Deciding what collar, leash or harness you should buy for your dog can be very confusing, especially when there are so many styles and types of equipment to choose from.
You might find yourself asking what kind of collars can your dog wear safely and do harnesses really encourage dogs to pull? With so much conflicting information about what to use and what to avoid, we at Positively have distilled it down to equipment we find useful and collars and devices you should stay away from. This advice comes from decades of experience, the latest scientific findings and with the health and welfare of dogs top in our minds.
The Positively No-Pull Harness
There are many collars, harnesses and leashes that are not only comfortable, but safer for your dog to wear, including the Positively No-Pull Harness and Double Leash. The harness is designed to fit comfortably around the dog's body, while still allowing dogs to freely move their legs and distributing weight evenly around the body. The harness also takes pressure off a dog's vulnerable neck. More information about fitting and using the harness can be found here.
Collars and leashes
Should you use a 4ft, 6ft, or 8ft leash? What about a flat buckle, nylon collar? What if your dog can't wear a harness, has a big neck and small head so wearing a regular collar would not be safe? Here is more information on the types of collars and leashes you can use.
Equipment to avoid
Punitive training techniques hurt dogs psychologically and physically and so do some pieces of equipment. Prong, choke and shock collars are popular in some countries and banned in others with good reason - the damage they can do to your dog’s neck, spine, internal organs, and mental health is extensive.
Electric fences are another frequently used tool, and while electric fence companies have taught their salespeople well, telling unsuspecting guardians that using these fences will give their dogs 'freedom,' and when used correctly don't cause pain, this is simply not true. Electric or 'invisible' fences are problematic on many levels.
From a medical perspective, the anatomy of your dog’s neck is similar to yours, so too much pressure on this vulnerable area can cause thyroid problems, trachea collapse, breathing problems and heart issues. These health problems occur when a collar constricts around the throat, and are usually associated with the use of prong (pinch) and choke collars.
Slip leads
Slip leads can also cause injury. This is because many of these leads come without an anti-choke mechanism and if your dog pulls, the slip lead can tighten around the dog's neck cutting off his air supply and causing him to choke. However, some rescue organizations use slip leads to quickly get dogs in and out of kennel runs without the need to handle them too much. This is understandable as some rescue dogs are hand shy and don't like being handled, especially if they are fearful of people. Slip leads can be made into makeshift harnesses if needed, but caution should taken at all times when using these leads in and out of the shelter environment.
