Need Dog Gear? Try Before You Buy!
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Written by Claudeen E. Mc Auliffe Tuesday, 31 July 2007 00:00 |
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In my classroom is a white, plastic bucket into which, over the past five years, I’ve thrown every item of equipment that has proven itself useless or unhelpful. The contents of my bucket are pointed out to everyone who comes in the door. “Help yourself!” I offer cheerfully. Funny thing, but that bucket is just as full as ever; no one seems interested in adopting anything that lives within its pristine circular walls. Maybe a good look at the contents will explain why this dog gear, for which good money was paid, is now nothing but useless junk.
Let’s start with the chain link leash. Very heavy, noisy; cheap plastic handle with sharp edges. What kind of behavior would prompt someone to buy it in the first place? A champion puller? Or one who thought holding the leash in his mouth was cool? What about the nylon collar with a plastic buckle, the kind you can’t tighten enough to keep the dog from slipping out of? How about the H-style harness that helps the champion puller graduate to Olympic caliber? And another of those nylon collars . . . They certainly do come in great colors, though . . . Some kind of adjustable nylon leash . . . hmmm, now how does this work . . .? Nylon collar with metal buckle, the kind you can’t tighten enough to keep the dog from slipping out of it. Some variety of harness designed to keep a dog from jumping, hopelessly tangled . . . where does this strap go??? There’s lots more, but you probably get the idea by now. The point is, folks buy a lot of equipment for their dogs that’s at best useless and at worst dangerous. A lot of it doesn’t fit the dog well enough to be comfortable, is not user-friendly, can be very expensive and even dangerous.
Dog gear is obviously a profitable market, based on the number and variety of items available in shops, catalogs and online. Given the variety, how do we choose what’s really going to work? In my experience, other than the basic neck collar and leash that our dog paradigm tells us every dog needs, most people buy a piece of equipment hoping it will solve a problem, for example, leash pulling. When it doesn’t they buy something else. Through a process of trial and error, they may find something that works. But more often, they just find something that leaves them more or less frustrated than the previous equipment setup. Does buying dog gear need to be so hit and miss? Do we really need to spend so much time and money, with such unsatisfactory results?
Think of the last time you purchased a piece of equipment for your dog. If you bought it in a shop, did anyone ask if you were having a particular problem that led you to select that piece of equipment? If you were lucky enough to have someone ask you, and you indicated you did have a special need, was that clerk or assistant knowledgeable enough to suggest a range of options in the product category you were interested in? Choice is good, is it not? And best of all, was that clerk or assistant knowledgeable enough to try some of those options on your dog, expertly fitting and adjusting, so that when you put your money on the counter you knew for sure that you had the safest, most comfortable, most effective option available for its cost? If you answer no to any of these questions, chances are that dog gear may end up in your equivalent of my plastic bucket!
When it comes to other than a basic neck collar and leash, the fact is that most people buy equipment because they’re having a problem. Leash pulling is probably the most common. In my experience, most people choose to resolve this problem not with training, which takes time, but rather with management, that is to say, equipment that will make it impossible or at least difficult for the dog to pull. I have no issue with this, because the right equipment can actually be a passive training device. Dog gear technology has become very sophisticated over the past 10 years, and many devices such as head collars and harnesses have been designed with passive training in mind. Because of the sophistication, as well as the potential for harm to the dog if the equipment is not fitted correctly, it’s even more important to have your equipment fitted by someone who knows what they’re doing. The most reputable dog gear manufacturers take their products seriously enough that they produce training videos and manuals, and even hands-on workshops to learn proper fit and usage. HaltiÔ head collars (Rodger Mugford) and the Easy Walk HarnessÔ (Premier Pet Products) are two excellent products supported by extensive user and vendor training.
So far we’ve talked about the first part of the story: Need Dog Gear? Let’s talk about the second part: Try Before You Buy! I’m a firm believe in trying a variety of options on the dog. If the equipment is comfortable, the dog will accept it. If the dog accepts it, the owner is encouraged to “test drive” it around the block. As a result, we know precisely whether the equipment is working (the dog no longer pulls, jumps, lunges, etc.), whether the owner is comfortable and confident in its operation, whether the dog is comfortable wearing it (doesn’t rub its face along the ground, climb out of its harness, refuse to move, etc.), and that the equipment is safe (will not cause injuries or allow the dog to escape). The process, of course, may take time. But it’s well worth it knowing that the customer has the best option for her needs. As a result, our equipment returns are minimal and we routinely hear comments like, “My dog’s not choking anymore and our walks are 200% more fun;” or, “My dog can’t lunge at passing cars anymore and I don’t need to do anything except stand there and hold the leash.”
So the next time you’re thinking about a new wardrobe for your dog, ask your seller: 1) What equipment options do you offer for the particular problem I’m dealing with; 2) Can you help me find the one which will work best for me and my dog; 3) Can I take it for a test drive outside the shop? If the answer to any of these questions is less than “Yes!” come see us!