The idea of this article came to me when I joined a Search and Rescue Team, and we started training with Mia. There are so many things to research and buy from clothing, through radios, GPS, etc., but while you can find excellent guides for most of these, it’s very hard to figure out where to start with dog gear. Do I want a harness or a vest? Do I need anything extra for the dog?

Are you wondering how to help your hotdog enjoy the summer months? Debating between a cooling mat, a cooling vest, a car shade or a cooling harness? Do these actually work? We tested different cooling products and are ready to introduce the pros and cons of each category! ;) Why would a dog need help cooling down? I hear from many owners that wolves or hunting/guarding/herding dogs never needed a colling vest or a cooling mat, and they were all fine, so all these products are just the result of the “dog mom culture.

The position of the leash attachment point on the back is mainly the question of personal preference based on what you use the harness for and how your dog walks on the leash. Still, there are a few important pros and cons that might help you choose. Pros and Cons of Leash Attachment Close to the Neck In general, having the leash attachment close to the neck will give you the best steering power.

This article will relate to our other article discussing when and when not to use these grooming/textil muzzles. Still, this time we are approaching from a different angle. Muzzling is a topic that will need a lot more education until they are used appropriately in our society. I am not surprised that an average dog owner doesn’t know much about muzzles before needing one for the first time because it is not easy to find good educational articles on the topic.

Not all Y-harnesses are created equal There is such a strong pushback about using collars or harnesses going across the shoulders, while no one seems to talk about the risks of using a poorly fitted/sized Y-harness. Many seem to think that any Y-harness is safe for their dog, which is not true. The unpopular truth is that a poorly fitting Y (or H) harness can cause the same health problems or injuries as a dog pulling in a collar or while wearing a cross-shoulder harness.

Manfred Bogdahn invented the Flexi leash in 1972. He was looking for a solution for providing more freedom to dogs while still having some control over them. It was used happily by thousands of people worldwide for decades, but over the last 5(ish) years, there is a strong push back in online communities, saying it is not a responsible way to walk the dog. Let’s look into both sides a little more!