Showing posts with label dog walking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog walking. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2015

Which Harness is Best for Your Dog?

 
Back-Clip Harness

Enjoying the great outdoors with your dog can be a special bonding time for both you and your pet, but an out of control, pulling dog can make it a misery (and potentially dangerous).  The use of a body harnesses can be a great tool, it can provide control and comfort for your pet.  They can be especially important to consider for dogs that have pushed-in faces (that restrict breathing), those with trachea or throat problems, and ones with slender necks. For these pets, a traditional leash hooked to their collar can cause them injury or discomfort.  There are many options that vary in style and function. Below lists the pros and cons of the three most common types.
Back-Clip Harness
This type has a ring that the leash will hook to on the top of the dog’s back.  Usually the dog adjusts to the back clip harness easily.
Pros:
·         Easy to put on and comfortable for a dog to wear.
·         Less tangling under the front legs.
·         They protect the fragile neck area.
Cons:
·         They offer little control if a dog has behavior issues, such as pulling on the leash, jumping up or displaying aggression.
Front-Clip Harness

Front-clip harnesses (as the name suggest) clips on the front and is centered on the dog’s chest.  Often trainers will suggest the front-clip harnesses, because they will give the owner more control over pulling, and direction the dog is moving.
Pros:
·         More control over pulling on the leash, jumping up or other poor leash manners
·         Provides the ability to direct the dog
Cons:
·         The leash on the front of the chest can tangle under the dog’s front legs if too much slack is given. 

Tightening Harness

There are variations of the body harnesses that will tighten and add pressure if the dog pulls. The slight tightening can be uncomfortable for the pet, which causes him to lessen or stop the pulling and walk on a looser leash.
Pros:
·         A harnesses that will apply slight pressure to a dog when they pull, but it does not cause pain.
·         They are generally easy to put on a dog.
Cons:
·         The dog doesn’t necessarily learn to walk on a loose leash, only with this type of harness.

·         Some tightening harnesses can feel uncomfortable to your pet. The pet might associate the pain as a negative association with the harness and might fight the usage of the device and/or the activity. 
Monday, November 10, 2014

Have You Walked Your Dog Today?


A new study from the University of Liverpool has recommended that the well-being of both  pets and their owners can benefit from education and pet-friendly facilities. During the study, it was found that an estimated 40 percent of dog owners do not walk their pets, which could be a contributing factor to dog obesity. Canine obesity can have the same serious health consequences as people (diabetes, heart disease and joint issues). It is also believed, obese owners may be more likely to have obese dogs, perhaps because they are less likely to exercise their dog, or less able to recognise obesity. The study found the two main reasons people were not walking their dogs were: not being informed on how much was needed and having limited access to dog friendly areas. Walking is a great form of exercise and can be beneficial for you and your pet.

Here are the findings from the study 

  • People who did not have access to high quality areas that support dog walking (dog parks that allow dogs off leash and provide waste disposal facilities, for example), were much less likely to walk with their dog. People were just more motivated to walk when the area was more conducive. 
  • Many pet owners did not have the knowledge of how much exercise their pet really needed (150 minutes of physical activity a week is recommended) , or the the health benefits that could be obtained from walking your furry friend.  A coordinated effort to educate pet owners could have a great impact, the study showed that those that were aware, were much more likely to walk their dogs.
  • The stronger the dog-owner bond,  the more likely they were to take them on regular walks.
  • Anxiety over their pet's behavior also had an impact on how often people would take their pets out. Training your pet to be a good citizen is always important, but it could also lessen this fear and make it a fun time for all.