this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2025
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I think our dog Brownie is a little scared today (infosec.pub)
submitted 4 days ago by over_clox@lemmy.world to c/dogs@lemmy.world
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Yesterday I bought a dog choker chain, but it's not for him. I bought it to lock my bicycle up when out and about.

Brownie is a rescue adoption, I don't know how he was treated before we got him, but I can clearly see that he knows what a dog choker chain is.

Brownie is a very good boy and doesn't need a dog choker, I literally only bought it to lock my bike up with a combination lock.

Anyone have any advice? Or is he just gonna have to get used to the occasional sound of chain clatter and ultimately realize it's not for him?

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[–] seitzer@piefed.social 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Are you doing some training? Because it sounds like there might be more problems underneath which can be fixed with a good trainer, for a better quality of life for Brownie. Try to find a respected (!) trainer, don't watch tiktok or youtube. They can work wonders and you two will have a better understanding of each other and your relation.

But first, lose the chain. You have to respect this for now. He just needs to feel safe with you, maybe you can redirect his attention later with some play or a walk. If you really want to keep the chain you have to do training, but without knowing the dogs character I can only speculate how long this will take.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

We've already had him for over a year, he's now fixed, quite healthy and apparently already perfectly house trained even before we rescued him. And he really is a good boy.

When I got out the chain, not intended for him though, his first reaction was to come to me, as if he expected me to put it on his neck.

At that point, I just balled the chain up and tossed it in front of him, to do his doggy observations of sniff and lick, then I picked it back up.

The chain ain't going anywhere except with me for bike rides. I just hope he gets over his worry of the chain, he knows by now that we treat him way better than whoever the hell abandoned him..

[–] seitzer@piefed.social 3 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Maybe it's not the chain but just a bad tummy. Brownie will be fine, looks like he's in the bestest hands.

[–] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I hate how hard it is to tell what's up with my dog. Was convinced yesterday he had tummy problems because he wasn't eating much, but was playing and walking happily. Finally noticed he spent a lot of time licking one paw and found a thorn hidden between his toes that had probably been there since the night before. Like please tell me where the pain is, my boy, because apparently I'm terrible at guessing.

[–] hardcoreufo@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

My dog wouldn't get out of her bed the other morning. It was too the point I was laying on the floor hugging her and sobbing. I thought I'd get her a treat if this was it. As soon as my hand hit the box she was up faster than a lightning bolt. She's been normal since, I guess she was just sleepy that day.

[–] seitzer@piefed.social 2 points 3 days ago

I once paid thousands of euros for a vet clinic with the most sophisticated equipment...to get the wrong diagnosis. Animals are so hard to read and sometimes they just...have a bad day.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

He's a rescue, curious what breed you think he is?

He's registered as a Dachshund on the animal shelter's best guess, but I figure him as some sort of mix, somewhere between Dachshund, Beagle, Terrier... 🤷

Edit: He's 21 pounds and one banana wide (172mm)

[–] seitzer@piefed.social 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

From the grainy pic I can only guess some sort of healthy terrier-mix. If there's some dachshund in him you can tell by the stubornness ;) We had two of those, with a gay poodle as companion. That was a funny pack.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Oh he's not quite stubborn, but if you try to play fetch with him, he's just gonna look at you stupid like why did you throw that?

LOL, aside from Brownie's glitches, he's a perfect pet and house guest. He's a keeper, I just don't want to scare him ya know..

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Today, for the first time, I tested him for how trustworthy he is off the leash.

Aside from the brief moment he started to chase a stray cat, he totally listened to me and went back upstairs, with no leash.

Choker chain has never been a thing in our care, but leash and collar has been.

Today, Brownie showed me that he can be mostly trusted without a leash.

[–] seitzer@piefed.social 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I have to come back to the training, because that's exactly my point. You don't have to test trustworthiness when your dog is properly trained. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I've seen too many owners who don't understand that concept. Give your dog the right set of rules and he will love your little pack. It does not mean to teach them submissiveness!

Btw, how old is he?

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

How old is he? LOL, we don't know for sure, we just guessed him at 3 years old last year when we rescued him, so going by that initial estimate, he's about 4, I guess...

[–] Taco2112@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Poor Brownie, I have a rescue too and she’ll be fine one moment and then in a similar state to Brownie the next. When mine gets like that, I take her for a walk and that seems to break the spell so maybe something he likes to try and get his mind on to something else. Sometimes that doesn’t work so I just have to give her some time (usually just over night)

Another option might be trying to introduce your dog to the chain similarly to how people do it with vacuums and other things dogs don’t typically like. Lay it on the ground and encourage any sniffing or other interaction with treats, praise, or some other positive reinforcement so that he begins to associate the chain noise with good things. Eventually, start clattering the chain and continue the praise/treats when he is interacting or not showing fear.

I’m not sure if those ideas will help but it’s the best I got.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Oh, Brownie has been really cool about things like the vacuum cleaner. At first he was scared, but now he trusts us enough that we can vacuum his shedding fur right off of him!

Check my other comment when you get a chance..