What do you use to walk your dog?
I use a Perfect Fit harness for Gus most of the time. He doesn’t pull (I should hope not!), but he does have a very sensitive neck and coughs if there is any pressure on it, so I only use just a collar for short walks. Funnily enough I hate anything round my neck too – I can’t wear polo necks at all and I don’t even like crew neck garments.
There’s been a couple of studies recently looking at the effect of pressure on a dogs neck from using a collar and it suggested using a harness instead.
As a balance, last week a report from a dog society in America showed that walking a dog in a collar does not cause any problems at all – if the dog has been trained to walk on a loose lead. I can’t help noticing dogs as I travel around. I smile when I see a dog trotting along happily at their owner’s side. I sigh when I see dogs scrabbling sideways, pulling their owners along.
There’s been a couple of studies recently looking at the effect of pressure on a dogs neck from using a collar and it suggested using a harness instead.
But harnesses are not a simple answer. If your dog still pulls badly they can be doing themselves harm from a harness too, from the unnatural strain on the musculoskeletal system. Just watch any dog pulling hard on a collar or lead and you’ll see what I mean.
Last week a report from a dog society in America showed that walking a dog in a collar does not cause any problems at all – if the dog has been trained to walk on a loose lead.
I’ve been in the dog business so long it seems to me that the collar, headcollar or harness debate swings over time from one to the other being better, like so many things. And there is no absolute answer.
Here are my thoughts:
- If you have a flat faced breed, or any other dog who has breathing difficulties, then a harness may be the best choice
- For dogs with short fur and for very tiny dogs, a harness may be a good choice
- For very big, strong dogs a collar plus a harness with a double lead may be your best method to have enough control on a walk
- Dogs generally hate headcollars, but they can be useful when retraining very strong dogs or committed pullers
The most important way to have a great walk with your dog is to teach your dog to walk on a loose lead. It’s not difficult, but it does take some work, practice and patience from you. It’s easiest if you start teaching this when your dog is a puppy – it’s much harder to retrain a dog once they’ve practised pulling for a while.
In the end it’s your choice what you use to walk your dog. I’d recommend a good, fairly wide flat collar or a Perfect Fit harness. If you want to use a headcollar then all-in-one GenCon is the one I’d recommend.
The most important thing is teaching your dog to walk on a loose lead of course. You shouldn’t use equipment to make up for your lack of training, but using equipment to help control your dog while you retrain them is a good idea.
Keep training and keep safe,
Carol
PS Ask me if you want a Perfect Fit harness or a GenCon all-in-one, as I have them for sale