Please note that the views stated here regarding certain types of equipment are personal preferences and are designed to give “food for thought,” however, if the use of any of these items works for you and are not injurious to your dog’s health, carry on!
I freely admit that the issue of collars is the main reason for this article.
Owners have a duty of care to their pets and the one area where this is lacking is in the choice and maintenance of the collar.
There was a time when the only purchase was a lead (leash) and collar, however, now with the realisation that pets are a massive source of revenue and the pursuit of profits means the market is flooded with items. Some excellent, others having no use and some that can be downright harmful!
Probably the most important item from your dogs point of view. The dog lives it’s entire life with this piece of kit around its neck. Ask yourself this. When was the last time you removed your dogs collar? How many YEARS has it be around his/her neck? What is it made of? When was It last cleaned? In fact CAN you even remove it or has it been there so long that It is almost impossible to shift. Regretfully I have seen collars having to be removed with bolt cutters they are in such a poor state, particularly leather ones. So please, today, remove your dogs collar, clean it, if necessary replace it and in future pay regular attention to this so very important item.
The biggest problem with leather collars is they can look very smart but they can be a nightmare for your dog. The reason; if leather is not regularly treated with saddle soap or something similar it becomes increasingly rigid, this is made worse if the dog is out in all weather’s so that the leather is constantly exposed to the elements particularly in countries where the weather constantly changes from wet to dry and back again. Leather needs treating to compensate for ever changing climatic conditions plus if dogs go swimming. Please be aware that in very hot climates metal buckles can be very hot to touch and therefore are able to burn a dogs skin.
I personally favour a softweave, fabric collar, gentle on the dogs neck, strong and easily cleaned.
needs to be suitable for the size of dog and comfortable to your hand. It is so disconcerning when an owner has a dog the size of German Shepherd Dog or a Rottweiler on little more than a piece of string. If the dog is difficult there is no chance of an owner controlling the dog with a “Micky Mouse” lead. This item is not just there to connect an owner to their dog It is there for you to be able to control the dog if problems occur.
is a popular choice these days and their popularity is mainly driven by the modern idea that the harness is a kind piece of equipment. Front Clip, Back Clip, Dual Clip, Step In, Safety, even Back Pack ones for the dog that goes camping. Please be aware that a cheap or I’ll fitting harness can be harmful to your dogs health. Your dog can easily escape from an ill fitting harness, too tight or too thin will cause rubbing and chafing leading to soreness and discomfort. Further more a number of these claim to stop dogs pulling. Not always true. Before purchase research the product and talk to other owners. Sometimes it may be worth asking what your veterinary surgeon has to say on the subject. When people point to the Guide Dog for the Blind as an example of a dog wearing a harness they forget that a guide dog has a special harness, with a unique adjustable design and is specially trained to work within its constraints. It is also removed when the guide dog is home and not working
There are a number of versions that follows the principle of where the head goes the body is sure to follow. I freely admit that I have never used one on my own dogs.
Like the harness, an ill-fitting one can allow a dog to escape and can also cause the strap to be very close to the eye.
Like a number of professionals, I have some concerns.
Some dogs show considerable distress when first fitted with this item like pawing at their face and throwing themselves on the ground. They can appear very subdued, is this because they feel slightly disoriented?
I personally like to observe my dog enjoying the walk.
Again prospective purchasers would be strongly advised to research and/or seek advice from a veterinary surgeon.
This is a piece of kit that has declined in popularity due to bad publicity, and the advent of the headcollar and the harness, however, it is still extensively used by professional handlers and people who know how to use it.
It is not the equipment that is the problem but ignorance of how it is supposed to be used. Few people even know that correctly fitted and used properly it can CHECK the dogs forward movement. It only becomes a choke chain when it is put on upside down and incorrectly used.
A check chain must NEVER be left on an unattended dog.
This is sometimes recomended for dogs that scavenge or are aggressive. The use of this piece of equipment should only be used sparingly as the dog is unable to defend itself from attack, aggressive dogs should not be exercised among the general populace, particularly in locations that children inhabit and scavenging is an issue that can usually be eliminated.
This can be a useful item if used responsibility and can be an invaluable aid to training but it becomes a hazard if it is allowed to extend beyond the length that is reasonable for the environment.
These are designed for safety reasons particularly when walking the dog at night or in bad visibility.
This can be a very important item but needs to be properly thought out. They are NOT a fashion item. In very bad weather they can be beneficial. They have a serious side and are an invaluable aid to a dogs recovery from a surgical procedure, and vital to recovery from respiratory ailments, particularly for elderly dogs. I am appalled when I see dogs, usually small, white and fluffy, particularly here in Crete where I live wearing coats even when the temperatures are in the 20s. Not only will the dog be uncomfortable but at a cost of having little or no benefit in later life when it is really needed.
This is just as important as ever even with the advent of the microchip. It is a cheap and effective way for someone finding your lost dog to just make a telephone call to inform you that your pet has been found.
Regarding your dogs welfare, the choice of equipment is so important and as previously stated generally the veterinary surgeon is usually a reliable arbiter regarding these matters.
Some veterinary practices even sell these items and the therefore consider them safe and take full responsibility for correct fitting.
A great deal of information is available on the internet, don’t be satisfied with the first assessment you read, trainers and behaviourists are another source of information.
Please always be aware that any equipment regardless of design is not a substitute for training, and remember to remove equipment regularly first to clean and to give your dog the chance to enjoy being free for constraints.
“No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.”
Christopher Morley
With subtitle or not?