Q: How do I stop my dog from pulling on the Leash and hurting her neck?

A: As a veterinarian, I have sadly seen the consequences of badly fitted dog training equipment. I would love to see more advice given to owners when they go into the pet shop to buy a collar and lead for their puppy. All the pretty colours are just a distraction. Instead, choose a professionally fitted harness for your dog rather than a collar. Especially when it is a youngster, you are still teaching your dog not to pull on its lead. Definitely walk past the choke chains and the prong collars, and don’t, for the sake of your bond with your dog, ever think of buying a shock collar. Why do I say no to these items? Because:

Choke Chains and Prong Collars can cause damage to the neck and windpipe.

The Shock Collar is painful—it is a punishment! Research has shown that electric shocks cause stress, pain, and fear and break the bond between owner and dog. It has been shown that it is more effective to use positive reward-based training, which avoids any frightening or painful training methods. Using kind and effective training methods will add to your relationship bank and create a better bond with your dog.