There are confusing amounts of equipment available to new dog owners, and many conflicting opinions regarding which to--or not to-- use. I personally feel it is HOW equipment is used that creates problems for owners and risks for dogs. I'll try to give you a rundown of the most common control devices available for dogs and the pros and cons of each as I see them. First is the question of collar vs. harness vs. head collar as the actual restraint tool for your dog. Some just restrain while others are used to train or correct pulling behavior when attached to a leash.

A buckle collar is the most typical first restraint device used on a puppy. It is considered nonpunitive; but if an owner were to jerk very hard or a dog were allowed to strain constantly against it, the buckle collar would cause a great amount of stress on the delicate front of a dog's neck. A buckle collar doesn't tighten when a dog pulls back against it, and unless it fits snugly a dog might escape from the collar. But too tightly buckled, the collar would restrict breathing. Properly fitted, with a dog that is not inclined to either balk against or drag its owners, a buckle collar is a low-stress restraint device that comes in an amazing variety of styles, designs, and colors. A slip collar made of nylon, rolled leather or of chain (known as a "choke chain"), when properly fitted and used, typically is escape-proof. The growing puppy will need to have many collar upgrades, as the fitting (neck measurement plus 4 inches) is critical. Smaller collars may become stuck on the dog's head, and those that are too large could allow the dog to escape, or get the collar caught on its bottom jaw. It is frequently (and too often incorrectly) used as a punishment-based training device, and many young dogs are made leash and collar shy by the misuse of this piece of equipment.

Overenthusiastic owners trying to train their dogs to walk with them, rather than in front, may resort to repeated hard jerking and hurt their dogs necks and confidence. If a dog is allowed to strain against a slip collar it will have its air supply cut off. When left on an unattended dog, a slip collar can get caught on things and strangle the dog. It ALWAYS must be removed when the leash is being removed. Dogs that are tied up, caged, left in the yard alone or left in a car unattended should NEVER be left with any restricting device around their necks because they might hang themselves. Properly used, a slip collar can help a dog learn not to pull and can keep a dog safely restrained. I do not advise use of this collar on a young puppy or without guidance from a KIND, professional trainer. A pinch, or prong, collar is made of a series of interconnected links that each have two angled prongs protruding from them. When fitted to the dog, the prongs sit against the dog's neck without causing pain or discomfort. But when the dog strains against the leash while wearing a prong collar it tightens, causing all of the prongs to squeeze against the dog's neck rather painfully. Although the prongs do not impale if the dog places its weight against the collar, the dog could be hurt if an owner were to jerk hard. This is another device that tightens and could strangle the dog if it were left on and got hung up on anything.

I have heard of cases in which owners fitted a young dog with a prong collar and failed to remove it. They also apparently failed to notice their puppy's neck was growing along with the rest of its body; a veterinarian had to remove the embedded collar surgically because the prongs were buried in the flesh of the dog's neck. A prong collar can work well to teach strong dogs not to pull, but it must be used carefully, properly and with full understanding of the risks. This piece of equipment should never be used without professional guidance from a humane, highly referenced trainer. A head collar is similar to a horse halter; it goes around the dog's muzzle and is held in place by a strap that goes around the back of the dog's head. The leash is attached under the dog's chin, and when pulled the device tightens a bit around the dog's muzzle and turns its head toward the person holding the leash. This of course inhibits pulling, as dogs' bodies follow the direction their heads are travelling. The concern with a head collar is the potential for trauma to the cervical spine (neck) in the event the dog were moving fast when it made unexpected pivoting impact with the head collar.

Dogs that are not leash-lungers do very well with this device and learn to follow without experiencing punishment; they simply fail at attempts to lead and eventually give up. There is less risk of accidentally agitating a dog around other dogs or strangers with this device than with any collar. When collar corrections are made while a dog is focused on an approacher, it may blame the neck pain on the other dog or person. The head collar breaks the dog's attention off the approacher by redirecting and in the process prevents the dog from associating the individual with pain. The head collar is relatively simple to use and is a good choice for puppy owners.

A harness typically is used for dogs whose pulling behavior is desired; when dogs strain against a harness they experience minimal if any discomfort. Properly fitted, the dog cannot escape. But you will be hard pressed to control your dog using this as a walking device. If your dog is going to be taught to pull, it is a good thing to introduce, but I suggest it not be used for daily walks unless you don't mind being the one who is walked! As for leashes, I use long cotton leads for training, and 6-foot latigo leather leashes for regular walking. I think nylon leashes can be very pretty, but they really give nasty friction burns when unexpectedly and suddenly pulled through your hands. I don't like the "lack of traction" I've experienced with these leashes, especially with large dogs. I hope this gives you some insight into the most common equipment options available to dog owners. I suggest you check out local dog schools to get more hands-on guidance with your new pet.

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