My terrier, Zach, weighs about 25 pounds, but pulls like a 130-pound untrained Rottweiler. I may be the one with the bruised knees and dislocated arm, but when he starts choking because he just can't drag my body along fast enough, he looks to me for pity.

Lately, I've been seeing these funny-looking, muzzle-like, but very light, contraptions on dogs in the city. Suddenly, they're everywhere. It must be one of those products that hit a nerve throughout dog-loving society, and I was too busy picking myself up off the ground to notice. The Gentle Leader Headcollar by Premier Pet Products helps prevent jumping, pulling, barking and begging (I only mind begging on grounds of dog dignity), without choking your dog in the process. Truly, I never understood the idea of using choke collars to train dogs, so this makes a lot of sense to me. The device puts gentle pressure on the back of the dog's neck rather than the front of his throat. It's not a muzzle, as your dog can eat treats, fetch and bark as usual (and if you want him to stop barking, a gentle pull does the trick).

All sizes are $26.99 at Petco.