Page 20 - Winter 2023 Newsletter

WELFARE

Underneath that strong looking neck, are some
vital life supporting structures connecting your
dog’s gut and nervous system to the brain.

If you have a dog that lunges or pulls on the
lead, a collar is not going to stop him. A harness
is not going to make him lunge or pull more.
However, it will distribute his weight through a

part of the body designed to protect the organs
instead of the full pressure being on the neck
and all it contains.

A yank on the lead can cause emotional associations that lead to behaviour issues
and pressure around the neck can cause multiple physical injuries, some terminal.

Neck injuries include bruising, whiplash, headaches, crushed trachea, damage to the
larynx, fractured vertebrae, neck and spinal cord injury and paralysis or neurological

problems.
If the parasympathetic nervous system is tweaked through a tug to the neck the

vagal reflex can cause instant death.

Higher intraocular pressure can cause serious injury to dogs already suffering thin
corneas, glaucoma, or eye injuries.

It has also been linked to hypothyroidism as the collar rests on the area of the thyroid
gland causing damage.

It can impinge the nerves supplying the front legs leading to an abnormal sensation
in the feet that can present as a dog that starts licking their feet. Often misdiagnosed
as having allergies.

A dog's epidermis is only 3-5 cells thick, in humans it is at least 10-15 cells thick.

Excessive pressure can cause damage to the dog's eyes, larynx and thyroid gland.

Particularly risky for puppies under 6 months, a time during which the cartilage of
the trachea is still delicate.

A dog that feels pain and discomfort on saying hello to another dog, or trying to sniff
the environment, is in danger of associating other dogs or other stimuli in the

environment with pain and discomfort resulting in a dog that we would label
“reactive” and/or “aggressive” when on lead, “but ok when off lead”. #dogtraining
#looseleadwalking.

With thanks to https://perfect-fit-dog-harness.com/harness.html for the illustration.

BTRF perfect-fit harnesses and recommend them, most if not all of our foster /
adoptive dogs are fitted with them.

info@bedlingtonrescue.co.uk www.bedlingtonrescue.co.uk