The myth of “no pull” equipment
We’ve all seen the products! The marketing is soooo tempting! If I get THIS piece of equipment (leash, halter, harness, front clip slip harness, back clip/double loop over the head harness with only 1 side buckle on the left…) my dog will STOP PULLING on leash, RIGHT?
Sorry. Wrong!
In a moment, I will let you know why new equipment CAN make a difference but let’s deal with the myth first.
There is simply NO PIECE OF EQUIPMENT that will stop our dogs from pulling on leash. None!
MYTH: A harness will stop my dog from pulling!
The common idea is that a back-clip harness may encourage pulling because of the way they allow dogs to leverage their strength, and a front-clip harness is more effective for discouraging pulling because it shifts the dog’s direction towards the handler, making pulling less rewarding.
REALITY: A harness, in and of itself, does nothing to encourage or discourage pulling. It simply allows your dog to not crush their trachea if they pull hard.
MYTH: Pinch/Pronk/Choke Collars are self correcting and will stop pulling!
REALITY: Pinch/Prong/Chock Collars are all based on the idea that causing discomfort or pain will teach your dog to stop doing something, in this case pulling. While the marketing seems attractive, over time, they can cause significant harm to the dog’s throat and neck, leading to injuries. The pain and discomfort can also cause tremendous fear or other behavior related problems later in life for the dog. And you’re still left with a dog that pulls on leash.
MYTH: Retractable leashes help dogs learn not to pull because they allow the dog freedom to explore, thus reducing their anxiety and need to pull.
REALITY: Retractable leashes can make it very difficult for the dog to understand what behavior is expected because they are allowed to roam a certain distance and then stopped at that same distance another time because the human keeps changing the stopping point. The make is difficult for the handler to control the dog when the leash is fully extended and that often leads to unsafe situations.
What Actually Matters:
There is certainly a lot of debate on “right equipment” in the dog training world. The most important thing to know is that MOST of the hype about training equipment is lead by marketers, not actual trainers! Then trainers see the equipment and think they must be doing something wrong so they use it, too, because “everybody is using it.” It’s a nasty spiral that is harming our dogs and our relationship with our dogs.
The things you REALLY need to know for any piece of equipment are:
Comfort: Some dogs are more comfortable in harnesses, some will like a head halti, some are great with a flat collar. When your dog is comfortable, they can be more focused on learning and responding to cues.
Your Dog’s Individual Needs: Every dog is different. Some may not respond well to a harness because it feels confining and we haven’t taken the time to get them used to something going over their head or body. Some dogs do not like the feeling of a flat collar rubbing on their neck.
Training: No matter the equipment, we need to help our dogs learn the behavior that is needed when they are on a leash. This is nothing to do with the equipment we use. It has everything to do with they way we train.
So why DOES a new piece of equipment seem to change my dog’s behavior?
I stated that a new piece of equipment CAN make all the difference to your dog’s behavior. Why is this true if the equipment itself doesn’t matter?
Changing up equipment accomplishes two main things:
Change in Sensation and Feedback - A simple change in sensation or feedback can impact HOW your dog perceives the environment. With the new feel, smell or sound your dog begins to make new associations with the equipment to the activity.
If they’ve been used to pulling on a flat collar, simply putting on a harness (if it’s PROPERLY INTRODUCED), may help them understand an entirely new way of behaving simply because they do not have a prior association with that piece of equipment.
That’s why sometimes, when we get a new piece of equipment, it’s easy to think “THAT is what stopped my dog from pulling!” and we believe this magic equipment could, and should, work for everybody. However, it may have simply been your dog changed the association to a walk, leash, collar and stopped behaving the way they had formed a habit. If they are not trained, they will eventually pull on that new piece of equipment, too.
Training Mindset Shift for the Handler
Since a new piece of equipment can have such an effect on the dog’s associations with the environment, it stands to reason it can have such an effect on the handler/human as well. Sometimes, a simply change to a harness makes us believe we have more control over our dog, so we have more confidence (I know how to handle myself in this situation!) and then we act accordingly.
If WE feel confident and in control, often our dog’s behavior changes quickly to synchronize with our new found way of being.
While there is no single best piece of equipment, I do have a few favorites I’ve shared on the blog.
Most importantly, remember ANY new equipment must be PROPERLY INTRODUCED to our dogs in a way they find comfortable and manageable, and that takes listening to our dogs and learning to understand all the cues they are giving us each day.
Casa Luna Canines is your partner in dog training, human learning. Join us to learn how to be your dog’s best friend using 100% pain and fear free methods. Imagine what it will feel like when your dog chooses to behave well around you, no matter where you are!
