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Harness Vs. Collar Am I to understand that you shouldn't use a collar when walking, but a harness instead? Why is that? |
Bacuse yorkies have extremely vulnerable soft tracheas..and their windpipes (trachea) can easily collapse..with the strain of a collar on their neck you ar eapplying alot of pressure on that very sensitive area...a harness instead stops them using their whole body..not putting undue pressure on their neck |
Because Yorkies are so tiny, their trachea could collapse with a tug of a collar. The harness supports their chest and belly which also does a wonderful job of keeping them in line. I think it is actually more supportive during a walk. With a collar, not only could it hurt their trachea but it could be hurting them, or it can slip off their necks, since they are so small. I wouldn't take any chances. Just get a harness and your baby will be good to go! |
I cannot think of any circumstance when a collar would be the best choice for a Yorkie..Actually, for any toy dog. These tiny breeds have been bred and downsized and in the process we have bred in some genetic and developmental problems. In Yorkies, it is a collapsing trachea. The cartilege rings that should be round, AND SHOULD HOLD THE TRACHEA OPEN, have become softer and ovoid. That allows the trachea to collapse under even the slightest pressure-and in many instances without ANY pressure. The dog takes a deep breath, the rings collapse and the lining sticks together and it is somewhat like a person being choked/strangled. A collar in the home sounds like a good idea so you can keep tags on BUT they can get caught in some of the most unimaginable things-ducts, fabrics, carpets, ets- and the baby can choke to death. IF you feel you MUST keep a collar on the dog, buy the ones that are used for cats that are quick release OR have a stretchable section so it will pull off if the baby gets hung.. |
I put a tag on Asia's harness in the back were the lease clips on. She never noticed it. |
Now that's a good idea...lol...I have a collar for him (just for id tags)..but after the fight to get the harness on..I am not in the mood to also put the collar...but then again we have never been to a park with lots of dogs yet..Thanks for the idea!!! |
Using a harness also enables you to swiftly pick your dog up in case of danger. With a collar on you would seriously injure your dog by doing this. |
I too had this very question when I first got Magic and from this very forum learned that a harness is much better for these little guys...now we have learned that keeping a collar on in the house can be dangerous as well and have changed that as well...it is amazing the information we learn from this site...we only use a harness for their walks and the rest of the time they are free from anything... |
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I actually dont use either. Willy uses a "gentle leader", it works like a horses bridle. A strap goes over the nose (far back on the snout, just below eyes)and another strap goes around the back of head. And the leash attaches to the strap under his snout. we have been using it for about 2 years now. He isnt fond of it, but he never leaves the house without it so he doesn't fight me. Our vet actually recommended it & that is where we bought it. Desiree, mom to Willy |
Thanks for answering my question!!!! |
Desiree, if Willy is a Yorkie, I am surprised that a vet would recommend one of those..Usually, Yorkies and other toys can be managed without such restrictions.. |
They didn't recommend it for control, that isn't a big problem. They recommended it as he was starting to have trachea problems. Whenever I take him out(our yard isn't fenced)he is leashed & if he sees a squirrel, the neighbors dog, or the wind blows goofy he would run until he got to the end of his retractable leash & just about do backflips. He has been using this for so long now that all of these things still happen & he still acts crazy it's just not hurting his throat Desiree :) |
I prefer a harness even for my bigger dogs. |
I donīt know, maybe the problem isnīt that huge in Germany, but here nearly everyone uses collars for toy dogs too, and I never heard that anyone got problems. For puppies I use one which isnīt as small as the oneīs for adults and later on normal collars. I donīt like the harness because they are very bad for the coat and you have the problem of matted hair afterwards. I think itīs a question of training your baby Yorkie. If he is too wild while walking with the collar I stop. So it took not much time untill he or she knows, if Iīm too wild Iīm not allowed to walk on. As a consequence the baby walks good with the collar during a very short time. |
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