Cocker Spaniel ear infections from collar jerks

A vet linking the ear infections to collar jerks and head shaking is a really important flag — Cocker Spaniels are already prone to ear problems, and repeated jolting from a collar can absolutely make things worse. Moving away from anything that puts pressure on the neck or causes head movement is the right call. The most effective tools for lead pulling are no-pull harnesses and head collars, but given what the vet has said, a head collar is off the table here — the last thing you want is more head movement. A well-fitted no-pull harness is the clear direction. To make sure I point you to the right one: how much does your Spaniel weigh, and is the pulling constant or more reactive — lunging at things rather than steady forward dragging?

That makes total sense, and it's actually useful to know it's reactive rather than constant pulling — it means you need a harness that gives you good control in those sudden lunge moments specifically. At 13kg she's a solid medium build for a Spaniel. What harness, if any, have you tried before? And is she long in the body — as Spaniels often are — or more compact?

Good to know — the long body is worth factoring in because some harnesses ride up into the armpits on longer dogs and cause rubbing. Given everything: reactive lunger, longer body, 13kg, and the medical need to eliminate any neck and head impact, I'd go with the Perfect Fit No Pull Harness. It's a modular three-part design — front, top, and girth sections — which means you can adjust each piece independently to get a genuinely precise fit on a long-bodied Cocker. It has a front attachment point that redirects her sideways when she lunges rather than letting her get momentum, which is exactly what you need for squirrel-chasing. Critically, it distributes pressure across the chest and shoulders with nothing going near the neck. It's made in the UK, widely recommended by trainers and vets, and holds up well. Look for the 'medium' size range and use their online fit guide — measuring chest girth and length accurately before ordering makes a real difference with this one.

For a reactive dog your size, a double-ended lead clipped to both the front ring and the back ring genuinely does give you more nuanced control — front attachment redirects the lunge, back attachment gives you steadiness on a calm walk. It's not essential to start, but a lot of people find it makes a noticeable difference once they're used to handling it. Julius-K9 and Ruffwear both do good double-ended leads that are easy to find on Amazon UK. Start with just the front clip if you want to keep it simple, and add the double-ended lead if you feel you need more control after a week or two.

Measuring carefully is the most important step — the modular fit is what makes it work so well, but only if the sizing is right. Chest girth and length both matter for the Cocker body shape. Once it's fitted correctly and she's had a few walks in it, most owners notice the lunging becomes much easier to manage, and with no collar pressure or head movement involved, you're addressing exactly what the vet flagged. Hope her ears settle down quickly.