Walking Equipment for Dogs: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Feb 6, 2018
4 min read

Updated: Apr 14

Choosing the right walking equipment for your dog is more important than most people realise. The tools we use don’t just affect how our dogs walk—they can have a lasting impact on their physical health, emotional wellbeing, and behaviour.

At Wanderdog, our work is rooted in modern, evidence-based behaviour science. We focus on building safe, trusting relationships between dogs and their guardians using positive, force-free methods. That means we never recommend equipment that relies on pain, fear, or intimidation.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best and worst types of dog walking equipment, backed by current research and real-world behaviour experience.

Brown and black dog on a sidewalk, wearing an orange harness and leash. The dog looks directly at the camera, appearing curious.

🟢 The Good: Dog Walking Equipment We Recommend

Harnesses (When Properly Fitted)

Harnesses are our go-to walking equipment for most dogs.

They:

Distribute pressure safely across the body
Reduce strain on the neck and throat
Provide better control without discomfort

However, not all harnesses are created equal. The right harness depends on your dog as an individual—considering their:

Body shape
Sensitivity to touch
Confidence levels
Movement and gait

Well-designed options include:

Y-shaped harnesses that allow full shoulder movement
Modular or adjustable harnesses for a tailored fit
Lightweight options for sensitive dogs

⚠️ Important: Harnesses do not “stop pulling” on their own. That’s why equipment should always be paired with training that addresses the underlying behaviour.

A front-clip harness can help manage pulling by gently redirecting the dog’s movement—but it’s a management tool, not a solution.

👉 In our behaviour work, we often see pulling linked to:

Over-arousal
Stress or frustration
Lack of appropriate outlets (e.g. sniffing, exploration)

Addressing these root causes is far more effective than relying on equipment alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7edMjwEY1c

Long Lines & Training Leads

Long lines (5–10m+) are excellent for:

Practising recall safely
Allowing natural exploration and sniffing
Reducing frustration on walks

Standard 1.5–2m leads are ideal for:

Loose lead walking training
Safe navigation in busy areas

These tools support freedom and safety, which is key for emotional wellbeing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbUvUSBm1SM

🟡 The Grey Area: Equipment really best avoided!

Head Halters (e.g. Gentle Leaders)

Head halters can provide additional control, but they must be used carefully.

Potential concerns:

Risk of neck injury if the dog hits the end of the lead suddenly
Many dogs find them aversive or uncomfortable
Require slow, positive conditioning to be tolerated

In some cases (e.g. strength mismatch, safety concerns), they may be used as a temporary management tool—but they are not a long-term training solution.

Yellow Labrador with a blue leash and black head collar stands on gravel near a person in jeans.

Martingale Collars

These are sometimes used for dogs with narrow heads (e.g. sighthounds) to prevent slipping out of collars.

However:

They still apply pressure to the neck
Incorrect fit can cause dangerous tightening and discomfort
For most dogs, a harness is a safer and more comfortable option (*you can find harnesses designed for narrow head breeds too)

Golden retriever, tongue out, wearing a blue martingale collar and leash, sitting in lush green grass.

Extendable (Retractable) Leads

While popular, retractable leads come with significant risks:

Lack of control at distance
Increased risk of road accidents
Injuries to humans (rope burns, trips, even amputations)
Sudden jolting when the lead reaches full length → linked to neck and spinal injuries

They also encourage constant tension, which can reinforce pulling behaviour.

A small brown dog on a leash jumps beside a person standing on a sidewalk against a white wall.

🔴 The Bad & The Ugly: Equipment We Do NOT Recommend

Slip Leads & Choke Chains

These tighten around the dog’s neck without a limit.

Risks include:

Damage to the trachea and soft tissues
Increased intraocular pressure (linked to eye issues)
Association of pain with triggers → can worsen reactivity or aggression

From a behaviour perspective, these tools suppress behaviour without addressing the cause, which often leads to more complex problems later.

Black and white dog with a red slip lead looks attentively to the side. Background shows blurry trees and a bright, outdoor setting.

Prong Collars & E-Collars (Shock & Vibrate Collars)

These fall under aversive training tools, which work by applying pain or discomfort.

Modern research is very clear on this:

Studies (e.g. University of Lincoln 2020) found that dogs trained with e-collars showed more stress-related behaviours compared to reward-based methods.
Research from University of Bristol has linked aversive training to poorer welfare and increased anxiety.
The European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology and British Veterinary Association both oppose their use.

Many countries across Europe—including Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark—have strict regulations or bans on shock collars.

See our other article detailing about the issues that surround collars that 'just' vibrate.

Why this matters for behaviour:

In behaviour consultations, we frequently see fallout from aversive tools:

Increased anxiety or shutdown behaviour
Escalation into reactivity or aggression
Damaged trust between dog and guardian

These tools may suppress behaviour in the short term, but they do not teach the dog what to do instead. This often creates unpredictable and stressed dogs.