July 17th, 2024.
Introduction: Navigating the Choices
Picking out the right collar, harness, and/or leash for your dog might seem as difficult as walking into your closet and picking the perfect pair of shoes. Deciding between using collars or harnesses for your pup can come down to a question of what you see people frequently use, access, suggestions from someone assisting you with your dog, or a medically related issue. Adding to the confusion can be the numerous videos on YouTube and TikTok, claiming to have the “Best” solution. Even when you determine between a collar or harness, there are countless choices. Although collars and harnesses generally have a similar function, they can affect the relationship you have with your fur baby in ways that may not be beneficial to developing a mutually respectful, loving relationship.
The Prong Collar: A Tool with Potential Risks
One collar that has a very low possibility of showing your dog what it is to be respected and
respectful is a Prong Collar. These collars are often suggested for “aggressive” dogs and
“pullers”. This collar can be a great tool for safety, however, if you have not reached a certain
age, are not limited to a certain size, and don’t have specific disabilities, it shouldn’t be your first choice. If a dog wants to bully or humiliate another dog, the epitome of what they can do is grab them by the neck and move them around. Unbeknownst to most people, a prong collar
simulates this. So every time you take your dog on a walk with a prong collar, you are showing
them that you’re the bigger dog grabbing them by the neck and controlling them. Not only is this demeaning to a creature who has the right and capacity to make their own choices, it reduces you to brutish behavior and haven’t we evolved past that?
The E-Collar: Misunderstood and Controversial
Another collar ranking number one in savagery is the E-collar. This collar is quite fascinating, as
the understanding of it has been manipulated so much that people are convinced that it only
vibrates and doesn’t actually shock. In fact, many trainers give this reasoning as a validation for
their use of the e-collar. This collar doesn’t happen to simulate any interactions between dogs,
however, it is sadly akin to electro shock therapy, which has been entangled in a decades long
battle to be banned. E-collars are not only inhumane and barbaric, they can often have the
opposite of the desired effect, leaving dogs more irrational, reactive, and potentially aggressive
than they began. These collars are banned in many Western countries, including but not limited
to England, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the provence of Quebec and several states in Australia.
Even if it is just a “vibration”, how can you sleep at night knowing that you deliberately push that dreadful button that causes psychological trauma to the being you claimed to welcome into your home out of love?
The Swiss Dominant Collar: Subtle but Harmful
A collar qualified as just a step above the previous mentioned collar, would be the Swiss
Dominant Collar (Dominant Dog Collar). What is this, might you wonder? This unsuspecting
gadget is essentially a slim rope with a loop around the rope that tightens as you pull. Many of
these tend to come with spring cord locks on them in place of loops to ensure that they do not
come loose. Trainers that use this device show its placement as just behind the jawline and ears of the dog. Why such a specific place, might you wonder? Imagine what happens if someone were to pull a string cleverly placed just beneath your jaw at the top of your neck: You would cease to breathe. Now imagine your dog, who is likely already in a state of anxiety due to factors in their environment, having the added trauma of gasping for air at the hands of their beloved “parent”. Some might refer to this as animal cruelty, many others commonly use this tool and refer to it as “training”.
The Gentle Lead: A Masked Method of Control
One collar that has truly mastered the art of manipulation, is the Gentle Lead. This collar is a
device that straps around your dog's snout and then behind their head and allows the handler to guide the dog from the mouth. From the description itself, it’s astonishing that people are not
ashamed of walking in the streets like this, but somehow people find this to be...gentle. To pull
someone by the mouth through the streets is not only cruel as a leader, it’s incredibly humiliating for the dog.
Harnesses: Potential for Misuse
Harnesses, in general, are not necessarily broadly inhumane, however there are some harnesses that take advantage of a dog’s vulnerability. Two examples are the Easy Walk
Harness and the No Pull Harness. Simply put, there is nothing “easy” for the dog in wearing this
harness. The purpose of these harnesses is to control the movement of the dog by limiting the
movement of the front legs. This harness also happens to tighten under the dog’s armpits when
it is pulled, which, not only, obstructs the artery located under the arm, it also can be painful and restraining for the dog. For the time that they get to spend outside of the home, it seems quite harsh to damper their excitement and pleasure, all for the sake of a silly device.
In many cases, the use of a harness actually causes dogs to pull more, which is quite opposite
from what people tend to assume. The reason that harnesses cause dogs to pull is because, by
nature, it is a device to physically control the dog. The moment you physically control a dog, you deprive them of the ability to have self control and to flourish within self control. Many times when someone tries to control us, we instantly do the opposite...why should it not be the same for a dog, which is arguably a more sentient being than us?
The Right Choices: Humane Harnesses and Collars
If your choice is to stay with harnesses, there are a few options that are humane. Namely the
Wrap-N-Go Harness and the Dog Sled harness.
Simplicity and Effectiveness: The Slip Chain and Flat Collar
Our suggestion for simplicity and ease in walking with your dog is to use a slip chain or a well
fitted flat collar with a standard 6 foot leather leash. Unlike humans, a dog's neck is by far one of the strongest parts of their body. If you see a dog fight, they grab each other by the neck and it may appear as if they mauled the other dog, but when they let go, the bitten dog shakes his
head and walks away as if nothing happened. Also, moms naturally carry the puppies by the
neck and it supports their entire weight. One of the simplest things to do to encourage self
control within your dog is to walk with them on a loose leash, which also includes a loose fitting
collar. When used correctly, humanely, and with the proper technique, a slip chain can allow
your dog the freedom to make simple choices which begins to allow them to understand their
self control, while remaining safe. Just as in humans, self control and discipline are two
contributing keys to development and experiencing their best life.
Xoxo,
Eran & Daniella
