You could get collared
There are loads of you out there who are breaking the law.
You are probably doing it unwittingly but I doubt that would be a defence in court.
You are also damaging your shoulders, increasing your likelihood of a serious fall, putting your veterinary surgeon at risk and giving your dog the wrong impression.
Dogs Trust and a million websites haven’t helped you and now there’s no going back.
I’m referring, of course, to the use of harnesses on dogs, which has become quite the fashion. It all started when someone decided that it wasn’t humane to have dogs pulling on their collars so, instead of suggesting proper September 1 ■ East of Scotland Cocker Spaniel Club’s open show in Cochrane Hall, Alva. September 2 ■ Scottish Collie Club’s open show in Crawfordjohn Public Hall at 11am. September 22 ■ Irish Setter Club of training, an easier, instant alternative was proposed.
I’m not a fan for lots of reasons. First and foremost, it seems to me that if you want to properly control a horse, you use a bridle and have its body follow its nose. If you’d like it to feel strong and drag a plough about, you put it in a harness.
Take your average large, unruly dog. Harness those shoulders and all its owner needs is a skateboard so they can be pulled about anywhere the dog likes.
Pulled being the critical word. While trained dogs walk at their owner’s side Scotland’s open show in Alva. Schedules from Mr B Marshall, 27 Raith Drive, Kirkcaldy KY2 5NW. Tel. 01592 260275. Entries close September 3. ■ Perthshire Canine Club’s open show in Perth. Secretary, Aileen McDonald, East Nether Common, Rait, Perthshire PH2 7RU. Tel. 075111 69340. Entries close September 5. on a loose slip lead, the harnessed pull theirs into the consulting room, making it quite impossible for vets to properly restrain them, never mind find a patch of skin to inject.
Similarly, harnesses have to be removed whenever dogs have to lie for any length of time (such as during a surgical procedure) and then you need an honours degree in quantum physics and origami to work out how to get them back on.
And then there is the matter of the law that I mentioned earlier. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that “the owner of a dog or the person in charge of a dog that is not wearing a collar which provides the details of the owner in a public place shall be guilty of an offence”.
So there you have it. Even if your dog is microchipped. Even if the harness is camouflaged, has a fancy handle and weighs more than the QE2.
Even if it doesn’t suit you, you still need a proper collar. (Unless it’s a working dog.) Please. Make me happy.
And don’t even start me on flexi leads…
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