Plus-Hex CLINICAL
ABSTRACT Dog control is a contentious issue among some dog owners , but appropriate control and restraint are necessary for dogs with poor recall , dogs in training and those working as assistance dogs , for example .
Veterinary nurses ( VNs ) need to have an understanding of the restraint methods available to dog owners and the potential effects , both physiological and behavioural , of their use on dogs .
This article considers some of the common methods of restraining dogs – through the use of collars , head collars , halters , chest harnesses and Y-shaped harnesses – and reviews the current literature available on the subject .
It also includes recommendations for VNs to consider when discussing restraint options , particularly harnesses , with dog owners .
Keywords dog , control , collar , chest harness , Y-shaped harness , halter , head collar
Collars
Studies [ 2 – 4 ] of commonly used flat-profiled collars ( Figure 1 ) found that they can exert sufficient pressure on the neck to cause ischaemic necrosis . This is worse with padded collars , potentially because the convex nature of the padding concentrates the areas of pressure . From these studies , it is understood that collars can cause permanent tracheal , laryngeal , oesophageal and ophthalmic damage in all dogs , but could be particularly problematic in brachycephalic breeds , which are predisposed to airway compromise and ophthalmic problems .
A study [ 5 ] analysing canine greeting communication between dogs wearing a collar or harness found that neither of the two restraint methods significantly influenced communication between the dogs , so behaviour compromise is not deemed to be a factor when choosing a method of restraint .
However , collars may increase stress , as a study [ 3 ] found a consistently lower ear position – which was deemed to be an indicator of stress – in dogs that wore collars , compared with body harnesses , long term .
Introduction
Dog owners may choose to restrain their dog with the use of a harness , lead , collar or other accessory based on its appearance or aesthetic benefit . However , consideration should be given to the anatomical constraint or reduction in movement caused by the style of restraint , particularly when a dog is skeletally immature , given the potential impact of long-term restriction on the developing musculoskeletal system [ 1 ] .
The enjoyment of a dog walk for both the dog and its owner is affected by factors such as the regularity of appropriate dog walks , the health of the dog and its obedience . Overweight dogs , for example , are known to show more inappropriate lead-walking behaviours , including fear , fleeing or pulling . However , it is not clear whether these behaviours are caused by the excess weight or whether the excess weight is caused by a lack of exercise resulting from an owner ' s reluctance to walk a dog that displays these behaviours [ 2 ] .
If a harness changes a dog ' s posture or restricts its movement at any age , it can alter the animal ' s biomechanics , which can affect healthy joint conformation and function , leading to abnormal wear and inflammation and arthritic conditions [ 1 ] . For example , forelimb stride length and motion is particularly important to a dog ' s posture ; if this is compromised , the biomechanics may alter and the body may compensate , which can lead to hypertrophy or atrophy of muscle groups , inflammation and musculoskeletal pathologies including the impairment of joint conformation and function [ 1 ] .
Figure 1 . An example of a popular style of collar .
Volume 40 ( 1 ) • February 2025
47