collar?? or harness?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

looking4chowder · 12-17-2008, 07:54 PM

HI everyone! well i just recently got a new yorkie and it being my first dog I did plenty of research before getting him, now I read that they are prone to Tracheal collapse and so experts recommend a harness when walking. Now my friend has owned two dogs and he recommended not a harness (he said that when training my pup wont obey as much, hell just think i'm tugging at him and playing) but a collar (this way when i pull the leash i'll get his attention. But i'm REALLY worried that if i do train him with the collar i will damage or injure Donnie's neck!!!! what do you guys do with your babies

oh yeah, Donnie is just 4 months old

xxmxaxrxyxx · 12-17-2008, 08:10 PM

I would recommend using a harness when you are out walking...or in the car...or going anywhere...my favorite has to be the step in ones...or harness vest!

lucyaboo · 12-17-2008, 08:25 PM

Welcome to YT.
I only use harness's for my pups & have for many years. Yorkies are pretty smart & can be trained without pulling so much. Never had much trouble training a pup how I wanted them to be....

Please post up pictures when you can!

chloesMama · 12-17-2008, 08:59 PM

I recommend the harness. One little 'jerk' the wrong way in a collar and you could do damage. He will learn the difference between training and playing.

Maxi · 12-17-2008, 09:09 PM

I also strongly recommend to use a harness.

looking4chowder · 12-17-2008, 09:14 PM

you guys are more than helpful, i am so glad i joined this community !!!! i will def post some pics of Donnie (whom by the way was going to be called chowder as you can see from my screen name, but once we saw his cute face and playful attitude the whole family opted for Donnie

) the first thing im going to do tomorrow is go buy Donnie a harness !!!!! thanks again!!!!!

azureblue54 · 12-17-2008, 09:19 PM

My Riley was a spoiled brat when I brought him to live with me. My daughter had tried a harness on him; I don't know why she went back
to using the collar. After a couple of days, I started using his harness on him, because it does give me more control over handling of him, at least he's letting me think so. He also doesn't pull on the leash like he used to, and he doesn't pull the gagging and coughing anymore either. I also just think it feels more loving towards him using his harness instead of the collar.

QuickSilver · 12-17-2008, 10:04 PM

I also recommend a harness. If you have to make a choice, would you rather have a dog with so-so walking manners and a healthy trachea, or a beautifully trained dog whose trachea has collapsed?

Some things to keep in mind:

- If you wish, you can use a "sensation" harness, which is supposed to provide extra trainability.

- You yorkie has sensitive skin, so you may want to avoid "strappy" harnesses.

AVERYxo · 12-17-2008, 11:17 PM

we only use harnesses at our house

kinnykins · 12-18-2008, 12:25 PM

yep, vest harness for us too every time, skinny wears a collar for id purposes only, one pull on her collar and she would have a coughing fit !!

Ellie May · 12-18-2008, 01:43 PM

You have the dog's attention with a collar because they are being choked...

All small breeds should wear harnesses and if I had a big dog, they would use harnesses also.

MyDuke · 12-18-2008, 07:15 PM

Duke has a harness all is life, we only used a collar on him when he was a baby and running loose in the apartment. We had a small bell attached to it so we would know where he was but after a week, he learned and responded to his name.

Puppia had great step in harness.

heatherlee143 · 12-22-2008, 09:57 PM

HARNESS collars on these little babies is CRUEL. It can damage their trachea and that is why they cough when a collar and leash are used!!

My babies have collars just for their tags, not to be hooked to a leash. The collars with the tags comes in handy it's like they have a little bell on them so I always know where they are :P

Lucia · 12-22-2008, 11:58 PM

Twinkle wears a collar with her ID tags on and there was a time a few months back when my MIL offered to walk her and attached the lead to this collar instead of putting her harness on her. The collar is a stretchy cat collar and when Twinkle got spooked by another dog she managed to wriggle her head free and ran off! She was missing for hours

Luckily she was found safe and sound. I would always use a harness because as well as the trachea issue I think it is much more secure. Welcome to YT,

Can't wait to see some pics of little Donnie

xxx xxx

Kimber44 · 12-24-2008, 08:31 AM

Hi, Lily was okay until her spay and has had an occasional tracheal cough since. The vet said absolutely NO collars on these dogs. As it is I have to hope she will get over the tracheal problem. Kimberly

12-17-2008, 07:54 PM	#1
looking4chowder Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY, United states Posts: 12	collar?? or harness?? HI everyone! well i just recently got a new yorkie and it being my first dog I did plenty of research before getting him, now I read that they are prone to Tracheal collapse and so experts recommend a harness when walking. Now my friend has owned two dogs and he recommended not a harness (he said that when training my pup wont obey as much, hell just think i'm tugging at him and playing) but a collar (this way when i pull the leash i'll get his attention. But i'm REALLY worried that if i do train him with the collar i will damage or injure Donnie's neck!!!! what do you guys do with your babies oh yeah, Donnie is just 4 months old

12-17-2008, 08:10 PM	#2
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	I would recommend using a harness when you are out walking...or in the car...or going anywhere...my favorite has to be the step in ones...or harness vest! __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

12-17-2008, 08:25 PM	#3
lucyaboo & pebbleliny ♥ my pups Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: LV NV Posts: 834	Welcome to YT. I only use harness's for my pups & have for many years. Yorkies are pretty smart & can be trained without pulling so much. Never had much trouble training a pup how I wanted them to be.... Please post up pictures when you can! __________________ MY 's BUDDY & BRONX & BERRI ~ MISSING MY 5 Handstamped pet ID tags at dogsidtagged.com ~ the Crew - YT 10% off code DIDT10YT Last edited by lucyaboo; 12-17-2008 at 08:26 PM.

12-17-2008, 08:59 PM	#4
chloesMama YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: here :) Posts: 1,182	I recommend the harness. One little 'jerk' the wrong way in a collar and you could do damage. He will learn the difference between training and playing. __________________ *Chloe & Sydney*

12-17-2008, 09:09 PM	#5
Maxi My Little Man! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,189 Blog Entries: 1	I also strongly recommend to use a harness. __________________ Watch Maxi on Youtube! By purchasing pet store or other puppy mill puppies, you support the abuse of innocent animals!

12-17-2008, 09:14 PM	#6
looking4chowder Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY, United states Posts: 12	Thanks!!! you guys are more than helpful, i am so glad i joined this community !!!! i will def post some pics of Donnie (whom by the way was going to be called chowder as you can see from my screen name, but once we saw his cute face and playful attitude the whole family opted for Donnie ) the first thing im going to do tomorrow is go buy Donnie a harness !!!!! thanks again!!!!!

12-17-2008, 09:19 PM	#7
azureblue54 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WI Posts: 137	Spoiled Brat My Riley was a spoiled brat when I brought him to live with me. My daughter had tried a harness on him; I don't know why she went back to using the collar. After a couple of days, I started using his harness on him, because it does give me more control over handling of him, at least he's letting me think so. He also doesn't pull on the leash like he used to, and he doesn't pull the gagging and coughing anymore either. I also just think it feels more loving towards him using his harness instead of the collar.

12-17-2008, 10:04 PM	#8
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	I also recommend a harness. If you have to make a choice, would you rather have a dog with so-so walking manners and a healthy trachea, or a beautifully trained dog whose trachea has collapsed? Some things to keep in mind: - If you wish, you can use a "sensation" harness, which is supposed to provide extra trainability. - You yorkie has sensitive skin, so you may want to avoid "strappy" harnesses.

12-17-2008, 11:17 PM	#9
AVERYxo Lovin' my Girlies!! Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County, CALIFORNIA Posts: 3,609	we only use harnesses at our house __________________ Meg & my baby girls Avie & Gemma

12-18-2008, 12:25 PM	#10
kinnykins Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: fuertventura canary islands Posts: 149	yep, vest harness for us too every time, skinny wears a collar for id purposes only, one pull on her collar and she would have a coughing fit !!

12-18-2008, 01:43 PM	#11
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	You have the dog's attention with a collar because they are being choked... All small breeds should wear harnesses and if I had a big dog, they would use harnesses also. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

12-18-2008, 07:15 PM	#12
MyDuke YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ & NY Posts: 356	Duke has a harness all is life, we only used a collar on him when he was a baby and running loose in the apartment. We had a small bell attached to it so we would know where he was but after a week, he learned and responded to his name. Puppia had great step in harness. __________________ Owned by a Yorkie name Duke

12-22-2008, 09:57 PM	#13
heatherlee143 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: MI Posts: 149	HARNESS collars on these little babies is CRUEL. It can damage their trachea and that is why they cough when a collar and leash are used!! My babies have collars just for their tags, not to be hooked to a leash. The collars with the tags comes in handy it's like they have a little bell on them so I always know where they are :P __________________ I loveyyyyy my Mia Amore & Giavanna Francesca. We found our new addition!! Giavanna Francesca born 9-11-2008 2 pounds at 13 weeks

12-22-2008, 11:58 PM	#14
Lucia Twinkle & Wicket's Mum Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent, England Posts: 2,197	Twinkle wears a collar with her ID tags on and there was a time a few months back when my MIL offered to walk her and attached the lead to this collar instead of putting her harness on her. The collar is a stretchy cat collar and when Twinkle got spooked by another dog she managed to wriggle her head free and ran off! She was missing for hours Luckily she was found safe and sound. I would always use a harness because as well as the trachea issue I think it is much more secure. Welcome to YT, Can't wait to see some pics of little Donnie xxx xxx __________________ Love from Claire (Me!) mummy to skindaughters Mia and Lucia, furdaughter Twinkleand fursons Wicket and Ozzy 'Treat stressful situations like a dog; pee on them then walk away.'

12-24-2008, 08:31 AM	#15
Kimber44 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Longmont, CO, USA Posts: 34	tracheal issues Hi, Lily was okay until her spay and has had an occasional tracheal cough since. The vet said absolutely NO collars on these dogs. As it is I have to hope she will get over the tracheal problem. Kimberly