When choosing what to walk your dog in the choice is vast so how do you decide?

Neck Collars

  • Your dog should be wearing a collar and ID tag at all times.
  • If your dog pulls, even lightly, they can injure their neck or cause other health related problems if they are walked in just a collar. Think of a dog’s neck with the same sensitivity to ours.
  • Health issues from neck injuries include:- Trauma to the thyroid gland in the neck causing it to not work as efficiently potentially causing Hypothyroidism. A crushed trachea from excess pulling or sharp jerks can occur as well as fractured verterbrae in the neck or spine causing pain related issues such as behavioural problems.

Harnesses

  • A nervous dog could slip out of a collar so to have a harness on as well is an extra safety precaution.
  • You could choose a back or chest led harness.
  • Back led harnesses – Great for little dogs, unreactive dogs and for dogs that do not pull on the lead. Takes pressure from the neck and spine distributing it around the dog’s torso instead. If they are used with too much pressure for a long time then they can encourage dogs to pull through engagement of the dog’s opposition reflex so it is very important that when the dog is walking nicely that a loose leash is used.
  • Chest led harnesses – Great to help stop pulling and gives more control than a back-led harness for reactive dogs. If the dog pulls in a chest-led harness they just turn around rather than keep pulling forward.

Head Collars

  • Are very popular with dogs that pull on the lead.
  • It is highly unlikely your dog will enjoy wearing their head collar so if you choose to use a head collar then it is important that you introduce your dog to it slowly and in a positive manner using it for short periods and using lots of rewards alongside it so that they start to associate the head collar with a positive experience.
  • If your dog does not enjoy wearing the head collar then alternative equipment should be used.

If your dog does pull it is important (and very much appreciated by your dog walker!!) if you engage the services of a qualified dog trainer or behaviourist who use positive reward methods to encourage your dog to walk on a loose leash. We have lots of contacts in all of the areas we operate for some excellent dog trainers to help you.