flooded with scents and sights and a dog with a genetic problem in its neck can pull against the collar until it injures itself if it becomes overly excited or fearful, whether outside or in.