If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my two big, beautiful goofballs, Voodoo and Pandora. Voodoo is the epitome of obedience – he’d probably walk on a tightrope if I asked him to. But Pandora? Well, she’s 130 pounds of pure guardian dog wonderfulness. She’s got excellent leash manners, but lets just say she has a VERY clear idea of who is and isn’t welcome in my personal space.

Here’s the thing: I’m about to have surgery. Maybe more than one. This means I could be out of commission for months. And while I trust Voodoo implicitly to be perfectly obedient on a hands free lead or off lead while I’m recovering, Pandora’s lightning fast reaction time and impressive pulling power mixed with how many threats we encounter have me a little… Lets go with “concerned.” She’s doing her job and doing it well, she’s not doing anything wrong, its just not safe for me to be holding on for dear life after surgery.

An “F You” for the Naysayers

So, I did what any responsible dog handler would do: I started looking at my options. My choices were pretty bleak:

1. Do nothing and risk serious injury or death if she spots a threat and pulls during recovery. (Yeah, no thanks.)
2. Lock Pandora in the house for months, ruin her training. (Cruel and unfair to her, makes life more difficult later.)
3. Train her on a head halter. (Bingo!)

For those unfamiliar, a head halter is a bit like a horse’s halter. It fits over the dog’s muzzle and attaches to the leash under the chin. It gives you more control over the dog’s head, which can be a lifesaver if they tend to lunge or pull.

Now, I’m not gonna lie – Pandora looks a bit like Hannibal Lecter in hers. It’s a fashion statement, for sure. It can be mistaken for a muzzle. But guess what? It works. She physically cannot pull me over, no matter how determined she is to protect me from the coyote in the field.

And you know what else? Some people are MAD about it. I’ve gotten comments like, “She’s not well trained enough,” or “That collar is cruel.” I’m gonna go ahead and laugh at those folks. Because here’s the thing:

• Pandora IS well-trained. She’s exceptional at her job as a guardian dog, and is much more highly trained than the vast majority of her breed.
• The head halter ISN’T cruel. It’s designed to prevent pulling and injury and she’s appropriately trained on it.
• I chose the option that keeps EVERYONE safe. Pandora gets to walk and exercise. I don’t risk ripped open internal stitches during recovery. Everyone wins.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a disabled or injured handler, don’t let anyone shame you for using tools that make your life (and your dog’s life) easier. There’s no shame in prioritizing safety and well being.

As for me, I’ll be here, laughing at the angry folks while Pandora and I continue our adventures, both of us safe and sound. And if you see us out there, don’t hesitate to say hi! Just don’t mess with the predators. Pandora’s got that covered.