Health Unleashed: The Silent Threats of Traditional Dog Walking Practices

During walks with our four-legged companions, it's all too common for dogs to pull on the leash, causing not only inconvenience for the owners but also potentially impacting the dog's health more than one might realize. Training to eliminate this behavior is crucial, especially when using a collar. This is not just to ease the owner's experience, but also to ensure the overall well-being of the dog. The constant pressure on the dog's sensitive neck and throat can lead to serious problems that might be challenging to comprehend initially. Sometimes, symptoms might seem unrelated to the neck, but I'll explain the connection in this blog post.

The primary reason owners should consider using a harness instead of traditional collars is that the pressure gets distributed across the dog's chest and breastbone, eliminating the risk of damage to sensitive areas. Dogs that consistently pull on the leash, lunge, or experience the owner's corrective jerks are at an increased risk of back problems. The pressure from the collar affects the vertebrae in the neck, resulting in a tense posture and related issues like spinal hernias and neurological complications.

The neck is also rich in vital hormone glands, such as the thyroid gland, and leash pressure can disrupt their proper function, leading to severe consequences for the dog's overall health. Additionally, breathing difficulties, often manifested as chronic coughing, eye problems like watery eyes, and skin irritation, can arise due to the constant pressure around the neck.

Some owners claim that dogs pulling on the leash exhibit behavioral problems. However, it's crucial to understand that these problems may stem from pain caused by leash pulling, rather than being a sign of poor training. Pain can manifest as aggression, bad mood, stress, excessive fear, and other unwanted behaviors.

So far, we've discussed traditional fixed collars. If we shift to choke collars, prong collars, electric collars, and chains, you can multiply the problems many times over, as these collars subject all nerves and glands to extreme stress. Electric and prong collars are banned in many countries because research has shown that they cause significant harm to dogs. Personally, I consider putting a prong collar on a dog as animal cruelty, as not understanding that all nerves and glands in the dog's neck are damaged by these actions reflects a lack of knowledge about the dog's anatomy.

To avoid these health risks, it's crucial to train the dog to walk without pulling on the leash. Avoiding the use of harmful collars and seeking guidance from a trainer who employs positive methods is recommended. Addressing the pulling issue early is key to ensuring a harmonious relationship between the owner and the dog and promoting the dog's overall well-being. If you're struggling to leash train your dog, my strong advice is to seek assistance from an R+ trainer (no force). They can help address the issue, and in the meantime, use a well-fitted harness (ad) until the problem is resolved.

//Mirabelle Wesden