I need to talk about something I see regularly that genuinely concerns me as a canine myotherapist. And I want to approach this with empathy, because I know most people are doing their absolute best for their dogs with the information they have.

If you’re running your dog on a neck collar or Halti, please read this. Not because I’m judging you, but because I care about your dog’s body – and you deserve to know what’s happening beneath the surface.

What I See in My Clinic

When a dog comes to me for assessment, I can often tell – before the owner even mentions it – whether they’ve been running in a badly fitting harness or a collar.

How? The muscle development, tension patterns, and fascial restrictions tell the story.

Dogs who run regularly on neck collars present with:

• Chronic tension through the neck and shoulders
• Restricted movement in the cervical spine
• Visible anxiety around collar pressure
• Confusion about whether they should pull or not pull

And here’s the thing: none of this is the owner’s fault. You weren’t told this could happen. You might have been told “just use what you’ve got” or “they’re fine, they’re not pulling that hard.”

But I’m here to tell you: even moderate, sustained pressure on a dog’s neck during running creates significant physical and emotional consequences.

The Physical Reality: What Happens to Your Dog’s Body

The Neck and Throat

Let’s start with anatomy. Your dog’s neck contains:

• The trachea (windpipe) – essential for breathing
• The thyroid gland – regulates metabolism and energy
• The oesophagus – for swallowing
• Major blood vessels (carotid arteries, jugular veins) – blood flow to and from the brain
• The cervical spine – 7 vertebrae with nerves running to the entire body
• The larynx – voice box and airway protection

When your dog runs on a collar, even a “well-fitted” one, pressure is applied directly to ALL of these structures.

What this causes:

✗ Restricted airflow – Your dog is working harder to breathe whilst exercising, when oxygen demand is highest ✗ Pressure on the thyroid – Can contribute to thyroid dysfunction over time ✗ Reduced blood flow to the brain – Even momentary pressure affects circulation ✗ Nerve compression – The vagus nerve runs through the neck; pressure can affect heart rate, digestion, and stress response ✗ Tracheal damage – Repeated pressure can cause tracheal collapse, especially in smaller dogs

The Musculoskeletal Impact

Here’s what most people don’t realise: collar pressure fundamentally changes how your dog moves.

Normal running gait: When a dog runs freely, their head and neck extend forward in rhythm with their stride. The neck acts as a counterbalance, the shoulders move freely, and the entire spinal column works as an integrated unit.

Running on a collar: The dog learns to:

• Brace their neck against pressure (chronic muscle tension)
• Shorten their stride to reduce pulling (inefficient movement)
• Overdevelop shoulder muscles to “push” rather than reach forward
• Hyperextend the lower back to generate power (compensatory pattern)
• Tighten through the entire topline (restricted fascia)

The muscles affected:

HYPERTONIC (chronically tight):

• Sternocleidomastoid (neck stabilisers)
• Trapezius (shoulder/neck connection)
• Scalenes (neck flexors)
• Brachiocephalicus (shoulder to head)
• Thoracic paraspinals (mid-back)

INHIBITED (underdeveloped/weak):

• Core stabilisers
• Proper shoulder extensors
• Healthy neck flexors
• Balanced hindquarter engagement

What this means in practice:

Your dog develops a compensation pattern where they:

1. Pull with their shoulders instead of extending from the core
2. Brace their neck constantly (even when not running)
3. Shorten their natural stride length
4. Overwork their hindquarters to compensate for restricted front-end movement
5. Develop myofascial restrictions that limit overall performance and comfort

The Halti Question: “But It’s Not Around Their Neck?”

I hear this often: “I use a Halti, not a collar, so it’s fine.”

I understand the logic. But here’s what’s happening:

Physical issues with Haltis for running:

✗ Pressure on the muzzle and nose – Sensitive area with many nerves ✗ Restriction of natural head movement – Dogs use head position to balance; preventing this causes compensation ✗ Pressure behind the ears – Can affect the atlas (first cervical vertebra) and cause referred tension throughout the spine ✗ Interference with breathing – Muzzle pressure can restrict nasal airflow ✗ Rubbing and chafing – Creates physical discomfort and negative associations ✗ Risk of neck injury – If the dog lunges or moves suddenly, the head-turn mechanism can cause acute neck strain

But the bigger issue is emotional and behavioural…

The Emotional and Behavioural Confusion

This is where it gets really heartbreaking, because I see the confusion in dogs’ eyes.

What we’re asking when we run them on a collar or Halti:

“Run with me! Be enthusiastic! Enjoy this!” BUT “Don’t pull! Stay back! Control yourself!”

These are contradictory messages.

What the dog experiences:

• Arousal (we’re running! this is exciting!)
• Restriction (collar pressure tells them to STOP)
• Confusion (am I supposed to pull or not pull?)
• Stress (I can’t do this “right”)
• Anxiety (collar pressure predicts something bad)

Over time, this creates:

✗ Learned helplessness – They stop trying, become less enthusiastic ✗ Anxiety around equipment – Collar = stress, even outside of running ✗ Reduced drive – They can’t express natural running behaviour ✗ Frustration – They WANT to run but can’t do it properly ✗ Behavioural suppression – They shut down rather than engage

From a behaviour perspective:

Positive punishment (adding something unpleasant – collar pressure – to decrease behaviour – pulling) whilst simultaneously asking for high arousal and drive is fundamentally confusing.

You cannot ask a dog to be enthusiastically engaged in running whilst simultaneously punishing the physical expression of that enthusiasm.

The result? Dogs who either:

• Shut down and run reluctantly (learned helplessness)
• Pull desperately anyway and injure themselves (high drive overrides discomfort)
• Develop anxiety around the activity (negative association)

What Proper Canicross Equipment Does Differently

A well-fitted harness:

✓ Distributes pressure across the chest and shoulders – The strongest part of the dog’s body ✓ Allows full range of neck motion – Head and neck move freely for balance ✓ Permits natural breathing – No restriction to airway ✓ Protects the throat and spine – No pressure on vulnerable structures ✓ Enables proper biomechanics – Dog can use their body as designed ✓ Sends a clear message – “Yes! Pull! Run! This is what we’re doing!”

The difference in muscle recruitment:

Harness:

• Core engages to stabilise
• Shoulders extend properly from the body
• Hindquarters drive powerfully in coordination with front end
• Neck remains relaxed and mobile
• Entire kinetic chain works as designed

Collar:

• Neck braces constantly
• Shoulders push rather than extend
• Hindquarters overwork to compensate
• Core is bypassed
• Movement is restricted and inefficient

The emotional difference:

Harness:

• Clear message: “Pull = good!”
• Consistent expectation
• Arousal matches activity
• Dog can fully engage
• Positive association with running

Collar/Halti:

• Mixed message: “Run but don’t pull?”
• Inconsistent feedback
• Arousal conflicts with restriction
• Dog cannot fully engage
• Confused or negative association

“But My Dog Doesn’t Pull That Hard…”

I hear this a lot. And I believe you – your dog probably doesn’t pull hard.

But here’s why it still matters:

Even light, sustained pressure over time creates:

• Cumulative microtrauma to soft tissues
• Learned postural restrictions
• Chronic low-level stress response
• Suboptimal movement patterns

Think of it like this: You wouldn’t wear a tight collar around your own neck for a 5K run, even if you weren’t pulling against it. The presence of restriction affects how you hold your body, how you breathe, how you move.

It’s the same for your dog.

“But I Can’t Afford Canicross Equipment…”

I completely understand. Canicross equipment is an investment, and not everyone has £50-100+ to spend on harness, line, and belt.

Here’s what I’d say:

If you’re running your dog regularly (2+ times per week), this isn’t optional equipment – it’s essential safety gear.

Budget options:

• Look for second-hand equipment in canicross Facebook groups
• Check for beginner bundles or sales
• Some clubs have equipment libraries
• Ask for it as a gift for birthdays/Christmas
• Save £10/month for a few months rather than running in a collar weekly

Alternative:

If you genuinely cannot access a harness right now, please consider:

• Walking your dog instead of running until you can get proper equipment
• Doing off-lead running in safe areas (if your dog has good recall)
• Focusing on other forms of exercise that don’t involve sustained collar pressure

Because running your dog on a collar regularly isn’t just suboptimal – it’s actively harmful.

“My Dog is Fine / I’ve Always Done It This Way…”

I’m going to say this with as much compassion as I can:

Just because your dog hasn’t collapsed, hasn’t obviously injured themselves, and seems willing to run, doesn’t mean they’re “fine.”

Dogs are incredibly stoic. They hide pain. They adapt. They compensate. They keep going because they love you and they love running.

But in my clinic, I see:

• The 8-year-old former canicross dog who can barely turn their head due to cervical arthritis
• The enthusiastic 3-year-old with chronic shoulder tension because they’ve been bracing against a collar since puppyhood
• The “slowing down” senior who developed tracheal issues from years of collar pressure
• The anxious dog who shuts down at the sight of their collar because it predicts restriction and confusion

These dogs all “seemed fine” too. Until they weren’t.

What I’m NOT Saying

Let me be very clear:

❌ I’m NOT saying you’re a bad owner if you’ve run your dog on a collar ❌ I’m NOT saying your dog is definitely damaged if they’ve done canicross in a collar ❌ I’m NOT saying collars are never appropriate (they’re fine for general walking!) ❌ I’m NOT trying to shame anyone

What I AM saying:

✓ Running dogs have specific biomechanical needs ✓ Collar pressure during sustained running causes preventable harm ✓ Proper equipment protects your dog’s body and emotional wellbeing ✓ You deserve to know the risks so you can make an informed choice ✓ Small changes in equipment make enormous differences in long-term outcomes

The Conversation I Wish I Didn’t Have to Keep Having

Owner: “Why is my dog so stiff through the shoulders?” Me: “What equipment do you run them in?” Owner: “Just their normal collar. Is that a problem?” Me: “Yes. That’s a significant problem.” Owner: “Oh. Nobody told me that.”

And that’s the heartbreaking part.

Nobody told you. You were doing your best. You saw other people doing it. It seemed fine. Your dog seemed happy.

But now you know.

Moving Forward: What You Can Do

If you’re currently running your dog on a collar or Halti:

1. Don’t panic or feel guilty – You were working with the information you had
2. Stop running them in collar/Halti immediately – Walk until you can get proper equipment
3. Invest in a proper canicross harness – X-back or H-harness designed for pulling
4. Get a professional harness fitting – Incorrect fit defeats the purpose
5. Consider a myofascial assessment – Check for existing tension or restrictions
6. Observe the difference – Watch how your dog moves and engages differently in proper equipment

If you’re new to canicross:

1. Start with proper equipment from day one – Don’t develop bad patterns
2. Join a canicross club – They’ll help with equipment advice
3. Get your harness fitted properly – This is crucial
4. Learn about canine biomechanics – Understand your dog’s body
5. Prioritise your dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing – Always

The Bottom Line

Your dog’s neck is not designed to be a steering wheel, a brake system, or a power source for running.

Proper canicross equipment isn’t about trends, fashion, or gear obsession.

It’s about respecting your dog’s anatomy, protecting their long-term health, and giving them clear, consistent communication about what you’re asking them to do.

When you switch from a collar to a harness, most owners report:

• Their dog is MORE enthusiastic about running
• Movement looks freer and more natural
• Less pulling and lunging (because the dog can move properly)
• Better engagement and focus
• The dog seems genuinely happier

Because they are.

You’ve removed the physical restriction and the emotional confusion. You’ve given them permission to do what they WANT to do: run powerfully alongside you.

A Final Thought

I know this post might make some people uncomfortable. That’s not my intention, but I won’t soften the message just to avoid discomfort.

Because your dog can’t tell you their neck hurts. They can’t explain that they’re confused about whether they should pull or not. They can’t ask you for better equipment.

But I can. So I am.

If you take nothing else from this post, please take this:

If you love your dog enough to run with them, love them enough to protect their body whilst doing it.

Invest in proper equipment. It’s not optional. It’s essential.

Your dog will thank you with years of comfortable, joyful running.

And that’s worth every penny.

Resources:

• Canicross harness recommendations: https://www.nonstopdogwear.com/
• How to fit a canicross harness properly: https://www.k9trailtime.com/
• Second-hand equipment groups: Facebook groups ”canicross equipment for sale”
• Local canicross clubs: https://tailrunnersessex.com/

Questions? Drop them in the comments. Let’s talk about this.

 Let’s do better for our running dogs.

#CanicrossSafety #CanineMyotherapy #HarnessVsCollar #DogBiomechanics #CanicrossEquipment #PositivePACT #EvidenceBasedDogCare #TailrunnersEssex #CanineHealth #RunSafe

P.S. If you’re feeling defensive reading this, I get it. Nobody likes to hear they might be inadvertently harming their dog. But please don’t let ego or defensiveness stop you from making a change that could significantly improve your dog’s quality of life. Your dog doesn’t care about your pride. They just want to run comfortably with you. Give them that gift.