Choosing the right equipment for your dog.

    There are countless types of leashes, collars and harnesses in the market which makes it difficult to choose the right ones for you and your dog.  My advice is to choose a piece of equipment that you (the handler) feels comfortable using.  Also, I suggest you consult a professional dog trainer who isn't completely against using any particular piece of equipment. Another thing to consider is that there is no piece of equipment that will be the best for any dog.  What works well with one dog may not work well with another.  Before I get into the different types of equipment I want to briefly discuss collapsed tracheas and dogs.  Many people choose not to use collars on their dogs in order to prevent a collapsed trachea.  Out all my years of working with dogs I have never heard of a dog getting a collapsed trachea from using a collar.  Some dogs are just prone to getting this condition and some dogs that only wear harnesses get collapsed tracheas.  If your dog has already been diagnosed with this condition I would avoid dog collars but I wouldn't avoid collars to prevent it.
     Now for the rest of the blog I will describe different types of equipment in the market today and I will discuss the pros and cons of each piece of equipment.  If you have any questions after reading this blog, feel free to contact us.

Flat Collar

Flat Collars: These are the most commonly used pieces of equipment by dog owners today.
Pros: They give you control over your dog and they come in an endless variety of styles and colors.
Cons:  They have to be fitted very snug in order to prevent your dog from slipping out of them.  Because they have to fit so snug, they can be pretty uncomfortable for your dog.

Body Harness

Body Harnesses:  These are also commonly used and they are growing in popularity.  Mainly because many people believe they are the most humane piece of equipment to use on your dog.
Pros:  Probably the most comfortable piece of equipment for your dog.  They look nice and come in many styles and colors.  Good alternative for dogs with collapsed tracheas.
Cons:  They give you little or no control of your dog.  What many people don't realize is that they were made to train dogs to pull materials and for scent tracking so that the dog can keep it's head low to the ground and pull it's handler to the object it is tracking.  When ever I see a dog in a harness pulling it's owner (which I do everyday), I know the dog is doing excactly what it should be doing.  Harnesses have their place in dog training, but most of the time leash etiquette is not that place.  Also, while they look very secure, dogs often back up out of them.  If a dog can get a leg out of a harness, they can easily slip the rest of their body out.

Choke/Slip Collar

Choke/ slip collars:  Probably the most commonly used collars amongst dog trainers.  They must be fitted to a proper setting with the dog remaining on one side of the handler during their walks.  Calling this piece of equipment a choke collar gives it a bad name.  I prefer to call it a slip collar.  You should consult a professional before using a slip collar.

Pros:  They give you great control of your dog.  If fitted and used properly, they hang on a dogs neck like a piece of jewelry.  Thus making it very comfortable for a dog to wear.  They make it virtually impossible for your dog to escape.

Cons:  If not used properly, you can hurt your dog using slip collars.  Also, slip collars do restrict the dog's airway when given a correction or when the dog pulls.

Prong Collar

Prong collars:  Probably the most misunderstood piece of equipment.  They are made to simulate a disciplinary bite dogs give when another dog is out of line.  It is necessary to either consult a professional before using this piece of equipment or do extensive research.  The prongs in the collar are not sharp and they cannot penetrate the dog's skin because the prong make contact with the dog's skin diagonally.

Pros:  They give you the most control of your dog.  Often nicknamed "power steering for dogs" by dog trainers.  Unlike other collars, they do not restrict the dog's airway.
Cons:  They look very intimidating.  The links in the collar often pop off, so a slip collar should be used as a back up.  If used incorrectly you can hurt your dog.  You may get some dirty looks by people who think prong collars are inhumane.

Remote Collars

Shock/Electric/Remote Collars:  To accurately explain this piece of equipment I need to write a whole blog on them.  First of all, I call them remote collars.  Calling them shock or electric collars makes them seem worse than they really are.  They are made to give the dog an electric stimulation whenever the handler presses a button on a remote.  The stimulation is usually no greater than the sensation one gets from a static shock.  These should only be used by professionals or by someone who has been trained by a professional.  If used properly remote collars can be a very humane way to train your dog.
Pros:  A great way to communicate with  your dog when you are not next to them.  It is a safer and more humane alternative to constantly having to give your dog leash corrections.  Great for off leash training.  Very affective for problematic behavior.
Cons:  Dog handlers must have extensive training before using remote collars.  They attract bad attention from people who think remote collars are inhumane.  If used incorrectly, they can do more harm than good.  There are only a few name brands worth buying and they can be expensive.

Head Halti

Head Halti/Head Collar/Gentle Leader:  These collars are meant to be fitted on a dog's head and muzzle.  These are relatively new but they are growing in popularity.
Pros:  They do give you control of your dog without causing any physical pain.  Good for dogs who overpower their handlers.
Cons:  They come off a lot!  While they do not cause physical pain, there is no piece of equipment that irritates dogs more than a Head Halti.  The strap that goes around their muzzle causes a lot of discomfort.   Personally, they are my least favorite piece of equipment to use on a dog.  Many people believe they are good for correcting problematic behavior but they cover up behavior issues rather than fix them.  I like to allow dogs to make mistakes so that I can correct them and they can learn from those mistakes.  Head halti's make that impossible because they pull the dog away rather than correct them.