We were thrilled to see the news that Petco, one of the nation’s biggest pet supply stores, has stopped selling shock or “e” collars for dogs and are actively working to promote pain-free, positive reinforcement training.
According to its website, “Studies have shown that dogs respond effectively to positive, voluntary, and rewards-based training, while shock collars have been shown to increase fear, anxiety, and stress levels. Positive reinforcement is backed by experts and helps build healthy, happy, and safe relationships with our pets.”
There are a variety of collars, leashes and training tools from which to choose. How to know what’s best? The answer depends on your dog.
In addition to steering clear of shock collars, here a few others we don’t recommend for any dog:
• Retractable leashes. A retractable leash is a long, cable-like leash that’s housed inside a plastic case and extends when pulled. Dogs have to pull on the leash to get where they want to go. The dog learns, “If I pull, I get to go wherever I want.” Not a great lesson. There are also serious safety concerns. The cable can easily become entangled when one dog encounters another and, even worse, it can cause burns if it gets wrapped around your leg.
• Prong or pinch collars. These collars may cause pain and can exacerbate behavior issues such as fear and aggression. Dogs already reactive on leash can become even more reactive due to frustration from the pain, and they can cause serious injury to your dog. The thyroid gland lies at the base of the neck just below the larynx, close to where any collar sits. Just one yank can cause injury to a gland that controls many of the body’s vital functions.
Here are some better options:
• Walking leash. If your dog is well behaved on a leash, this is for you. We recommend a 6-foot leash as it gives the dog more room to relieve themselves and makes it easier to maintain a loose leash in many situations. They’re often made of nylon or leather and attach to a ring in the collar.
• Back clip harness. This harness goes around the dog’s chest with a ring at the top of the dog’s back. They’re especially useful for small dogs with delicate throats that can be easily damaged by collars. Also, there’s the “cute factor,” since they come in all kinds of patterns.
• Front clip harness. This type of harness has a ring in the front and another on the back. A special leash with clips on both ends minimizes and eliminates pulling without placing pressure on the dog’s neck. When the dog pulls, the pressure from the leash is distributed across the body, and the dog is turned toward its guardian.
• Head halters. These are similar to horse halters and are recommended for dogs that require more control when being walked. They fit over the dog’s snout, slightly resembling a muzzle (though they don’t protect against biting). The idea is that where their head goes, their body follows, so if you can move their head, you’ll control their body. If a dog wearing a halter forges ahead of you, the tension on the leash causes its head to turn and make it look at you. With its head turned, the dog must wait until you catch up with it so that the tension is released and he can resume walking.
This should be done with moderation, though, since jerking a dog’s head too hard can be harmful. It may also be uncomfortable initially, so allow your dog time to get used to wearing it. We recommend trying the front clip harness before using this tool.
Still confused? Check out the behavior and training handouts available on the Marin Humane website at marinhumane.org/oh-behave for more info.
Lisa Bloch is the director of marketing and communications at Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, Twitter.com/MarinHumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.
