Methods and Equipment
As a part of my certification, I have agreed to use only "positive" methods of reinforcement and training when handling a client's dog.
This means I am committed to not jerking, yelling, kicking, hitting or in any way harming your dog while he/she is in my care. "Positive" means "adding" something (that was not previously present) in order to reinforce (and hopefully encourage repitition of) good behavior (for example: offering a small, tasty treat for "sitting" at an appropriate time). This does not mean that it may not be necessary to withhold rewards or initiate "time outs" for misbehavior (also known as "negative" reinforcement: "negative" means to "take away" something that was previously present, it is not abusive).
Equipment choice is personal and not all that vital as long as it does not harm the dog.
I do not use choke collars, prong collars or any type of restraint that may be potentially harmful to your dog. Walking using the common "flat" collar (used to display license or ID tags) is usually not sufficent to walk a dog safely. A dog may pull out of a "flat" collar (by suddenly reversing direction) or harm himself by pulling forward and applying excessive pressure on the trachea. Walking a dog using a harness type collar also invites pulling (in my experience). Unless a dog has a spinal or neck injury or specific reason to use a harness, I do not prefer them. My equipment of choice is the "Gentle Leader". It seems to reduce pulling and add to my ability to control a dog during a walk. This type of collar is approved by the Humane Society. In some cases where a Gentle Leader doesn't seem to work, a Martingale collar is my second choice. This is also a fairly safe and humane type of collar that will not allow the dog to be injured if they pull.
Every dog that walks with me will be provided with their own Gentle Leader, 6 ft. Nylon Leash and 3/4 in. Nylon Collar bearing a basic identification tag with "NorthBayDogWalking" and my cell phone number on it in case of an emergency. I use this equipment IN ADDITION to any identification a dog may already be wearing.