Wonder Walkers: Truly A Walk In The Park
We’ve all been there; it’s a beautiful spring day, the snow has finally melted, the flowers are in bloom, and you can’t wait to get out and walk your dog.
Unfortunately, trouble begins almost the minute you attach your pup’s leash to her collar. Your normally calm, well-mannered pooch is as excited to get outdoors as you are, and she immediately lurches away from you, nearly dislocating your shoulder in an attempt to investigate a particularly enticing aroma, only to be pulled back by you again and again.
Variations of the above scenario are a normal part of life for many dog owners, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Your team at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center is excited to share with you a product that helps make dog walking easy, safe, and fun for both you and your best pal: The Wonder Walker.
How Do Wonder Walkers Work?
The Wonder Walker is a uniquely designed halter that fits over your dog’s chest and upper back, with a leash attachment clip positioned at the center of the chest. This leash position moves your dog’s training cues to the middle of the body, rather than at the neck, allowing you to eliminate the “opposition reflex”, which is your dog’s natural tendency to pull away from you when you pull on the leash.
When you guide a dog using a Wonder Walker, the pull of the leash is coming from the side of the body, so rather than your dog instinctively pulling straight ahead and away from you, he or she will naturally turn into the direction of your pull, which is towards you. This re-directs your dog’s attention back to you and your verbal command, and away from the distraction.
Reasons To Consider A Wonder Walker
The theory that a dog’s neck area is “tough” and can withstand repeated pressure and tugging is a myth. In reality, the anatomy of dog’s neck is surprisingly similar to the human neck — the skin is delicate and the area is home to a variety of sensitive glands and other structures that are easily damaged. The potential problems caused by the act of a dog and human both pulling on a leash attached to a collar are many, and can include:
- Neck injuries
- Esophageal injuries, which can lead to breathing issues down the road
- Damage to the thyroid and other glands in the neck and throat
- Behavior problems stemming from the chronic pain associated with leash injuries
Using a Wonder Walker can eliminate every single one of the above issues. Not only is the halter system a gentle way of guiding a dog, there is almost no acclimation time required. Just slip on the halter, adjust it according to your dog’s size, and you’re off!
Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center Can Help
At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we’ve been recommending and stocking the Wonder Walker in our retail store for the past several years. Introduced to us by our certified dog trainer, it has become one of the most popular and in-demand items we have ever offered to our clients and our staff. The feedback has been amazingly positive, too!
Please stop by our retail store, conveniently located in our lobby, and take a look at the Wonder Walker up close. We offer it in a variety of sizes and colors, and we’ll be happy to help you find the right fit for your dog. We look forward to seeing you and your dog soon!
