COLLARS AND HARNESSES AND THE APPROPRIATE TIME AND PLACE FOR THEM
In case you haven’t already noticed, this is basically a book geared towards wolf and other canine therians because it’s easiest for me to write about seeing as I am one. I would love to talk to other therians and learn more about them but for now I’ll just write about wolf/canine therians.
Ok, so you’re a canine therian of some sort, but how in the world are you going to show it? Sure, you can hold up a picket sign saying “WOLF THERIAN RIGHT HERE!” with an arrow pointing down at you, but I don’t recommend it. You want to feel like your theriotype right? Well you can always get a collar or a harness or both and wear them either all the time or occasionally just to feel like a canine. Yes I know wolves and coyotes and dingoes and other wild canines don’t wear collars and harnesses, but most wolf therians feel like it symbolizes something about wolves and stuff in general, especially if you can’t wear a tail. Tails will be discussed in a later chapter though.
So, say you’ve decided to buy a collar, and maybe you got a tag with either you or you wolves name on it. Now what? Can you wear it in front of your family? If so, go for it if you want. If not, wear it in public or in the woods if you’re alone. Can you wear it to school? If so, do you want to?
I was so nervous to wear my collar to school with the tag, so I bought another one and wrapped it around my wrist with the tag on it, and then I wore the other one that was just black around my neck. After about a week I stopped because it was so awful. People would choke me with it and whistle for me and call me puppy and stuff. It was annoying so I stopped. I wish I wasn’t so nervous to try again but… if you decide to wear it make sure you are prepared to deal with situations like that, it can be very good or very bad, it all depends on your school.
As for harnesses, I don’t recommend wearing them to school simply because that is a little too… bold. Although wearing it in public can be good and it can actually help you meet other therians and other people who think it’s cool at least.
My advice for either of those is doing whatever you’re comfortable with. If you aren’t confident then it can make it a bad experience, so make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Good luck if you decide to and if you don’t, that’s ok, I just hope you can find a good opportunity to wear it, even if it’s just when you’re all alone
Thank you so much if you’re still reading. I’m trying to think of more topics to go over. If any of you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you!
-Corie Wolf
