I have always walked my dogs on a harness when it is time for walks. I have noticed when I take them outside in the yard to have a pee using only their
collar and a leash, they tend to
pull a lot more. Especially my youngest one. She will go that extra mile by pulling hard enough to make herself gag. That can cause
long-term damage of course, so I have to put her full harness on just to go have a pee now.
This got me thinking, what are the actual facts between harness VS collar? Which one is best to use, and in what scenario? What are some of the pros and cons? By doing some research on the subject, and combining it with my own knowledge, I came up with a short list for us to look through.
Pros of Using a Harness:
•
Harnesses offer the owner a bit
more control over their dog while out walking.
• Using a harness you are less likely to have your dog getting tangled up in the leash.
• Reduced risk for neck injuries caused by pulling.
• Great training tool.
• Harnesses can help prevent leash pulling when used as a training tool.
Cons of Using a Harness:
• Some dogs absolutely hate wearing a harness. This can add extra work for you because your first step will be helping your dog to feel comfortable wearing it.
• A harness can be a nightmare for dogs with long fur. It can become tangled, wrap around the straps of the harness, and that can get downright painful.
• A harness can irritate the underside of your dog's legs. Causing some pretty major discomfort.
Pros of Using a Collar:
• Dogs tend to be much more comfortable wearing only a collar.
• It is much easier and more convenient to slip a collar on.
• Collars usually hold all your dog's info ie: his identification, city tags, etc.
Cons of Using a Collar:
• Increased risk of
neck injury.
• For a dog with any sort of
respiratory condition, collars can mean bad news.
• Using only a collar
can make loose leash training a pain.
• Collars can create
unnecessary eye pressure.
• Some researchers claim that collars can contribute to
long-term eye and ear damage from neck pressure.
Now that we have our pros an cons, what can we conclude?
To me, the answer is obvious. Harnesses seem to be the right choice. But this entire topic can get a bit sticky. As I mentioned at the beginning, I use only collars with two of my dogs when taking them outside for a pee. But they do not pull when we are in our yard. My third dog pulls, so she is stuck on a harness even for pee time. However, when I walk them, all three of my babies are equipped with a harness.
For me, it is about using your own judgment. If you know your dog is a puller, I would recommend a harness. If your dog has loose leash walking aced, then a collar wouldn't be so bad. That being said, what happens if he happens to see a squirrel he wants to chase? Do those solid loose leash walking skills go out the window?
I am a firm believer that investing in harness, that fits properly is the way to go. But I am curious what you think. Let me know in the comments!
