Puppy and You Dog Training

29/11/2025

Puppy Class inside today as the weather was grim 🌧️

What a lovely bunch of new recruits, making new friends and having fun!

If you would like to join them, please get in touch 🐾

27/11/2025

Only a couple of spaces left to start this Saturday!

17/11/2025

This is why I advise my clients to use a harness. I use a harness on my own dogs too 🐾

The reason we should never pull on a dog’s neck?
By: SHAY KELLY MSC BSC FDSC

At first glance a dog’s neck may seem muscular and strong; easily capable of having a leash and collar attached for walking. After all, it’s what we’ve used for the past umpteen years and it’s able to hold the weight of a heavy head, projecting forward rather than sitting directly above the body as the human head does.

But if we could see inside the dog’s neck, we’d see many vital structures. We’d see the oesophagus (food-pipe) and the trachea (windpipe) with the delicate epiglottis which shuts the trachea when swallowing.

I think we all know that the tightening of anything around the neck causes a restriction of breathing and in extreme cases leads to death.

The structure of a dog’s neck is no different in this respect – they feel the same discomfort that we’d feel if we were to have a collar placed around the neck, a leash attached, and somebody yanking us around.

At the top of the neck sits a scaffold of tiny bones known as the hyoid apparatus – their job is to support the larynx, which, in turn, holds the vocal cords and helps with swallowing and breathing. Very close to the front surface of the neck (at about collar height) sits the thyroid cartilage and thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces the hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which affect how every cell in the body works. Unfortunately, the thyroid gland can’t regenerate following damage. This fact alone, is a reminder that no mammal on earth evolved to withstand excessive pressure or impact to the front of the neck. Around the same area as the thyroid gland there are also parathyroid glands. The job of the parathyroid glands is to regulate calcium. Calcium regulation is more important than we might think – calcium regulation is crucial for many of the dog’s internal organs to function properly.

At the back of the neck the dog has seven cervical vertebrae which form the top of the spine. Interestingly, this is the same number in humans, giraffes, and almost all mammals (sloths and manatees are the only exceptions) – again, I think we’re all aware of how vital the spine is and how painful and debilitating damage to it can be. Running the length of the cervical vertebrae is the nuchal ligament. This is the amazing piece of anatomy which allows the dog to have an outstretched head, or walk with the nose against the ground sniffing, with ease. It’s not that the rest of the neck is super strong, it’s that they have a substantial nuchal ligament taking the strain (a little like the chains of a drawbridge).

There are other vital components running through the neck within easy reach of damage, for example, the jugular vein and the vagus nerve; additionally, there are many conditions of the neck (for example, laryngeal paralysis and tracheal collapse) which, if not caused by, would certainly be exasperated by, neck pressure – and it’s not only the neck; a study found that collar pressure significantly increased Intraocular pressure (pressure within the eyes). The study found no such effect when using a harness.

A more recent study tested various collar types and found all of them to carry significant risk of injury to dogs that pull, even at low forces – but I think the point has been made, that it’s not a good idea to be applying pressure to the neck of our beloved dogs.

My dogs wear only a harness; I know these don’t escape all criticism. People worry that they may be restrictive or even cause arthritis. I’m not without the same concerns – when I switched to the harness, I used one with a front strap going horizontally from shoulder to shoulder but have long since switched to the ‘Y’ shaped harness (because they are less restrictive of the shoulders).

Other people will say ‘any equipment is harmful if it’s not used correctly’. I don’t disagree; dogs shouldn’t be yanked around on a harness either, but whether pulling on the leash, yanking (by humans), or an out-of-character dash (by the dog), what will be the most harmful? It’s often impossible in life to cause ‘no harm’ – what I must consider is, how can I cause least harm?

Another concern I often hear is that harnesses teach dogs to pull. The reasoning behind this is that they’ve been used for years by sled dogs. The reason they’re used on sled dogs is that it’s the most ergonomic way to pull the sledge. Ergonomics relate to efficiency and comfort. It’s fairly obvious that it wouldn’t be efficient or comfortable to pull by the neck – but making the dog less comfortable (so less efficient at pulling) is not a reasonable argument against the use of a harness. I want my dogs to be as comfortable as possible; if we introduce elements of discomfort the dog will not be at ease or be in the best emotional state for training or generally interacting with the world. If the dog pulls, this is more reason to use a harness, not less reason.

I understand why people use the collar – it’s what’s always been done, it’s convenient (no faffing around putting the harness on) and it’s much cheaper; but if we want to do the best we can for our dogs, I don’t think we should be applying pressure to the neck.

We wouldn’t do it to a child because we know it would be uncomfortable, harmful, and utterly unacceptable – but it’s uncomfortable and harmful for dogs too. As to whether it’s unacceptable, only you can decide!

09/11/2025

06/11/2025

I am really tired of the hurtful comments directed at those who have dogs with a fear of fireworks. There are so many accusing dog guardians of neglecting to socialise and train their dog or they are insinuating it is the guardian's response to the fireworks that makes the dog so afraid. This is despite the fact that dogs (and other animals) across the UK are having heart attacks, seizures and strokes, some of which have been fatal. How can a dog guardian's response to fireworks possibly elicit such an extreme reaction to fireworks?

And if this is the cause of such extreme fear, what accounts for the deaths of wildlife and farm animals? Are there people ‘coddling’ them too? Let's not forget dogs in rescue shelters. If it's our response that creates this fear, then why do rescue dogs show extreme anxiety and try to escape their kennels? They are in there alone most of the time. Such heartless comments are baseless since studies show that there are many factors that contribute to noise sensitivity and a fear of fireworks, as seen below.

Genetics

A study involving over 13,700 dogs in Finland discovered that around 32% of dogs had sound sensitivities and 26% were afraid of fireworks. The scientists in this study also identified a genetic predisposition to a fear of fireworks (Salonen, M. 2020) Blackwell et al. (2013) discovered that twelve breeds or breed types were less likely to show fear responses to noises than cross-breeds and their data suggest that some breeds may be predisposed to fear of loud noises, including fireworks.( Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015.) Thus, your dog may be afraid of fireworks, due to their genetics.

Pain & health conditions

A study showed that dogs that experienced muscle or bone pain were more sensitive to sudden noises, loud noises and different pitches than dogs who were noise-sensitive but didn’t have pain. (Lopes Fagundes 2018) The same study found that the average age of onset for noise sensitivity in dogs differed between groups. In clinical cases (with pain), the average onset of noise sensitivity was 5 years and 7 months.

“Although the average ages of the dogs at presentation were similar, the average age of onset of the problem was nearly 4 years later in the “clinical cases.” This strong theme of an older age of onset suggests that the pain may develop later in life and that owners seek treatment more readily, perhaps because the appearance of the problem is out of character in the subject. The average age of onset within the control population also suggests that the problem does not simply relate to a lack of habituation as a puppy and that other mechanisms need to be considered for many cases.” (Lopes Fagundes 2018)

Other health conditions can also trigger noise phobias. Conditions such as endocrine diseases, cardiopulmonary disease, neurological problems, and cognitive dysfunction, can potentially contribute to or exacerbate behavioural problems including noise fears. (Bowen J. 2008) So both pain and health conditions can cause a fear of fireworks.

Age

Studies show that fearfulness is most common in dogs aged 4-8 years and that noise sensitivity often increases with age., ( Milla Salonen 2020) Another study that supports this shows that the average age of onset of noise phobias developed around 4 years 7 months of age. Dogs progressing through adolescence also go through a second fear period from around 10-12 months of age. At this time of development, dogs can develop new fears and phobias, including noises like fireworks. As a dog reaches their senior years, ill health and conditions such as cognitive dysfunction disorder (dog dementia) can also cause anxiety, fear-related behaviours and noise sensitivities.

Anxiety

Studies show that dogs most fearful of noises also presented with a higher chance of separation-related anxiety and being fearful in novel situations. These dogs also took much longer to decompress after a stressful event compared to dogs less fearful of noises. (Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015.) It makes sense that if your dog is already struggling with anxiety, that they are more likely to develop noise phobias.

Survival Instinct

“An extreme avoidance response to a loud firework going off unexpectedly nearby, given the salience of this event and its unpredictability for the animal, can be interpreted as adaptive (‘rational’), an argument which has also been applied to extreme fear responses in humans”. (Davey, 1995) From a survival point of view, it is logical for dogs and other animals to respond in fear to explosions. Why wouldn't they? They can't reason that it's harmless.

It should be noted that studies have found that dogs that attend training classes are less likely to be afraid of fireworks however, it is unknown why this would be the case, as exposure to fireworks sounds is not usually part of the curriculum.

Many dogs have been desensitized to fireworks as puppies and have been adequately trained and socialized, and yet they still develop a fear of fireworks. The fact that dogs don’t develop this fear until around the age of 4 proves that often the fear is due to over-exposure, trauma, anxiety or health issues. If it was solely due to a lack of training or due to the dog guardians' response to the fear, we would likely see the phobia developing much earlier in the dog’s life.

Therefore, it is hurtful and completely speculative to blame guardians for a dog’s phobia of fireworks. The real blame rests on the shoulders of those who continue to set off loud fireworks, knowing for well the suffering it causes to dogs, pets, wildlife, and even people. - Holly Leake

Huge thanks to my friends at Canine Principles for their help finding studies on the subject. ❤️🐾

References

Bowen J. Firework Fears and Phobias. UK Vet Companion Anim. 2008;13:59–63. doi: 10.1111/j.2344-3862.2008.tb00529.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Camps T., Amat M., Manteca X. A Review of Medical Conditions and Behavioral Problems in Dogs and Cats. Animals. 2019;9:1133. doi: 10.3390/ani9121133. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar

Lopes Fagundes AL, Hewison L, McPeake KJ, Zulch H, Mills DS. Noise Sensitivities in Dogs: An Exploration of Signs in Dogs with and without Musculoskeletal Pain Using Qualitative Content Analysis. Front Vet Sci. 2018 Feb 13;5:17. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00017. PMID: 29487858; PMCID: PMC5816950.

Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015. Noise sensitivity in 17 dog breeds: Prevalence, breed risk and correlation with fear in other situations Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Volume 171, October 2015, Pages 152-160 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.08.020

Salonen, M., Sulkama, S., Mikkola, S. et al. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Sci Rep 10, 2962 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59837-z

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01/11/2025

Remember Midge? He is a Jack Russell who is just over a year old now. He used to pull lots on walks, always eager to get to the next sniff spot. I have been working with him and his family over the past few weeks and look at him now. Even though he has no tail to wag, I think his wiggly bottom tells us how much he is enjoying his walks!

He is much more engaged with his mum and dad and much less reactive to people and other dogs too! His association with them has changed and he feels much better about them. He is given freedom and space to move away when they are about.

Great job Midge, Bev and Andy! It’s been a pleasure 🐾

27/10/2025

If you need some help training your Adolescent or older dog, then this is the class for you!

Get in touch today.
I’m waiting to help you 🐾

18/10/2025

These two ❤️. Such lovely engagement and an eagerness to learn. It’s only week 2 …..🐾🐾

17/10/2025

Firework season is fast approaching. Some tips on helping our dogs to cope ……

We re very sorry but we are going to have to say the F word
….
Freaking Fireworks 😔🎆

Here in the UK the days are shortening rapidly and we move into one of the most dreaded times of the year for many animal carers -bonfire night / Guy Fawkes / November 5th …. But events and random fireworks just as likely for sometimes 2 weeks before and after.

So …. We highly recommend taking action now

We ll do a separate post on other animals, but here focus on dogs

- start shifting your evening walk if you do one, a bit earlier every day
- play some calm music when you arrive back, and as you close curtains / blinds earlier than normal and turn both TV and radio on if you have available
- use this as a signal to your dog you are about to do something together that is calm and fun … maybe a lickimat or similar with you say nearby, or some grooming whist you tell them a story, a massage or stroking session, some new odour / toy investigation
- at this time, practice giving a firm treat or piece of kibble wrapped in some pate (to mimic any medication giving)
- during the calm, connection session turn on some extra background music with a good beat (like rhythmic drumming or similar). Start quietly and over a few nights, increase the volume Leave this on every evening for an hour or more already so it is part of the routine

- if you think your dog might benefit from anti anxiety or anti anxiety and sedating medication on nights of anticipated noise, call your vets now to organise a weight and health check and get that prescribed
It can also be a good time to get their chip checked - is it working, are your details up to date ?

- for some dog / caregiver combos, you might find that heading off on a drive with the radio on whilst you head somewhere away from events is a helpful avoidance. Just ensure you set off early to avoid trying to get in your vehicle when bangs may go off, and always make sure your dog is wearing a secure collar / harness / lead with all your contact details.

I know many of us would really prefer there were no such events or loud noises, not just for our animals but for wildlife too (and many humans) but as that still isn’t the case, prepared is preferred