Since we’ve got some thread drift, the only Weims I’ve ever encountered were the most neurotic dogs I’ve ever met. Are they similar in need to a Vizsla?
#notalldogs
This line has been rolling around in my head and I may be opening a can of worms, I am preparing to get crucified, do you mean to say choke chains are cruel and abusive? (in your opinion)
Yes. They got very popular due to their coloring, way too many breeders were breeding garbage animals with garbage temperaments (and actually introduced non-akc vanity colors, like frenchies now), and people in condos thought that a couple walks a day should be enough. The good hunting lines are not very widespread.
The weims I know are more stubborn than Vizslas, and a tiny bit “harder” personality - but still quite soft dogs.
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This is really hard and as I mentioned before, horse shopping right now is crazy. Prices are high, and the selections of horses are not great, especially if you have eventual competitive goals.
I have some theories on that, particularly with the advent of the detailed PPE that I would NEVER advise anyone not do BUT I think is ruling out a lot more horses with more mileage that we would have called serviceably sound and capable of doing a great job for their owners. It’s definitely causing an interesting difficulty in finding a solid BTDT horse. They exist, of course, but they are seriously pricey and hard to find nowadays.
Loads has changed in the last 35 years of my horsemanship. But what I find is that owners are becoming pickier, the tech better, and the training less comprehensive. That’s another post for a different day 
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Not necessarily, but largely yes. I think that they are very often misused, and prefer a limited slip collar like a martingale. A choke collar HURTS if “popped” the way people describe correcting with it - versus even a prong collar doesn’t elicit that level of ouch. Plus, the risk of damage to the throat is quite high, especially with a young dog who is liable to make mistakes (SQUIRREL!).
Strongly prefer a martingale-type, even down to a prong collar, over a choke.
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Thanks - I had no idea if that was just the individuals I was encountering vs. more widespread traits.
I know the Doberman suffered from the same sort of issues. They are working dogs, meant to have a job. They LOVE snuggling and hanging on the couch with you, but some are a bit sharper and need to be worked pretty hard. And poor breeding practices in the 50s when people linebred to one popular dog definitely caused some temperament and health-related issues that the breed is still trying to recover from. They don’t need to be tired out, but they need to feel useful. I bought my male a vest, and when we walked he would carry his own food and water. Sounds stupid but I think that vest helped - we were walking the same distance, but he seemed to know he had a job.
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I love the look of dobies, but wow are they a breed with a laundry list of health issues. I’d take a pass, just on that alone.
Ok, first I want to say I misinterpreted your use of choke collar, I was thinking prong collar.
I have used both. And yes, just like a rider putting some weird something bit in a horses mouth, it can be like a razor in a monkeys paws. But I don’t think all should be painted with the same cloth. Just like horses. Just like dogs. Each is an individual.
I had a beautiful yellow lab. As a puppy, she was just different. She didn’t really like people. Didn’t play with other dogs. Hated small dogs.
Any way, I worked with her for years and always had a prong collar on her. She was 95 lbs. I took a couple of headers when I didn’t use the prong collar.
We took her with us a lot of places, beach, where people with kids would want to pet her. I would always tell them to wait, I asked her to sit. Then had her on a very short leash and asked them to approach her slowly and let her sniff. Everything ended up fine. Because of my diligence, she was A-ok by the time she was 5 or 6.
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Both of mine lived until 12 and made the longevity books, but yeah, it’s so sad what we’ve done to the breed. They are fabulous dogs, and really love their people. You’ll never shower alone again if you have a doberman! 
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I much preferred the prong when training large dogs. Little bite and then a quick release vs a sustained pull that can damage the trachea. My only issue with it was other people’s reactions to it. They now make some in a plastic that looks less “scary”.
I actually prefer prongs - you can get non-pronged metal martingales if it’s too much for the individual dog. They have the potential for far less damage than a choke!
I honestly prefer teaching good manners on the widest collar I can. Then when it’s an exciting time, a slightly thinner flat collar gets their attention and I don’t need to pull out the big guns.
@Alterration ugh I’m here with the young one. She used to be scared of baths, so I started “marking” any attempt by her to get in the shower with a good girl! and kisses. Now? Guess what monster I inadvertently created. haha
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Possibly. But I think if I sold her I’d take some time off to just lesson.
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Thank you.
I should specify that it wasn’t JUST coth that I turned to. But coth was a factor for sure.
So sorry for your situation.
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I want more Honey pics!!
How about a pic for a pic? Tit for tat? 
Here’s my “ants in her pants, not-suitable-for-beginners” Saddlebred:
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Yup.
As I have said on this thread and in other comments, we have worked with a professional trainer who has a ton of breed specific knowledge about Vs and pointers in general since we got our dog. And we have tried different tools at different times, and followed the trainer’s instructions.
We have had the most success with using an e collar When he is at liberty now that he is a lot more mature, and using a soft slip lead when doing leash work.
Anyway… as I have also said on this thread and in other comments… I don’t pretend to be a pro dog trainer. I just repeat what we have learned from the person we have worked with so far.
When it comes to horse people? A lot of us share knowledge we have accumulated over a period of years in discussions on these threads and in private chats. But only some of us are really well qualified actual trainers. For someone like the OP, it’s probably best for her to rely upon her actual trainer’s advice right now, as she keeps on working through issues. I think @Sdel shared a really educational first hand experience about how some of us on COTH thought that horse one would work out for her and her kid, and horse two was a big risk because of lameness when she tried it. I know that was my initial take on it at the time. But the second trainer who was actually there on the ground advised Sdel differently, Sdel followed the trainers advice and bought horse 2, and that one DID work out great for her and her family.
Anyway… it all is what it is. We are mostly just sharing experiences, but if people are working with good professionals in person, it’s probably wise to just take information, pose questions to the actual pro who has eyes on the animal in question… and then go from there.
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It’s fine. He’s a love. I promised when I bought him that he’d never have to go anywhere if he became injured or anything. I just wish it hadn’t been so prophetic and we could have gotten more than the 10 or so rides we did out of him.
Horses are dangerous. There is no good reason to push anything that makes you uncomfortable. Sometimes the more capable on this board forget that even stupid little things can be very overwhelming for the inexperienced.
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Aren’t horses fun? Just got a call honey is choking.
My trainer has her on banamine and is monitoring her, but the vet has been alerted and may have to come out.
🫠
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Oh no. Best of luck with the choke, and so sorry.
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Let’s remember, all because the OP posted not once, about horses she expressed being uncomfortable with.
Those supporting her concern and caution (based on her descriptions of the horseS behaviorS) did so because she came to coth to shared her own concerns.
WE didn’t express concern until the OP did.
.
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