"I thought I'd have to give her up" – How a Bristol woman saved her relationship with her dog Nala.

Written by Olivia Marsh

Editor | Age 43

It was a grey Tuesday morning when Emily, 48, sat on her kitchen floor in tears. Lead still in hand. Her Labrador Nala lay beside her, watching with big, dark eyes – as if she knew something was wrong.

"I just couldn't do it anymore," Emily remembers now. "Nala pulled so hard that I actually stumbled on our last walk. A woman stopped me and asked if I was really able to handle such a big dog. In that moment I thought: maybe she's right."

What Emily didn't know at the time: she wasn't alone. Thousands of dog owners across the UK know exactly this feeling – and many are close to giving up.

When every walk becomes a battle

Emily got Nala as a puppy. Back then everything was simple. But as she grew, the pulling got stronger. What started as a little tug became a daily tug-of-war.

"I really tried everything," she says. "Three different harnesses, between £15 and £130. Two training classes. One private trainer. I spent over £700 on it all. Nothing helped for long."

But the worst part wasn't the money. It was the guilt.

"Every time Nala choked because she lunged into her collar, I felt like a bad dog mum. I saw the looks from other people in the park. Heard the comments. Nala could feel how tense I was. Our walks genuinely weren't fun for either of us anymore. All I wanted was one walk where the lead just hung loose and we could both enjoy it. That's it."

The physical toll crept in slowly. First neck tension, then shoulder pain from constantly holding on. Emily started avoiding certain routes. Big dogs? Best avoided entirely. "I was scared Nala would knock me over again."

Then came the low point. "I actually searched online, late at night, whether it might be better for Nala to live with someone else. I loved her completely – but I just couldn't see a way out anymore."

A chance encounter that changed everything

It was a Sunday morning in the park when Emily ran into her friend Freya. Freya had her Golden Retriever Willow with her – but something was completely different.

"Willow just walked next to her. Relaxed. Lead loose. No pulling, no noise. I'd known her for years and she always used to pull like mad too," Emily remembers. "I just had to ask what had happened."

Freya told her about a harness her vet had recommended – the Pawdys No-Pull Harness.

"She said something that stuck with me: 'It's not just about training. It's about how the harness works with your dog's body – or against it.' Most harnesses work against a dog's nature."

Emily was sceptical. "Honestly, I thought: not another miracle product. I'd already spent so much money. But I was also at the end of my rope. What did I have left to lose?"

Why most harnesses don't actually solve the problem

What Emily didn't know at the time: the Pawdys No-Pull Harness is built on a completely different principle to conventional harnesses – developed alongside veterinary advisor Dr. Charlotte Reeves, BVetMed MRCVS, and dog trainer Thomas Dawson, ABTC-CTB (Certified Trainer).

"The problem with most harnesses is the clip. It sits on the back. When the dog pulls, pressure builds from behind – and that automatically triggers what's called the opposition reflex." – Dr. Charlotte Reeves

The opposition reflex is an inborn instinct: pressure from behind, and a dog will automatically pull against it. It's pure biology. No dog pulls because it's naughty or trying to be dominant. It simply can't help it – as long as the harness works against its nature.

Collars aren't a solution either. "Constant pressure on the neck can strain the windpipe and thyroid over time, especially in dogs that pull often," says Dr. Reeves. "It's one of the most common things I see owners underestimate." Many owners don't realise how much strain a simple collar puts on a dog that pulls constantly.

The Pawdys No-Pull Harness works with a dog's nature. The PullStop Mechanism™ uses a front clip at the chest. When the dog pulls, they're gently guided back to the side – towards their owner. No opposition reflex. No tug-of-war. No pain, no struggle – just an instant, pain-free redirect that helps pulling stop for good.

Then there's the padding: no chafing, no digging in, no choking. The breathable, soft mesh keeps your dog comfortable even on long walks. Available in several sizes – from a small Dachshund right up to a large Bernese Mountain Dog.

The first walk

Emily ordered the harness and was nervous when it arrived. "What if it doesn't work either? What if I get let down again?"

She put the harness on Nala. It was surprisingly simple – no fiddly buckles, no fight to get it on. Nala just stood there calmly.

Then they set off. And Nala did what she always did: she pulled.

"But then something strange happened," Emily says. "Nala was automatically guided to the side, stopped for a second, confused, and looked at me. As if to ask: what was that?"

After about five minutes, Emily noticed her shoulder had relaxed. Her hand was holding the lead loosely. "I could hardly believe it. No choking. No tug-of-war. Nala seemed… calmer somehow. As if she'd finally understood that pulling just doesn't work anymore."

Within a week, their walks were transformed. "I could finally go into town with her again, and passing other dogs wasn't a problem anymore either. One morning when Nala trotted along beside me, tail wagging, looking up at me, I had to swallow hard. The joy I thought I'd lost was finally back. I love our walks again. That's the bit I can't quite believe. I clip the lead on and I feel... light. She trots along next to me, the lead swinging loose, and I catch myself smiling. My shoulder doesn't hurt. She doesn't cough at the door. I get to just be with my dog again — and God, I missed that." - Emily told us.

Other dog owners report the same thing

Emily isn't the only one. Over 30,000 dog owners across Europe already trust the Pawdys No-Pull Harness – and the stories all sound similar.

Here are a few comments from our community:

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CommentsDogs Weekly · Public Post

Amelia Marsh

I was genuinely at the end of my rope with my German Shepherd. Our walks were awful, my shoulder was in constant pain. Three weeks with the Pawdys harness and honestly – he walks calmly beside me now. And he's stopped that coughing he used to do on the way home. Such a good feeling... Wish I'd known about this sooner!

👍 Like · 14Reply14th June

Poppy Ashworth

My mum (65) was so scared she'd fall over when our Lab pulled. With the Pawdys he walks so nicely beside her now. She nearly cried with relief because she thought she'd have to stop taking him out altogether...

👍 Like · 11Reply20th July

Harry Fenwick

I was really sceptical. After 4 other harnesses and hundreds of pounds on training classes I thought nothing would help. My neighbour recommended this one and I noticed the difference straight away – my Beagle barely pulls now. Brilliant!👍

👍 Like · 8Reply09th August

Florence Turner

Our Golden Retriever used to pull so hard my shoulder ached constantly. Two weeks in with the Pawdys and I can hardly believe it. The lead just hangs loose. Amazing!! Walkies are actually fun again. I love it..The lead just hangs loose. I actually look forward to going out now instead of dreading it

👍 Like · 21Reply26th August

George Bennett

My Rottweiler (49kg) literally knocked me over once. After the first walk with the Pawdys I was speechless. He still pulls a little, but the difference is huge. He turns to look at me now and the pulling stops instantly. He also makes eye contact a lot more, which is great for training too!

👍 Like · 8Reply04th September

Sarah Doyle

Ours had always just worn a collar — that's what we'd done with every dog we've had. Then I noticed he'd cough every time we got back in. Switched to this and it stopped. He can still have a good sniff about, he just can't throw himself down the lead.

👍 Like · 14Reply09th Septmber

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Emily's advice to other dog owners

"If I've learned one thing: waiting doesn't make it better. The longer your dog walks in the wrong harness, the more they get used to pulling – and the more damage it does. To their body. And to your bond."

Emily told us at the end of our conversation: "I wish I'd known about this sooner. No one should struggle for as long as we did." We couldn't agree more. Over 30,000 happy dog owners have already made the switch!

We wish you and your dog all the best – and above all, the joy of walks again, without pulling, without the struggle, and with a lot more control.

Olivia Marsh