Traing using choke chain.
 

Has anyone taken their yorkie to an obedience class where they require choke chains?

The local Kennel club offers obedience training but he said they use choke chains. I'd like to take mine, but not sure about the choke chain.

I certainly would not use it for corrections, so what would be the purpose?

It's a kennel club. Shouldn't they know what they are doing?

I would not attend a training school that used choke collars on a Yorkie for all the obvious reasons. I think some of these trainers only understand big dogs and don't understand what can happen to a Yorkie's trachea. Did you explain it was a Yorkie and your concerns?

The instructor at the class I am going to is a high level agility trainer. She recommends the use of certain equipment that she has had success with but does not REQUIRE it.

If you are interested in taking the classes, then call and talk with the instructor. If he/she knows anything about yorkies then they will be familiar with the collapsing trachea problem.

Just because it is a "kennel club" doesn't mean that they are experienced in the training of small dogs. good luck..... keep me posted, I am really intrested.

My yorkie attends training at Petco and the instructor reprimanded a dog owner that was using a choke chain on his dog she made him buy immediately a nylon collar and lead since even his lead was a chain. Even in the adult class the two rotties are in harnesses. No choke chain or chain collars. I suggest you find another place to train your yorkie because the choke chain is a clear sign that they won't be teaching positive reinforcement

My daughter almost lost one or maybe both of her dogs because of a choke chain. Pru was wearing one and playing with Max. Somehow, his jaw got caught in the chain and the more he tried to get out, the tighter it got. She was screaming and trying to get them loose and thank goodness a neighbor grabbed a chain link fence cutter and got them apart. Pru's tongue was blue and her eyes were rolled back in her head and Max's jaw was cut and bleeding. His tooth was caught in a link. Needless to say, no more choke chains. They both survived the ordeal and are fine. I think choke chains are cruel, no matter what they are used for.

Just say NO!
 

I am sure the trainer will completely understand your objections to choke collars. Just say no.:thumbup:

Never no way no how would I use a choke chain on a yorkie....I was told by the vet not to use one on Max my 5 month old 50 pound GSD, He suggest the prong one because it doesn't hurt his trachea...I wouldn't even use a collar to walk a yorkie either...So I would tell them NO or find another class.....

OMG!!! HECK NO!!! I don't want to even imagine what would happen... I was only required to use a standard lead during our training sessions - No retractibles. But, choke chain... UNSPEAKABLE!!! :thumbdown

Not a good idea with such a small dog. & they can be dangerous when used improperly even with bigger dogs.

I would never ever use a chain on a Yorkie.
I am also of the opinion that with yorkies you should use a harness for walking on a leash.
Problem with training collars even on the larger breed of dogs is that most people do not know how to properly use them and hence the name CHOKE Chain.

My obedience school wanted me to use a prong collar, and after discussing it with YTers I refused. I used a leather collar, and he did just fine. In retrospect, I would have used a harness instead. Yorkie necks are nothing to fool with.

I think a lot of obedience school instructors lack experience with small dogs and treat them just like they would big dogs. And not enough schools are versed in positive training techniques that use no corrections.

training
 

there is no reason you would need to use a choke chain for any small dog.
We took our Lab to an obidience class a couple of years ago, and most of the people with bigger dogs used the choke chains, and most of the smaller dog owners used their own harnesses or collars, the trainer didnt have a problem with it.
I found it helpful with our lab, but there is no way i would ever put one on my yorkie. (or my beagle)

I agree with the above. No choke chains, especially on small dogs!

Given what we know now about the effectiveness of postive training, I seriously doubt that I would attend a class that used choke chains on any dog.

As for being told that they won't be used for corrections, choke chains automatically provide punishment: dog pulls = he gets choked. What could be more of a "correction" (punishment)?

I would NEVER use a choke chain, specially on small breeds! There are better methods of training, without using a choke chain! I just don't believe in them period!

I just want to put my two pennies in here. I think that any training school which says "only" choke chains is not going to be using the kind of training methods which will motivate your yorkie. When I first got Dougal (my first dog EVER) I took him along to the obedience club for training - they're recommended by the city council and I thought I was doing the right thing.

Dougal would do everything they wanted (tho he didn't heel very well) but he wasn't very enthused about it. They also suggested a choke chain for him.

I've now discovered the joy of postive (clicker) training. Dougal heels beautifully off lead and we're doing pretty well in agility. He's really motivated. I could not have done this without clicker / positive training.

I've clicker trained Dixie from the start and boy is she a wonderment!

I say find a different training club! Ask about their training methods before you commit your hard earned money!

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.