I'm so sorry about your dog, really hope he is ok.
Can I clarify, as a new dog owner - so people do not put collars on their dogs AT ALL? I use a harness for walking on the lead, because I'm trying to teach him not to pull. But he has a collar with his ID tag on it, which he keeps on most of the time - I take it off at night when he goes to bed because he sleeps in a crate, but otherwise its always on. Is this a problem?
My husband isn't great at putting the harness on - mainly because he almost exclusively walks him off the lead, so its just getting him out to the car and then possibly from the car to place he's allowed off lead if its a car park. Should I force him to do it all the time? He does pull on the lead and it does choke him occasionally, which is why I bought the harness, but he hates having the harness put on and taken off so I think my husband doesn't bother if its only for a short period. What does everyone else do? (He's 21 weeks and a worker btw).
If he has to keep his collar on with an ID tag by law then I'll have to do that, but I will only attach the lead to a harness. As for only having him on a collar and lead for a short period of time, I wouldn't see the point in taking any risks especially as he will be eager to get out of the car and start walking. Assuming my dog's improvement continues, he won't be going out for quite a long time anyway (vet's orders!).
When my dog didn't like doing something when he was young, I added a gravy bone to it. He soon liked it and then there was no need for the gravy bone. I doubt I'll need a gravy bone for the harness now though. After 8 years together we can practically read each other's mind and usually know what the other thinks or wants.
The news has really brightened up our Christmas. Hope you all have a good one too!
