Before you start reading the following lines, I invite you to do a little test. Open your hands with your thumbs touching each other. Place the thumbs at the base of the throat and with the fingers pointing back and surrounding the neck. Now, take a deep breath, squeeze and pull back with all your force keeping your thumbs connected.
This is how many dogs feel when they are on the leash and they are pulling. If you are still keen to continue with this experiment, put a choke chain around your neck and attach it to a leash. Ask a friend to grab the end of the leash and pull and jerk on it periodically. Welcome to the dog world! No, I will not make you go on with this experiment and ask you to test a prong collar or electric
shock collar. I just want you to become more aware of what is happening dogs and that collars have caused more injuries then you can imagine.
One day, my dog Skai and I were on one of our favorite walks in Capilano Canyon near our home in North Vancouver. The wild river has carved the rock into breathtaking scenery with
moss-covered cliffs, white water rapids and old growth rainforest. Just a few minutes after starting our walk, I noticed a man with a young German shepherd on a leash. The poor little pup was struggling to say hi however his owner had a different idea. He was determined to prevent his dog from coming closer to us by yanking and jerking harshly on the leash that was attached to a
choke chain. With every yank, I caught myself closing my eyes, cringing and feeling sorry for the poor dog. He was coughing and gagging with every jerk and had no idea what was going on.
Suddenly the voice in my head whispered: “Peter, you must say something, this poor dog is helpless and will get hurt,” the voice went on, “maybe the man is not even aware of what he is
doing.
“Excuse me,” I started with hesitation, “You may not be aware of this but the choke chain you are using can cause a life long injury and damage and I thought you may want to know
why”. “Thank you, that would be great, I would love that,” the man replied. “I had no idea.”
Here is what our chat was about:
Wondering where the collar originated from?
No one really knows when the use of collars started. Perhaps it was the way the cave people restrained their wild dogs from running away.
However, the first reference to dog collars comes from Ancient Egypt.
The reason why I am so weary of collars is that when dogs pull they can cause a lot of damage.
The neck and cervical spine are one of the most important “energy channels” in the body. It contains the spinal cord for supply to the whole body, is where the front leg nerves originate from and it is the energy channel where the nerves controlling the internal organ function pass through. The thyroid gland that regulates the whole body metabolism is also located in the neck.
For years, I have observed the relationships between the neck injuries and health of dogs. I have learned that if the flow of energy in the neck is interrupted or restricted, a whole array of problems may arise including lameness, skin issues, allergies, lung and heart problems, digestive issues, ear and eye conditions, thyroid gland dysfunctions to name a few. I also suspect that the patients that have
severe energy flow congestion in the neck area have a higher cancer rates.
While the purpose of this article is not to give you long description of each condition, I would like to give you a few examples to help you understand how important the health and alignment of the neck is to the general health of your dog.
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid gland hormone) may be related to collar related injuries.
For the longest time I have been puzzled about the high rates of thyroid issues in breeds that frequently pull on the leash, such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. It seems
obvious that the collar actually pushes on the throat exactly in the area of the thyroid gland. This gland gets severely traumatized whenever a dog pulls on the leash, it becomes inflamed
and consequently “destroyed” by the body’s own immune system when it tries to remove the inflamed thyroid cells. The destruction of the thyroid cells leads to the deficit of thyroid hormone – hypothyroidism and be- cause the thyroid gland governs the metabolism of every cell. The symptoms may be low energy, weight gain, skin problems, hair loss and a tendency to ear infections and organ failure.
Ear and eye issues are frequently related to pulling on the leash.
When dogs pull on the leash, the collar restricts the blood and lymphatic flow to and from the head. My clients are often perplexed when all the ear and eye problems disappear after switching their dog from a collar to the right harness.
Excessive paw licking and foreleg lameness can also be related to your dog’s collar. …if the flow of energy in the neck is interrupted or restricted, a whole array of problems may arise including lameness, skin issues, allergies, lung and heart problems, digestive issues, ear and eye conditions, thyroid gland dysfunctions to name a few.
Leash pulling impinges the nerves supplying the front legs. This can lead to an abnormal sensation in the feet and dogs may start licking their feet. These dogs are often misdiagnosed
as allergic and all that needs to be done is to remove the collar and treat the neck injury. Neck injuries can cause a variety of problems. Some dogs suffer severe whiplash like injuries
from being jerked around. Extension leashes do not help because they encourage dogs to pull. They are faced with the imminent jerk when they get to the end of the line.
Most people do not know that leashes and collars can be at the core of many problems and that just one incident of pulling or running fast to the end of the leash can be serious. So
how can we reduce such risk?
A harness – the collar alternative.
Over the years, I have searched for the best way of making dogs safe and to prevent neck injuries. Harnesses that have the leash attached at the front of the chest are the best
solution because they distribute the pressure of tugs and jerks throughout the whole body and keep the neck and throat free.
Many harnesses on the market have the leash attached on the back and pulling still restricts the front portion of the neck thereby pressing on veins, arteries, nerves and energy channels.
When you choose the right harness, make sure that your dog’s harness is the right fit and follow the maker’s instructions carefully. Use the harness only when leash walking and take
it off when your dog is off leash. Ensure that the harness is not pressing or rubbing anywhere and that it is washed regularly. If your dog is adequately trained, give him as much off leash time as possible. If you have a “puller” have his neck examined by a vet, physio or chiro experienced in neck assessment. You may want to get his thyroid level measured and the neck and back checked
for any signs of injuries. Keep in mind that many veterinarians are not trained in checking spinal alignment and working with the right practitioner is essential.
If you are looking for gentle and effective treatment methods, homeopathy, physiotherapy, intramuscular needle stimulation, chiropractics, acupuncture and massage are the best choices.
I hope that you will join our “gentle leash” efforts and will pass this information onto others. If you would love to see such medieval torturing devices like choke chains, martingale, prong and shock collars become museum pieces, here is an opportunity.
Whenever you see a dog pulling and choking on the collar, gather the courage and talk to the owner. If you would like to be part of our “gentle leash” movement, you can contact me.
With Gratitude, Dr. Peter Dobias
https://peterdobias.com/
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