Collar or Harness: Which is Better for Walking Your Dog

Ask ten, twenty, or fifty people which is better a collar or a harness to use when walking your dog and you will probably get a 50/50 split. The truth is whether you use a collar or a harness is purely a personal choice that depends a great deal on several factors.

That being said keep in mind that not all collars and harnesses are created equal so even once you decide on whether a collar or harness is the right choice of dog supplies for you there is still the decision of which specific collar or harness is best. Here is a general overview of collars and harnesses and when one might work better than the other.

Collars

There are a wide variety of collars to choose from. The basic flat belt collar is most often used for everyday wear and keeping the dogs identifying and medical information where it can be easily seen should your dog get lost. These collars are often the only type of collar needed though there are certainly other collars available for training and walking your dog. Some of the more popular types of collars include the slip chain (choke) collar, the Martingale collar, The break away, and the head collar, these are just a few of the collars on the market today.

For large powerful dogs a collar will often be a better choice than a harness for the simple reason that the harness fits around the dogs chest where he is strongest allowing him to pull better with the strongest part of his body. If you want to use a harness with a large strong dog the head collar which is a harness that fits around the dogs head is a better choice than a body harness. With a head harness when the dog begins to pull on the leash his head is automatically jerked to the side which helps to discourage excess pulling.

Harness

Harness fit around a dog’s chest and over his back and are great to use with very small breed dogs particularly one that have some breathing difficulties. Smaller dogs have smaller and weaker neck muscles than large dogs and their necks and trachea can sustain some serious damage if they suddenly pull on a leash. A harness on the other hand fits over the sturdy part of the dog eliminating most if not all of the danger of a smaller dog suffering injury from pulling on the leash. Harness also gives many people more control over smaller dogs.

While some dog owners feel they have more control using a dog collar others feel they have more control when their dog is wearing a harness it really is a personal decision based on which of these quality dog supplies you are more comfortable with and which works best for you.

Please keep in mind however, that whether you choose a collar or a harness, training your dog to walk on a leash is important to the comfort and safety of both your pet and yourself.