Dogs love walks! And it’s easy to see why. Walks provide exercise
and mental stimulation, and are the best way for your dog to catch up on the dog
news in your neighborhood or
local
park. But a walk without the proper equipment can be frustrating for both
dog and walker, and could even be downright dangerous.
Whether
training a
new puppy or walking an adult dog, most pet parents will be faced with the
question of which is better for walking their dog- a harness or a collar? While
they are both furbulous options for pet safety, each one has various pros and
cons that should be considered.
Read on to find out what harnesses and collars have to offer
dogs and their owners, and which one may be best for fun, safe and exciting
walks that will leave you both barking for more.
Are collars good for walking?
Dog collars have been the standard dog accessory for as long
as dogs have been domesticated, which stretches back some 14,000 - 29,000 years
ago, and there’s a good reason why. Collars originally consisted of a leather
strap with some kind of metal fastener or hook to secure them around the neck,
and were an instant way to control a dog. They also performed a function of
ownership, and showed which dogs belonged to someone and which were strays.
Today,
collars
perform much the same functions, and give pet parents an easy and convenient
place to attach a leash for walks. But are they good for walks? Are they good
for your dog? Let’s compare the pros and cons to find out.
Pros of collars
- Collars are very customizable, and are available in a range of
materials, colors and sizes to fit any dog and human preference.
- Collars are inexpensive.
- Collars come in various styles that allow for breed differences and a correct
fit. Flat-collars work best for most dogs, while a rolled collar may be
preferred for less matting or flattening of the hair underneath. A martingale
collar may be better for breeds like Whippets or Greyhounds that have heads
that are smaller than their necks which a collar can slip over.
- Collars are generally easy to put on and take off, and are comfortable
enough to wear all the time.
- Collars hold ID and rabies tags, which can help bring your dog home if
they get loose.
Cons of collars
- If a collar is too tight, it can cause your dog pain or
discomfort.
- If collar is too loose, dogs can slip out of them more
easily.
- If a dog pulls on their leash, a collar can damage the neck,
throat and airway, spine and back. Therefore, a collar is unsafe for dogs with spine
or back issues, neck issues, tracheal collapse,
glaucoma, eye proptosis,
or for any toy or brachycephalic
breeds, such as Chihuahuas,
Pugs or Bulldogs.
Are harnesses a better choice for walks?
While collars certainly enjoy a very long history,
harnesses
aren’t very new either. Originally used with working dogs to help them pull
sleds or do other jobs, harnesses strap around the chest and distribute more of
the force when pulled. In this way, any pulling or leading from the leash
affects the upper body instead of the neck, which is helpful for dogs that have
certain medical conditions, or who pull too hard. And while for some dogs, you’ll
need to train them to
walk with a harness,
a lot of them walk with ease from the start.
Pros of harnesses
- Harnesses distribute pressure over the chest, shoulders and
upper back.
- Harnesses don’t put any pressure on a dog’s neck, thus
preventing injuries to the neck and trachea.
- Harnesses give you more control over a dog than a collar.
- Harnesses come in a variety of styles that offer leash
attachments in the back or front, the latter of which reduces pulling.
- A harness can be more comfortable for some dogs.
- Since a harness encircles the chest and front legs, it
offers a more secure fit that is harder to get loose from.
- A harness can help train
puppies to walk on a leash.
- A harness can reduce the risk of the dog’s leash getting tangled
under their legs.
- A harness can help reduce back pain in
dogs.
Cons of harnesses
- Like collars, a harness that is too tight can be painful. A
tight harness can also restrict movement.
- A harness that is too loose can be slipped out of.
- Harnesses may be uncomfortable in hot weather.
- Harnesses should be removed between walks.
- Harnesses require more steps to put on and take off than
collars.
- A harness can require more strength to walk a dog.
- Harnesses with a hook on the back for the leash may
inadvertently train your dog to pull you.
- Most harnesses don’t have a place to attach rabies and ID tags.
Which is better: a harness or collar?
As you can see, both collars and harnesses are good choices
to use, but they also carry reasons why they may not be the best choice
for every dog. So, which one is better for walks?
To answer this question, you may need to ask a few of your
own about your dog, their physical condition and their behavior, as this isn’t
a one-size-fits-all answer.
If you have a medium to large dog who is healthy, free of any
neck or spine issues, and is so well trained that they never pull, then a
collar would be a simple and affordable choice for walks. A quick clip of the
leash onto a collar that stays on all the time affords a walk at any moment,
and a well-trained pup will make the stroll easy on their body, and on yours!
However, most dogs don’t fit in that category. Many medium
to large sized dogs can have genetic orthopedic and joint issues that can
involve their neck or back, and most dogs pull until they are trained not to.
Harnesses are a better choice for walks for a lot of reasons.
- By design, harnesses don’t put stress on the neck or back,
and are safer for older or weak dogs, brachycephalic breeds, toy breeds, dogs
who have smaller heads than their neck, or dogs who suffer from neck injuries,
back injuries, back pain, or tracheal collapse.
- Harnesses are infinitely safer for dogs who pull.
- Harnesses can be better for training puppies, or dogs who aren’t
used to leash walking, such as rescues.
- Harnesses give you more control over your dog at any time.
- Harnesses seem like the best choice for your dog’s
well-being and your sanity during walks. But… most harnesses don’t have a place
to attach ID
tags. And if your dog gets loose, whoever finds them may not be able to
find you. A collar has always been a personalized way to show ownership, and
today, we use tags on them to identify dogs and locate their parents when found.
Is a harness or collar the best choice for walking my dog?
So, which is better for a walk, a harness or leash? Ultimately,
clipping the leash to a harness is the best way to safely walk most dogs, as it
gives you more control over the walk and reduces any injuries to your dog,
regardless of their behavior. But having a collar on at the same time gives you
security in knowing that if your dog gets loose, they can be identified and returned
to you easily. That peace of mind means a lot, and is well worth the effort of
having both.
For those of you with small, mini or toy pups, these dogs benefit
even more from a harness during walks, but they may have less space on their
bodies for an additional collar. Finding a harness that offers a place to attach ID
tags is the best choice for these little pooches.