Highlight of obedience class last night

[gracielove]

I tried taking Gracie out on a collar and leash when she was a puppy. This was before I knew anything about CT. She wanted to go out, she was tiny, and the harness I had ordered had not yet come in. As soon as the door opened she started to pull and also started making horrible coughing sounds. But she continued to pull. It was a very short walk as I was very concerned about the coughing.

When the harness arrived we went out the door and she continued to pull but with no coughing or choking. We had already worked on the sit command so I had to make her sit before we went any further. As soon as she started to pull we stopped and went back into the sit. She learned how to walk without pulling in minutes. You can teach your dog the same obedience as other larger dogs learn without a collar. It just takes some modifications of the method.

CT is a degenerative disease. Pulling on a collar just makes the degeneration proceed faster. All small dogs lack the muscle and tendons that protect the neck and throat area that larger dogs have. They can suffer injury easily from techniques used by some trainers. Pulling on a collar should never substitute for proper control and training of your dog.

I'm glad your little guy responded so well but so would I if I were that size with huge dogs around me. I hope he continues to do well and does not run into a cranky German Shepherd or other larger breed dog some evening.

After suffering a surprise attack on my small dog by a medium sized dog I would never take my little girl to a class full of large dogs. One split second can cause irreparable harm. I still cringe when I see a dog approaching us. I just won't take the chance.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by furrybaby

While in class, I'd obey the instructor, you can do what you want afterwards. Maybe in a few months or less pulling won't be an issue, you can use it in class and switch to the harness outside of class. Those that show dogs aren't using a harness.

Congratulations for the improvements made!

Show dogs are so highly trained there is really no comparison here. Also their handlers are highly trained and are acutely aware of the risks involved. I also noticed this year during the NYC AKC Show that many of the small breeds donned a thicker/wider collar than what I've seen in prior years, so the rules are changing in favor of the health of individual breeds.

[AnneJ68]

Thank you all for your concern. And also praises over the pee pee.

Please don't get me wrong. In anything less then a very controlled environment where danger or temptation to pull it will still be the harness. Like when I walk him on the sidewalk down my street. Honestly his tugs when the do happen are gentle and he's like ok end of the line and if not immediately sits will stand in place. I did try the front hooking Premier Easy Walk Harness in petite size of course. Tightened well up and he still managed twice to get partially out of it. Will probably try again with the Premier when he get a little bigger.

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.

He's pretty laid back in general and it appear even more so on the collar. Here's a picture from the other day at doggie daycare at the grandhumans. AND YES that's my dad's cat out there with him. lol

As far as not going to a class with larger dogs, I wish that were an option in this area but it's not. One good thing is the trainer requires us to sit in different places each week so trust me we won't be next to the GSD. lol

[brezofleur]

I notice the cat is on a harness. IMO, it's for the same reasons why a small dog (smaller than the cat) should also be on a harness.

They, too can wiggle out of a collar in just the blink of an eye.

We take our cat out for walks too. Definitely gets a lot of head turning... ha ha.

[AnneJ68]

Originally Posted by brezofleur

We take our cat out for walks too. Definitely gets a lot of head turning... ha ha.

That cat love to go outside for walks. She's happy the weather is clearing up. She goes to the vet on a leash too. Talk about turned heads. lol

Bentley loves his kitty aunt, rofl.

[brezofleur]

Originally Posted by AnneJ68

That cat love to go outside for walks. She's happy the weather is clearing up. She goes to the vet on a leash too. Talk about turned heads. lol

Bentley loves his kitty aunt, rofl.

Yes, Ody is the same way! He will come running if he hears his harness being taken out lol.

He and Zeus are best friends

[yorkietalkjilly]

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.

[AnneJ68]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

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.

Wow....never thought about all that a the reason he's good a a collar. Makes sense.

[yorkietalkjilly]

One of the few ways you can sometimes break up a dog fight where one or both of the dogs is locked onto the other and will not release, such as a pitbull fight, is to lift up straight up on the collar or get a stick under the neck of the dog on top and cut off his breathing by lifting up until he gets hypoxic. He will then release. Even a fighting dog's throat is vulnerable. Some unscrupulous dog handlers will fit a collar up under the throat and jaw and lift up on the lead if the dog is acting up and when the dog senses his wind could be cut off, he stops misbehaving. Some will keep the lead pulled up and quit tense to keep the dog in line.

[AnneJ68]

Originally Posted by brezofleur

Yes, Ody is the same way! He will come running if he hears his harness being taken out lol.

He and Zeus are best friends

Those pics are too cute. Thanks for sharing.