Do you use/have you seen the Yellow Ribbon Project?

[Lougle]

The trainer today was telling DH and I about the Yellow Ribbon Project.

The idea being that if you have a nervous or reactive dog, you tie a large yellow ribbon to the lead/harness to indicate that your dog is a 'DINOS' - Dog In Need Of Space.

I thought it was a fantastic idea, especially for someone like myself, who needs to start doing some BAT with my dog. But I've never seen a yellow ribbon yet.

[SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud]

There's been a couple of threads about it, I personally think it's a crap idea unless there's loads of publicity about it, posters, TV ads etc. Tbh if I saw a dog with a yellow ribbon on its lead I'd just think 'wtf? Bit weird ' and I wouldn't have the foggiest what it was for.

[Scuttlebutter]

The other problem with what is a well meaning idea is that many dogs are off lead when they approach and their owners are several miles away and usually talking on their phone. While it might make a difference to on lead dogs approaching, those are not generally the problem anyway. Unless we can somehow train cannonball Labrador pups to run the other way at high speed when they spot the Kryptonite yellow we are f*cked.

[Lougle]

Clicker training with the yellow ribbon? Perhaps that's the first skill all puppies should be taught - see a yellow ribbon, walk in a wide arc

[Cuebill]

It is being highly publicized in the doggy world, dog sports etc. It has been used for years with horses and is used well.

It would be a real shame to write this off before it has been given a chance to work as it such a simple thing to do.

There has been a lot of waffle about it being a legal issue and means that your dog is aggressive etc which is a lot of c*p. It is just asking for consideration.

[Scuttlebutter]

Cuebill, I expect you are referring to horses who kick wearing a red tail ribbon?

The big difference there is that you generally don't get "unattended" horses - they (mostly!) come with rider attached, who is the person who actually makes the steering decisions (again, mostly!)

Unfortunately with dogs, as I outlined above, there is often a problem with dogs who are off the lead and some distance away from their owners.

I can't see it doing any harm, but by the time a person is close enough to see a dangling ribbon, many reactive dogs will already have kicked off.

When our darling old girl was alive, the biggest problem by far was with off lead dogs.

I completely accept your point though about legal issues.

I've yet to see anyone's dog wearing one of these.

[SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud]

But tbh plenty of people aren't really involved in the dog world. They may have a dog but they might not actually engage in any dog sports, read any dog magazines or belong to any dog forums. I occasionally chat on the FB chat page of the greyhound rescue where I got my dog from, it's never been mentioned on there, and I'm a regular on the pointy hounds thread, no-one has ever mentioned yellow ribbons there either! I have only ever seen 3 threads about it on here (this being the 3rd) and that is the only time I've ever read about them!

It would be a good idea if it were publicised everywhere not just in the dog world.

[Cuebill]

Woo why so much negativity over a ribbon?

It is being publicised people are promoting it as much as possible. In vets, rescue centres all new owners are being told about it, you know about it........give it time. 3 threads on doghouse is actually quite a large percentage, people are sharing on facebook etc word is getting round.

Of course off lead dogs are an issue and whilst there are still numpty owners about always will be BUT this is a start. It is highlighting an issue and starting a debate.

If all the people who know about it promote it (rather than see all the negatives of which to be honest there are not many) and embrace it that would be a start.

But again the worst thing about owning a dog is the other dog owners

[Cuebill]

Re horses the ribbons are also on loose horses in fields not only on saddled horses.

[Lougle]

I have to say that when I googled it there was a lot on there including news articles in both local and national press.

[SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud]

It's not so much as negativity, as more being realistic. And rescue centres, vets and new owners are still the dog world. Once there are tv/newspaper ads, and posters up everywhere and leaflets through doors, then it will be a better idea.

[Floralnomad]

What is the point of putting it on a loose horse in a field , do the other horses know what it means ? If they do they're a lot cleverer than any of the horses I've owned.

[Cuebill]

Yes thats right Floral umm people walking through fields maybe.

Of course you will always get the knobheads and I am extremely realistic.

Humans have not enamoured themselves to me in my line of work. dog rescue and tbh most owners are idiots, however lets keep positive and even if it means that reactive dogs have one more positive interaction that is a start.

[SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud]

:o Floral I think it's in case there's a horse in a field that has a public footpath through the middle of it. So when people walk through the field and see the beribboned horses bum they should (hopefully!) know to stay away.

[Lougle]

Surely, too, it's word of mouth. If people who use forums such as this adopt it, then it gets spread further. Gradually it becomes common, etc.