Editorial standards

Every Tailhollow guide is written to be accurate, kind and honest about what we know. These are the rules we hold ourselves to.

Facts, estimates and opinions

• Facts are cited. Each guide has a sources list, and numbered markers in the text show which source backs which statement.
• Estimates are labelled. When we work something out from a rule of thumb, we say so.
• Opinions are labelled as ours. "Our opinion" means exactly that.

Sources we prefer

We lean on animal welfare organisations, veterinary bodies, veterinary behaviour societies and peer-reviewed research. For product details we use the vendor's own pages and say so ("as the vendor describes it"). We don't use other review sites as sources for product facts.

Training methods

We recommend reward-based methods only. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states that only reward-based training should be used, including for behaviour problems.^[1] We don't recommend shock, prong or choke collars, or dominance-based methods.

Health and safety

We are not veterinarians or certified behaviourists. Our guides are general information, not veterinary advice. We don't give medical advice, and for fear, panic, aggression or separation distress we always point to your vet and a qualified behaviour professional.

Honesty about experience

We never claim first-hand testing, ownership, credentials or results we don't have. We don't publish testimonials, star ratings or review scores.

Updates and corrections

Guides show when they were last updated. When we find an error, we fix it and update the date. If you spot one, email hello@tailhollow.com with a link to your source.

How we are paid, and staying independent

Some pages mention products that may pay us a commission. Those pages say so. Commissions never change what our guides recommend, and free options come first. Read how we evaluate products.