Your Dog's Collar Is Causing Damage Right Now. They Can't Tell You. But The Research Is Clear.
Nottingham Trent University. Published in Veterinary Record, 2020.
It Happens On Every Walk.
Think about today's walk. At some point, the lead went tight. All that force went straight into the most vulnerable part of their body. Their neck. Into the trachea (windpipe), the thyroid gland (which controls their metabolism), the cervical spine (neck bones), and the blood vessels that feed their eyes and brain.
It happened on every walk before this too. Did you know that 82.7% of dogs pull on walks. If you have a dog, this is happening on every single outing. The worst part, the damage is cumulative.
Your dog will not tell you it hurts. Dogs do not report pain the way we do. In the wild, showing weakness means abandonment. So they hide it. They wag their tails. They seem fine. But the damage is stacking up, walk after walk after walk.
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University fitted precision pressure sensors to a simulated dog neck and measured what happens during a normal walk. Every collar type caused identical damage. Wide collars, padded collars, gentle tugs. All of them.
Every walk adds to the total. Every pull compounds the harm. And your dog will never show you a single sign of it.
Townsend et al. (2021), survey of 3,000+ UK and Irish dog owners.
All Seven Collar Types Failed The Test. Every Single One.
In 2020, Dr. Anne Carter's team at Nottingham Trent University tested seven different collar types on a model dog neck with pressure sensors attached.
Wide collars, narrow ones, padded ones, slip leads, expensive ones, cheap ones. Seven types, seven assumptions. The results were the same across every single one.
| Collar Type | What You Assume | What The Research Shows | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Everyone uses it. My dog looks comfortable in it. | Force concentrates on the windpipe and thyroid. Twenty times more pressure than the tissue can handle, even with gentle pulling. | FAIL |
 |
The padding distributes the pressure and reduces risk. | No measurable difference in pressure spread. Padding does not reduce the harm. Every padded collar tested caused the same damage. | FAIL |
 |
Trainers recommend it to stop slipping. | The tightening squeezes the neck even harder. Same damage as flat collars, plus a choking effect. | FAIL |
 |
The dog learns not to pull as it tightens. | Your dog experiences choking, not learning. Concentrated pressure on the throat. In small breeds, the windpipe can collapse entirely. | FAIL |
 |
If used correctly, it is an effective training tool. | It stops pulling through pain. Puncture wounds, neck injuries, broken trust. Banned in multiple countries. | FAIL |
❌ Not a single collar design proved safe for a pulling dog.
The Collar Also Damages Your Dog's Eyes
A collar pressing on the neck squeezes the veins that drain fluid from the eyes. Over months and years, that repeated pressure builds up inside the eye. The result is glaucoma, a condition that causes permanent blindness in dogs.
Researchers at Hartpury University tested flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs. Even sitting still, a collar raised eye pressure in every dog tested. On a walk, the pressure climbed higher. However, results showed that on a harness, everything stayed normal.
Pauli et al. (2006), JAAHA. Bailey et al. (2025), Veterinary Medicine and Science.
Your Dog Will Not Show You It Hurts
"The absence of complaint is not the presence of comfort."
Hao-Yu Shih, D.V.M., University of Queensland.
Researchers at the University of Queensland studied 52 dogs on leads. Half wore collars, half wore harnesses. They measured neck force, recorded video, and looked for any sign of pain: yelping, limping, ear flicks, distress.
The collar dogs showed nothing. No distress. No discomfort. They wagged their tails. They moved normally. To anyone watching, they looked completely fine.
Yet the force on their necks was constant. The damage accumulated.
Dogs hide pain. It's survival. In the wild, showing weakness means being hunted. They've evolved to mask it completely. Your dog wags their tail while their neck is being crushed. They look happy while the damage builds invisibly.
This is the trap. You get no warning. Your dog can't tell you. Every walk loads their neck, their windpipe, their eyes. By the time symptoms show, the damage has been building for months or years. You see a happy dog. The sensors see harm that can't be undone.
Shih et al. (2021), Frontiers in Veterinary Science, University of Queensland.
Collars Vs Brecon Harness
|
All Collars
|
Brecon Harness
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Where force goes | ❌ Neck and throat | ✓ Chest and ribs |
| Neck contact | ❌ Constant pressure | ✓ Zero contact |
| Windpipe risk | ❌ Compression and collapse | ✓ Completely free |
| Eye pressure | ❌ Raised (glaucoma risk) | ✓ Normal |
| Pulling reduction | ❌ None | ✓ Front-clip redirect |
| Shoulder movement | ❌ N/A | ✓ Y-shape, unrestricted |
| Attachment points | ❌ Single point on neck | ✓ Dual D-ring (front + rear) |
Stop The Damage Now
Join 1000's of other dog guardians and protect your dog.
The Fix Is Simple. The Science Is Settled.
The problem was never the pulling. Dogs pull. It's in their nature. In fact, 82.7% of them do. You can't completely train it out of most breeds. The problem is where the force goes.
On a collar, every gram of pull hits the neck. The windpipe. The neck bones. The blood vessels to the eyes. The parts of the body least able to take it.
On a harness, that same force spreads across the chest and ribcage. The parts built for exactly this kind of load.
One change. Move the lead off the neck and onto the chest. The damage stops immediately.
Three Essentials That Prevent Injury
In 2025, Dr. Camila Cavalli and Dr. Alexandra Protopopova at the University of British Columbia reviewed 21 studies on dog walking equipment. They identified what actually prevents neck injury, and what doesn't.
Three essential design features emerged:
1. Front-clip attachment.
Lead connects at the chest. When your dog pulls, physics redirects them back toward you. Zero neck loading.
2. Wide, reinforced chest plate.
Force spreads across the chest bone and ribcage. Never concentrates at one point. The neck stays completely free.
3. Y-shaped structure.
Shoulder blades stay free. Your dog moves naturally. No restriction. No awkward stride. No injuries from moving wrong.
"Y-shaped, non-tightening, front-clip harnesses offer the best welfare outcomes for dogs that pull."
Cavalli & Protopopova (2025), MDPI Animals. A major review of 21 studies.The Brecon Harness. Built To Meet All Three.
Front-clip. Y-shape. Reinforced chest plate. The three essentials the research demands. We built every part of the Brecon to meet them, then held it to standards most manufacturers never consider.
The chest plate spreads force the same way military harnesses and climbing gear do. Weight distributes evenly across the chest and ribs. Not a single gram reaches the neck. Four-point adjustability means it fits slim breeds like whippets to deep-chested breeds like labs, without shifting or riding up.
The Cobra buckle is tested to 343 kg. That's more than four times the pulling force of the strongest breeds. Military-grade webbing. Breathable padded lining. Built-in AirTag pocket. Everything is made for daily use over a decade, not a season.
Most harnesses on the market skip at least two of those three essentials. No front clip. No Y-shape. Restricted shoulders. Neck contact. The Brecon meets every single one. It's the exact design that 21 peer-reviewed studies identify as the best option for dog welfare.
Engineered Around The Science
Front D-Ring
Chest attachment. Redirects pull through leverage, not force.
Reinforced Chest Plate
Force spreads across chest and ribs. Neck completely free.
Y-Shape Design
Shoulders unrestricted. Natural movement. No injuries from moving wrong.
Rear D-Ring
For calm walks. For trailing without leading.
Cobra Buckle
Military-grade tested. Holds 343 kg. Lasts ten years.
Integrated AirTag Pocket
Track your dog discreetly. Constant peace of mind.
Same Dog. Same Walk. One Change.
See the difference a harness makes
I Built This Because My Dog Needed It
Every time Penne lunged after a squirrel, I could feel the collar dig into his neck. He's a dachshund. Strong, stubborn, built in a way that makes his spine and neck dangerously vulnerable. Disc disease (IVDD) runs through the breed like a ticking clock.
I knew the collar was the problem. But every harness I tried failed him differently. Some slipped. Some twisted. Some restricted his movement so badly he stopped wanting to walk.
So I built one from scratch. Hired designers, poured my savings into prototypes, nearly gave up twice. We kept going until we got it right.
The first time Penne wore the Brecon, everything changed. No choking, no strain, no slipping. Just a dog walking the way he should. I could feel the difference in the lead immediately.
We shared it with friends who had the same problem. Same result every time. That's when it stopped being about Penne and started being about every dog still walking on a collar.
My name is Gareth. I founded Penne & Co because I loved my dog too much to accept the risk. Every harness we build is tested to military standards because nothing less is good enough for the dogs that depend on them.
What Owners Who Made The Switch Have To Say
"I was reluctant at first but after purchasing the Brecon harness and collar we couldn't be more pleased. Comfy; incredibly strong and in an Aston Martin green. What's not to love."
Tom Verified Purchase
"I have a very big boisterous chocolate lab, whose favourite thing is to pull really hard. Finding the right harness has been a challenge until we seen another lab with a Penne & Co harness. We decided to go for the Brecon and have never looked back."
Nicola, Chocolate Labrador Verified Purchase
"Beyond my expectations for quality and feel sturdy and strong, but no rough edges or coarse fabric. They are definitely built to last and the service and speed of delivery were great too."
Heather, Flat-Coated Retriever Verified Purchase
"Harness is beautifully made and fits comfortably with no sharp edges. Lifetime guarantee gives confidence in this product. Excellent customer care and nothing a bother."
Merrilyn S. Verified Purchase
"The quality is on another level, you can feel it straight away. Everything is beautifully made, really durable, and still looks smart enough for everyday walks. It's one of those sets that people comment on when you're out walking."
Carl W. Verified Purchase
"I am very impressed with the design and build of the Brecon range. I trust this equipment to keep my dog safe and it is very comfortable for him. I would highly recommend this company."
Rebecca X. Verified Purchase
Read all reviews on Trustpilot
Prevention Costs Less Than One Vet Visit
A collar costs £30. The vet bills it causes can exceed £15,000. The Brecon Harness is designed to prevent the problem, so you both don't pay for it later. Here is what collar-related damage actually costs across a dog's lifetime.
Vet visit for chronic coughing
£100 – £200
Crushed windpipe. Often misdiagnosed as kennel cough because the collar connection is missed.
Glaucoma treatment and management
£200 – £500+ ongoing medication
Collar pressure raises eye pressure, leading to glaucoma (a blinding condition). Lifelong medication needed. Irreversible.
Emergency disc disease surgery
£5,000 – £15,000
One hard pull on a collar slips a disc in the spine. Back legs stop working. Emergency surgery or the worst conversation you'll ever have with a vet.
Chronic neck and spine deterioration
£1,000 – £3,000+ over their lifetime
Years of collar pressure leads to arthritis and ongoing pain. Your dog's quality of life slowly gets worse.
The Brecon starts from £69. Less than a single vet visit. Built to last ten years of daily use. That's pennies per walk to remove the risk entirely.
You Risk Nothing. Your Dog Gains Everything.
Money-Back Guarantee
If the Brecon doesn't fit, doesn't perform, or doesn't meet your expectations for any reason, send it back for a full refund. No questions. No hassle. Zero risk.
Lifetime Hardware Guarantee
Every buckle, D-ring and strap is built to military-grade standards and guaranteed for life. If any hardware ever fails, we replace it. Your harness is built to outlast every walk you'll ever take together.
Most dog owners feel the difference on the very first walk. The moment the lead moves from the neck to the chest, everything changes. But if your experience differs, you're completely protected.
Buy Now Whilst Stocks Last
As a result of the publishing of recent research findings, interest in safe, effective walking equipment is exploding. As more dog guardians learn about the problems with walking with a collar and lead combination, and as more vets and other experts speak up, demand for the Brecon Harness is skyrocketing.
With our discount and quick delivery, the Brecon Harness is available whilst stock lasts. If your size and colour is out of stock, we can add you to our reminder when we next restock — usually 6–12 weeks.
Protect Your Dog. Start Today.
You've read the research. You know what a collar does. Every walk without a harness adds to the total. And your dog will never show you a single sign until it's too late.
The Brecon eliminates the risk completely. Front-clip, Y-shape, reinforced chest plate. Exactly what the science demands. Guaranteed for life.
Use WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order. Available for a limited time.
Get Your Brecon HarnessSizes S, M, L, XL | Dual D-rings | Fully adjustable fit | Designed in the UK
Read the research. References below.
Carter A, McNally D, Roshier A. Canine collars: an investigation of collar type and the forces applied to a simulated neck model. Veterinary Record. 2020;187:e52.
Shih H-Y et al. Dog Pulling on the Leash: Effects of Restraint by a Neck Collar vs. a Chest Harness. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2021;8:735680.
Pauli AM et al. Effects of neck pressure by a collar or harness on intraocular pressure in dogs. JAAHA. 2006;42:207-211.
Bailey et al. Effect of a Collar and Harness on Intraocular Pressure and Respiration Rate. Veterinary Medicine and Science. 2025.
Cavalli C, Protopopova A. Review of Collars, Harnesses, and Head Collars for Walking Dogs. Animals (MDPI). 2025;15(15):2162.
Townsend L et al. Owner approaches and attitudes to lead-pulling behaviour in pet-dogs. BVBA Study Day. 2021.
Hunter A, Blake S, Godoy RFD. Pressure and force on the canine neck when exercised using a collar and leash. Veterinary and Animal Science. 2019;8:100082.