Paul E. Schoen wrote:
I was looking on-line for a good deal on an Easy-Walk harness for
Muttley, and came across this collar. It is made so that it will stretch
if not hooked to a leash, so the dog can pull out of it in a
life-threatening situation such as getting it caught on a fence. It
looks like it has two rings to which the leash is clipped, and a third
ring on the opposite end for ID tags. Here is the info:
http://www.entirelypets.com/tazlabcollar1.html

Of course, it may not work in situations such as the last couple of
times Muttley got loose. The first time the clip somehow came unhooked,
so it would have worked, but the second time, just a few days ago, he
actually broke the steel tether where it had kinked and corroded, so he
still had part of it clipped on, and the stretch collar would not have
worked.

In both instances I was worried that he might have gone into or across
the busy road, and as I called for him, I heard noises in the distance
of one or more dogs barking, along with possibly the howl of the coyote,
and people yelling. Not good.

But in the first instance, as I returned to the house after he had been
gone for over an hour, he was in front and greeted me with two sharp
barks. He came to me and seemed happy to have me clip his leash back on,
although I'm sure he would have followed me back into the house.

In the second, more recent instance, I had let him out on the tether and
when I went back out to get him I found it had broken. I had to put
fresh batteries in my headlamp, and then I went out searching for him
along our usual path. Suddenly I felt a presence by my side and there
was Muttley, and he walked ahead dragging the remains of the tether.
Again I clipped on his leash to take him back to the house, and I'm also
sure he would have followed off-lead, but I didn't want to take any
chances.

When Muttley and I visited Bonnie at http://www.boardingatthewedge.com,
she fitted Muttley with a size M/L Easy Walk harness, and was going to
order one. But she's been busy, and will be at the dog show tomorrow
showing her Borzois, so I called the local pet supply stores and checked
on-line. The Petco and PetSmart don't carry the in-between size, and
their price is about $25. On-line I found one place through Amazon
selling a large for $11.10, and it's $17.99 for the M/L from
EntirelyPets. I know this is not a cure-all but it might help to focus
on training a good loose lead walk when I use it.

Anyway, a few items for discussion. Or not...

Paul and Muttley
www.muttleydog.com


I do not put a collar on my dog in the backyard. You can't have it
both ways you cannot have a collar that they can get out of so they
don't accidentally hang themselves and expect them to be secure when you
take them for a walk. It sounds like your yard is not secure is that
right? So you have to keep muttley tethered by a rope in the backyard -
is that right? If it is it very tough. I have a lot of trees in yard. A
rope would be a disaster. I really don't know what I would do.

When Carina was a pup and we went to the beach for a holiday. I tied
the lead to a pole when I went into a take away shop to get dinner for
the family. I had barely placed my order when I hear yelping from
outside. I run out find her on ground with the lead completely wrapped
around her in a knot. Legs everything was wrapped up in this mess. She
was bound tight even after I unclipped the lead.


Over here microchiping of your dog is compulsory. All pound and vets
have the equipment for detecting microchips. Part of the deal was that
every council must provide an off leash parks.

Harnesses IMHO are necessary for cars. I had one for my dog when she
was a pup. Thanks for reminding me. I will buy one for her tomorrow.
I have a station wagon. I need to either get a harness or a cargo shield.

Harness IMHO are no good for walking your dog as they pose no deterrent
against pulling. I am no longer a fan of the check/choke chain. When I
was a member of the German Shepherd club we had to have them.

I bought a soft collar and a horse lead. Horse supply shops have them
they are nice and long and virtually indestructible.

If my dog was unruly on the lead and I had to struggle to walk her I
would use a "Halti" They are brilliant they will turn the most unruly
dog into an Angel! But! they can back out of them. You can get leads
with two clips. I would get connect one to the Halti and the other to a
soft collar.

I took Carina into the bush for a walk and let her off the lead. I
heard the characteristic thup thup of a Kangaroo and she was gone.
Called and called she is normally pretty good at recall. I despaired
it was a steep incline I was afraid that she may have fallen. I called
and searched for an hour. Nothing. We were visiting my mother outlaw
in the country and I had left my mobile charging.

I went back to my car with the intention of driving back collecting my
phone and resuming the search. Walking back to my car a kept calling -
nothing. When I got back to my car I found Carina standing on the
roof of my car.