Hi Sofia,
This is a great question as there are definitely some products I think you'll find more useful than others. If I had to recommend products that made life easier for me and my dog, I would suggest:
- A well-fitted Y shaped harness, to allow for full movement, and a long-line to offer her the space to sniff and explore. As a nervous dog, releasing any lead tension has been a game changer for her confidence and wellbeing when we're outdoors.
- A snuffle mat, licki mat or some homemade DIY enrichment (a muffin tin with treats inside, a cardboard destruction box, for example). I find these are a great way of keeping my dog's brain busy and she seems to absolutely love them!
- A raised bowl, which seems by far the most comfortable option to avoid any tension on the spine or neck while she eats.
The product I would never recommend is an extendable lead, as I feel these come with a lot of risk on walks, either of injury to dogs or people if they become tangled - or the fear factor if you were to drop the heavy plastic handle and startle your dog when out on a walk. This could cause your dog to bolt, with the plastic handle following behind.
I hope this is helpful. Please let us know how you get on!
Greta Inglis
BSc (hons) applied animal behaviour
