Happy Thursday! Let’s kick off the week with some positivity! What’s one thing your dog did this week that made you think:👉 “Wow… we’re actually making progress!” It can be anything — ✨ A calmer walk ✨A faster response to a cue ✨ A moment of focus ✨ Less pulling ✨ More confidence ✨ A breakthrough at home Big wins, small wins… they ALL count. 🙌Drop yours in the comments so we can celebrate with you! 🎊🐶

Most of us were taught: “Just clip the leash to the collar. That’s what it’s for.” But a veterinary study looking at how much pressure collars put on the neck when dogs pull or get jerked on the leash paints a very different picture — and it has big welfare implications for our pets. As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and Service Dog Coach, I want to break this down in plain language and give you clear, practical takeaways. 🔬 What Did the Researchers Do? Researchers built a “fake dog neck” (a rigid tube the size of a medium–large dog’s neck) and wrapped it in a pressure sensor. Then they tested several common walking tools, including: - Flat collars - Padded collars - Rolled collar - Lurcher-style collar (wide in the front, narrower behind) - Slip lead - Chain/check collar For each one, they applied three types of leash force to simulate real-life walking: 1. Light pull – dog just leaning into the leash 2. Strong pull – dog really pulling 3. Leash jerk – a quick, sharp tug (like a “correction” or when a dog hits the end of the leash suddenly) They measured: - How much pressure the neck “felt” - Where that pressure landed (front vs sides of the neck) - How much area of the neck the collar actually pressed on No live dogs were used – this was all done on a model, so no one was hurt during testing. 📊 What Did They Find? Short version: When force goes through a collar, the neck gets hit hard. Key findings in simple terms: - All collars produced very high pressure on the neck when the dog pulled or was jerked on the leash. - Some collars, especially rolled collars and narrow designs, created extremely high pressure in a very small area. - Slip leads and chains often had a small contact area, meaning the force was concentrated more intensely. - Pressure was often focused at the front of the neck – right where the throat, thyroid gland, big blood vessels, and important nerves are. - Even the “best” collars in the study (wider, padded, more surface area) still produced pressure levels considered high enough to potentially cause tissue damage when force was applied.

If your dog had a job, what would it be?

kool keeps things simple 👇 ⭐ How You Earn Points Points are earned only through likes. - 1 like = 1 point - Likes on posts or comments both count - Posting alone does not earn points This means points reflect how helpful, relatable, or valuable your contribution is to others. 📈 How Leveling Up Works As your points accumulate, you’ll automatically level up in the community. No tracking needed—Skool handles it for you. Your level shows: - Community engagement - Helpful participation - Consistent value-sharing 🚀 How to Level Up Faster Want more likes (and points)? - Share wins or breakthroughs with your dog - Ask clear, thoughtful training questions - Leave helpful or encouraging comments - Share tips or experiences others can learn from Helpful > frequent. 🐕 Why Levels Matter As DIY Dog Training grows, levels may unlock: - Courses & resources - Bonus content or perks - Recognition as a trusted community member ✨ Bottom Line If you want to level up:✔ Be helpful✔ Be real✔ Be engaged The community rewards value—just like good training rewards behaviors we want to see more of. 👇 Drop a comment once you earn your first like-powered level up!

https://dogtrainerjunkdrawer.etsy.com/ Here is the link to my Etsy where you can find some of the training plans and courses that I am working on building out here! You ca find: -Perfect Sit 4 Week Challenge -Perfect Down 4 Week Challenge -Perfect Recall 4 Week Challenge -Perfect Loose Leash Walking 4 Week Challenge -Perfect Impulse Control 4 Week Challenge -AKC Canine Good Citizen Prep: Accepting a Friendly Stranger -Canine Life and Social Skills - High School Level) (C.L.A.S.S. HS) for puppies and beginners -2,4, and 6 week custom dog training plans More plans to come! -CGC prep (9 remaining test items) -Separation Anxiety - Potty Training (Quick Start and Full Workbook) -C.L.A.S.S. Levels 2-4 -Therapy Dog training series -Service Dog Training Series and Coaching programs. What are you most excited about or hope to get more of from DIY Dog Training? Comment your answers below!