Dear Dog Talk: I am a doctor and am fortunate in that I can take my dog to work. One of my patients brings your column in to me regularly, knowing that I am interested in anything about dogs. I enjoy your column and think you give out great advice. However, I was somewhat disappointed in your advice about a dog pulling on its leash. I was surprised that you didn't advise using a Gentle Leader or a Halti head collar rather than the draconian pinch/choke collars. In my area they are becoming a thing of the past (thankfully). Unlike the other collars, the head collars don't cause unnecessary pain and discomfort. I can't stand to see people yanking on choke collars while walking their dogs, especially since the reflex in dogs is to then pull harder in the other direction. Dear Here's-What's-Up, Doc: Thanks for writing. Several times a year I answer questions about why I do not recommend head halters instead of traditional dog training equipment. Here are a few quotes from things that I have said in the past, with some additional comments. "Head collars work by restraining dogs, and I believe that restraint teaches dogs nothing. A restrained dog will never (truly be trained) to walk on a loose leash, paying attention to whatever speed and direction the handler is going. This is a basic obedience exercise, which I call Controlled Walking. "I believe that a dog can be restrained with a head collar for years, but he will still pull when the leash is attached to any other collar. The dog hasn't really learned anything. I'm in the business of training dogs, not restraining dogs." Here is an analogy that you may be able to relate to. Imagine that you are a highly skilled orthopedic surgeon with the knowledge, expertise and talent to surgically repair torn cartilage in patients' knees. However, it has become in vogue for poorly trained doctors and doctor wannabes to tell patients, "Don't get surgery for this injury. Just use a crutch. You will be able to walk much easier and sooner." As a skilled professional, you know that the patient will never walk as well as he or she could after surgery. And in all likelihood that patient will be dependent on the crutch forever. Are you going to forgo your expertise and your calling as a doctor to be a crutch salesman• This is the position that I find myself in as a skilled obedience instructor and dog trainer. As I said in a previous column, "I would hate to ‘dummy down' my profession by resorting to restraint mechanisms. Dog obedience instructors should strive to raise their level of expertise and to hone their craft. And believe me, learning effective leash skills is not rocket science." You mentioned that you can't stand to see people yanking on choke collars, especially since "the reflex in dogs is to then pull harder in the other direction." Also, you refer to pinch/choke collars as draconian. Experienced dog trainers know that choke and pinch collars only become harsh and cruel when used improperly or inappropriately. A choke collar, which by the way, is more accurately called a training collar, is designed to be gently jerked and released when used correctly. A handler who is yanking a dog on a training collar is over-correcting the dog. This hurts dogs and is not conducive to learning. And the pulling reflex you describe is not triggered by gently jerking and releasing – or, for that matter, even inappropriate yanking. This reflex is triggered when a dog is pulled or pushed. Pulling a dog on a training collar not only makes him pull the other way, it will also choke him. Training collars and pinch collars, used properly or appropriately, will never choke or harm a dog. Head collars are not without safety concerns. Because the head collar turns the dog's head sideways, handlers must be careful never to jerk on the leash or allow the dog to make a sudden lunge to the end of the leash. Very serious neck injury could result. Back to my orthopedic surgeon analogy: I realize that some patients cannot be helped surgically. These people may have to depend on a crutch for the rest of their lives. Similarly, a head collar does have a place in the universe. For owners who have physical limitations that inhibit them from training a dog, are unwilling to learn to train a dog or cannot find a capable instructor, go with a head collar. Otherwise, I recommend that owners stick with fundamental training. As I've said before, a dog that has learned how to walk on a leash properly is much more preferable than one that must be restrained every time you step out the front door.

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