Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 15, 2015

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 15, 2015 9JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS 
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

A GENTLE LEASH ON LIFE 

Happy Tails 

by Chris Leclerc 

I’ve had many clients ask me which I think is the besttype of collar or lead to use for walking their dog,
and frankly I am hesitant to respond to that questionwith full confidence until I get to know their dog on apersonal level. There are so many dog walking deviceson the market these days, each with their own specified(even patented) technique and philosophy, that it can besomewhat confusing and rather overwhelming to selectthe proper product for your pet.

With numerous types of collars available today, thereare equally numerous types of d`ogs at various levels ofobedience and bond ability. I believe an owner who takesthe time and effort to choose the right tool for their dog,
will eventually succeed in finding a match in the mix.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, however Ido know that each dog has it’s own specific needs andit is important to use humane handling methods tomeet those needs in order to foster positive results andestablish a trusting relationship.

It is also important to research the intended philosophybehind any dog handling product before putting it touse. Having done a little research of my own, I came upwith a list of collar types that would most likely be foundat the local pet supply store, in hopes of informing andhelping pet owners select the proper lead product fortheir beloved canine companion. Clearly, this list doesnot include every single product available in today‘smarket and the descriptions are brief, so the buyer willwant to learn more about each product in considerationof their own dog’s needs before making a final selection.

Buckle Collars: These are collars that are simplyfastened with a buckle. They are typically made of nylonor leather, and are either flat or rolled. Most buckle collars 
are adjustable, but do not tighten on the dog’s neck oncefastened. Rolled leather collars, although more expensive,
tend to fit more comfortably. Adjustable nylon collars arerecommended for growing pups. For the owner whosedog does not pull to the point of choking and gaggingand who also responds well when learning commands,
the buckle collar works fine. 

Body Harness: Harnesses were originally designed forsled dogs. Pulling is the reaction of about 99% of dogsplaced on harnesses, so unless the goal is to teach a dogto pull, it is worthless as a training tool. I recommendthe harness as a dog seatbelt. A leash with a solid brassor steel clip strapped around the back of the seat andfastened to the harness 
makes a great restraint 
for a dog that mightotherwise crash into the 
windshield upon impact.

Break-away Collars: 
A special quick-releasecollar that will unfasten if 
a strong pull is placed onthe collar. However, the 
collar will not unfasten 
when attached to a leash. 
This collar was designedafter the inventor’s 

dog choked to death because its collar got caught onsomething. User reviews vary widely from the extremeopinion that this is the greatest invention ever, to the factthat they fall off too easily and get lost due to the hypersensitive 
nature of the release mechanism. 

Choke Chains / Slip Collars: Choke chains madeof crimped metal links with a large ring on either endare sometimes used as a training tool in traditionalmethods, where the dog is corrected by a quick snapof the leash if he doesn’t obey a command. Slip collarsare similar except they are made of soft materials suchas nylon or cotton. The goal is for the dog to discoverthat when he stops pulling, he enjoys the comfort andpleasure of a loose collar. Because of their configuration,
either of these are capable of getting caught on peripheralobstructions, creating a potential choking hazard. Forthis reason this type of collar should never be left on anunattended dog.

Electronic Collars: Often called remote or e-collars 
by advocates and shock collars by detractors, thesedevices deliver an electrical stimulus causing pain tothe dog when given an unacknowledged correction. Itis my experience when evaluating most dogs who havebeen trained using shock devices, that these collars candestroy a dog’s self confidence and instill fear rather thanfaith in the human using it.

Head Halters: Head Halters are the latest in politicallycorrect, morally proper tools that feed into owners desireto treat their canine companions humanely. The halteris very effective in achieving compliance and obediencewithout excessive restraint, however some feel that the 
dog’s personality is somewhat marginalized by it’s use.
I personally feel this tool works better than most incontrolling a dog’s tendency to pull, without choking.

Prong or Pinch Collars: These collars may seem likea kind of medieval torture device, but they are actuallyhumane when used properly. They should definitely beused for training “neck insensitive” dogs only, and neverleft on an unattended dog.

I want to make it clear that this article is not meant 
to advocate the use of any particular collar type overanother. A sincere, caring pet owner takes the time totry and understand how their dog thinks, learns andbonds with humans. The best candidate to determine 
which product works for any given dog, is his owner. Notraining equipment can ever take the place of a strong,
mutually respectful relationship between a dog and hishuman. Finally, please be gentle in the way you treat yourdog and your dog will respond to you likewise, that I can 
guarantee. 

PET OF THE WEEK ROSIE: ANIMAL ID #A4861763 


Love comes in many forms, one of which is a Chihuahua!
Meet Rosie (A4861763). Rosie is a can-do and trusting2-year-old tan-with-white female Chihuahua mix whocame to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center on July 31stas a stray from El Monte. Weighing 5 lbs, Rosie is very deerlike—
she has a long body, long legs,
long upright ears, deeply dark eyes,
and a delicate gracefulness. She alsohas a slight but nicely formed Mohawkthat is unique in that it resides on theback of her neck rather than the top ofher head! Rosie loves to give kisses andget human attention; she stands onher hind legs and just melts everyone’sheart with her curiosity, liveliness,
friendliness, and obvious desire to love 
and be loved. This medium-energytiny girl will be a loyal and trustingindoor pet for any individual or anyfamily whose kids are old enough to be careful with Rosie’stiny person. Volunteers see her going everywhere with herpeople—by pocket, by purse, or just in loving arms. Do 
yourself a favor and meet Rosie today! To watch a videoof Rosie visit the following link: HYPERLINK “https:// 
youtu.be/2TnPxCr4Jmc” \t “_blank” https://youtu. 

be/2TnPxCr4Jmc

To meet Rosie in person, please see her at theBaldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin 
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-962-3577). She is currently 
available now. For any inquiries about Rosie, pleasereference her animal ID number: 
A4861763. Call to make sure Rosie is 
still available for adoption before yougo to the shelter, as pets are “first come,
first serve” to the public. The shelter isopen seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pmMonday-Thursday and 10am-5pm 
Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intakeshelter with a great need for adoptions.
For more information about Rosie or 
the adoption process, please contactUnited Hope for Animals VolunteerAdoption Coordinator Samantha atSamantha@hope4animals.org. To 

learn more about United Hope for Animals’ partnershipwith the Baldwin Park Shelter through its ShelterSupport Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds,
ages, and sizes available for adoption in local shelters,
visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/. 

Who loves the dog days of 
summer? Meet Marcel! 

He is an adorable bundle of 
fluff! Marcel is an 8-yearold 
Pomeranian mix who 
came to the shelter as a 
stray on July 4th. It is hard 
to believe no one has come 
to claim him, but he is 
still with us a month later. 
Marcel has a beautiful coat 
of long golden fur that 
requires regular brushing 
and grooming for him to 
look and feel his best. He is 
a petite boy, weighing only 
a little over 8 pounds. 
Marcel is a happy dog 
who is always smiling. 
He enjoys the company of 
people and loves getting 
attention. He is content 
to sit in a lap quietly while 
receiving pets. It is hard to 
not fall in love with Marcel if you spend any time with 
him. 
Marcel has been found to have a slight heart murmur, 
so he can’t tolerate a lot of exercise. But he would love 
to be carried to the park where he can lie on the grass 
and enjoy nature. He has an odd little gait when he 
walks; sometimes going in circles, but it doesn’t seem 
to bother him. 

Marcel appears to like 
other dogs, and has gotten 
along well with a variety of 
kennel mates, but he seems 
to prefer being with people.
Marcel would make a 
wonderful pet for a senior 
citizen who wants a loving 
companion. Since he 
doesn’t require a lot of 
exercise, he would make the 
perfect lap dog in a quiet 
environment. He qualifies 
for our ‘Senior For Senior’ 
discount program. Come 
in to meet this beautiful 
fluffy boy – you just might 
decide to take him home 
with you! 

 His adoption fee is $130 
which includes his neuter 
surgery, a microchip, first 
vaccinations and a free 
wellness check-up at a 
participating veterinarian.
If you are interested in meeting Marcel or any of the 
other available animals at the shelter, visit the San 
Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 851 E. Grand Ave., 
San Gabriel, Calif. 91776. It is open 10:00am to 4:30pm 
Tuesday thru Sunday. For more information, call 

(626) 286-1159. See our website at www.sgvhumane.
org for information and photos of all our wonderful 
pets. 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com