Letter to the editor: Let your dog stop and smell the roses

People who yank their dogs along on walks instead of letting them stop and smell the roses (or anything else) are more than just a pain in the neck — they’re causing serious harm.

According to a study recently published in Veterinary Record, the force from a light tug on a dog’s neck is double the amount of pressure applied by a tourniquet. If the leash is jerked (which should never be done) or the dog lunges, the force can be upward of six times greater — resulting in choking, breathing problems and even neck damage.

Being dragged down the sidewalk hurts, and it’s also extremely frustrating because stopping to sniff is as important to dogs as checking our messages or social media is to us. Imagine if someone slapped your phone out of your hand every time you tried to read a text or dragged you out of your chair by your collar whenever you tried to check your email. It’s cruel to deprive them of this fundamental means of communication.

Walks are vital to dogs’ health and happiness. Please, let them set the pace, choose which way to go and linger over interesting scents. And save your dog’s neck by using a comfortable nylon harness — never a choke, a prong or any other type of collar. If your dog is a strong puller, try a no-pull harness or enlist the help of a reputable humane dog trainer.

Ingrid E. Newkirk

Washington, D.C.