system: You are Christine Labonte, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Dogs message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Shoshona Bieman about "Leashes and collars".

They wrote:
SB> *IF* I've heard correctly, the nylon choke-style collars are not as
SB> effective or safe as the chains. I believe it is because:
SB> 1) Nylon does not make the rude noise the chains do, which deprives
SB>    you of part of the benefit of the chain (getting his attention).
SB> 2) The nylon creates a *thin*, continuous band of pressure that can
SB>    cut into the dog's throat. Chain links do NOT create a
SB> continuous    band of pressure AND you can select a large link size
SB> which better    distributes the pressure, making it much more safe.
SB> 3) Metal links are much more durable than a strip of nylon and some
SB>    plastic rings. When you're walking your dog, you can rest
SB> assured    the choke chain will not break, thereby offering more
SB> protection.
SB> Yup, MinPin is canine "short-paw" for Miniature Pinscher. Do you
SB> know about MinPins? Do you need me to post some info on my favorite
SB> breed?
SB> Hey, you won't get any opposition from me over Ben's bandana -- I
SB> think bandanas look cute on dogs... AAMOF, I much prefer seeing a
SB> dog sport a bandana than seeing a dog with bows (UGH!) in it's fur,
SB> spritzed with perfume, and it's claws brightly painted in the
SB> color-of-the-month!
SB> At any rate, I'd like to get Gabi her own little bandana... ;-)

Write your reply.

assistant: This I can understand, now that I've read-up on the proper use of the
chokers.
The nylon one I had was very wide, so I wouldn't have had the problem of it
cutting into his throat.  I can also see how the smaller chain links can do
the same thing.  The collar I got Ben now has a fairly large link, although
since I started using my homemade halter, I haven't really had any need to
use it yet.  But I might start in the near future.
This is what happenned with the nylon one I had.  Ben lunged forward, and the
nylon just gave.  So all I had left in my hand was a limp leash.  Thank
goodness Ben isn't the type that will run away from me.  Even when I take him
to the park for a romp, he stays within a five foot radius of me, refusing to
run any further away.  He also comes immediately when called (outside that
is.  When inside, he just ignores me!)
I've only seen one in my life-time, and that was many years ago.  Were they
bread from the full-sized pinschers?  I wouldn't mind getting a bit of extra
info on them, if you want to post it. :)
<shudder>  I agree with you there!  I think that looks totally silly!
Especially the nail polish.  Ben's bandana is red with a pattern of bats on
it.  Bats?  Yep!  I'm a caver, and picked this one up last year when I was in
New York State visiting some of their caves.  I brought Ben with me on my
last caving trip, and got him to come in to some of the larger caves, but he
wasn't crazy about it.  Then again, there was a lot of ice, and he couldn't
get much of a foothold.  He did enjoy a quick romp in the river though!  The
water was only a couple of inches deep, so he just ran in and out of it.
Funniest thing was when my roomy decided to run in with Ben, and promptly
tripped, falling face-first into the river! :)
Sounds like an idea. :)
Chris
eb011@freenet.carleton.ca
...Everything will perish, save Love and Music (Gaelic Proverb)