Collars risk causing neck injuries in dogs, study shows

[Lois Lame]

I didn't.

Conditioned to wear it. In other words don't just slap it on and expect the dog to be happy with the new piece of equipment.

You might be able to get away with it but if not then get the dog used to it slowly, with lots of positive reinforcement.

Oh, sorry, now I understand what you mean by conditioned.

No, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that when J. got wet, and a bit sandy, the harness caused friction. We realised that it wasn't beach wear. Had we done a test run, we might have realised that this happen, but it never crossed our minds.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I just remembered I also used to put a harness on my dog when I wanted him to pull me up a mountain, back in the days when he could do that! The same one who has his head still attached despite having to choke him off bottles and cans on a daily basis because no one round here can use a bin.

 

[Lois Lame]

I must be a bit thick. Leverage?

Do you mean have her in a head collar?

You are no thicker than I am .
Yes, leverage.

I use the same principle if leading a difficult horse. I'd rather use a lunging rein than a bridle because then I can make use of leverage if necessary.

 

[Cortez]

We have whippets. We have always had whippets. They wear collars. They don't pull on the lead. Never, ever had one that did. No pull no problem.

I have a whippet, she's never pulled and is the most polite dog I've ever had (if you overlook the Great Train Robbery levels of stealing, which is a hobby of hers). I also have a Saluki lurcher puppy/1 year old who has been a sled-dog level puller since the first day. Now, Saluki's are not the most trainable dogs there are (she doesn't give a monkey's what you want or think about anything), but she is slowly improving and knows she's not meant to pull, excitement just overcomes her sometimes. She wears a martingale collar and a harness linked with a couple so that if she really lunges the harness takes the brunt of it, not her neck. Walking at heel is a distant hope, probably never to be realised. As is reliable recall, or any form of recall.......but we can dream.

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

I had a whippet too, never pulled, very polite.

Now I have one who looks like a whippet but has 1/8th Bedlington terrier in the mix, and that bit pulls for about 10 minutes before settling. It’s my failure and happened because when he was a puppy I used an extendable lead when he had to come to work with me and walkies was around the work car park. First time we’ve had an extendable lead and I’ll never use one as a puppy again.

All our other dogs have been polite slip lead walkers.