It amazes me how many obedience schools are still suggesting such techniques with small dogs. Looking at the responses to this thread, there's a unanimous concensus that you shouldn't use them. But my school and jeankieK's school still recommend them.

We only have one school in Anchorage, so I don't want to quit. But I have gained the confidence to say NO to an instructor who asks me to do something with my dog that I don't think is right.

:thumbup: Good for you, Mike!!! It takes guts to stand up for what you know is right!

When I talked to the guy on the phone, he didn't seem real open to suggestions. He sounded pretty set in his way. I think I will go to a class tonight just to observe and explain my concerns to him.

I really want to do this, but I am concerned for the neck. I hate to start off on the wrong foot with him, so if he doesn't understand I guess I'll check into other clubs.

I told him I was not planning to do it for competition, I just thought some agility would be fun and before you can train for agility you have to have obedience.

Other than petco classes, I think about the only other training here would be through a kennel club.

I want to thank you all for your input. I was not sure which way to go, but now I am sure I will not do the choke chain.

May the local humane society gives classes. I never thought about asking them

Well we went to our first class tonight. This was actually a conformation class, the obediece class is on Tuesday night. We just went tonight to see what it was like and to talk to the guy.

I told him that YOU GUYS SAID :p LOL:p not to use any type of choke collar.

Well one gal wanted to argue with me and say well you keep it up under their jaw not around thier neck and I said well it might slide down and she said well you keep adjusting it and I said it is not a good idea to have anything putting pressure on their neck. She had a Rotti and a doberman. I guess that made her an expert on yorkies.

So anyway, I stood my ground and they said it was OK for me to use whatever I wanted. They let me paticipate in the conformation class with both of them together. I just tied the leashes together about 10 inches away from them.

They behaved very well. But after an hour, they were exhausted and very hot. I didn't think to take water along for them or for me. As soon as we got home, they got a big drink and headed straight for their beds. No runnuing around the house tonight. And I'm on here with a margarita. LOL.

So Tuesday night we are going to the obedience class.

This was a conformation class, and choke collars are what they use in a show ring. They need to traing them for that eventuality. I have no intention of showing, so therefore see no reason to use them on my guys. But I can undersand why the others use them.

No one was choking their dog, they were all very gentle and no one used any negative corrections.

Good job, JeanieK. I found there's a real pack mentality at some obedience schools, and it sounds like that's what you're running into. Good for you for holding your ground!

I'd be interested in hearing from others who show Yorkies to see if choke collars really are a requirement or widespread in the ring.

Choke Collars and Yorkies
 

I train Kia with her usual leather buckle collar. I have used a nylon martingale on her a little, for the noise the chain makes when I lift the lead; it was just enough to get her attention. Since I misplaced it, I haven't bothered with anything but her plain, buckle collar; she works well with it. When using a long Flexi-Lead, I tend to use a harness, just so she doesn't get used to a pull on her collar, as well as for safety.
In the conformation ring, one can put on any type of collar; the standard is an adjustable nylon loop, or martingale. In the Obedience ring, one can a plain buckle collar OR a chain-it is up to the handler. No matter what classes I have ever taken any dog to, I use whatever collar I feel is best for that dog, not what the trainer decides.
I have also used clicker-training with Kia; my only problem is weaning her off it. In Rally-O, I can use my voice as I wish, and she seems to feel I should do that in the Obedience Ring as well...
Keep your fingers crossed; Kia has four Novice Trials in the next two days.....

I'm glad that you were able to use what you wanted!

My 10yr. old is starting to show an interest in showing. I wish we had classes closer to here that he could take.

Well you could always drive up to Omaha for classes. :D LOL I'd come and watch.

Where is the closest one to you?

Well beings how we are in the middle of no where, we'd probably have to go to Omaha! Or KC. But with the farm to take care of, it's just not possible. I was hoping we could find a handler aroubd here, but there aren't any. I wonder if there are any videos...

There probable are videos. What they had us do in the class, was to do the same things that they do in a show ring. Walk around the ring, stand correctly, etc. But the biggest thing is the socialization with other dogs. To get used to being around lots of strange dogs. And unfortunately the only way they are going to get that is to go to the classes.

What about your local 4H. Do they teach anything like that?

I don't know if 4H does that here, but it's worth asking. We are so rural that it's pretty much just livestock.