Dog Harnesses or Dog Collar? Which is best for your dog?
Pros of dog harnesses:
Considering buying a dog harness instead of a dog collar?
Some of the advantages to harnesses include that they may:
Be more comfortable for your dog.
Help prevent your dog from slipping out.
Be helpful for puppies that haven’t learned to walk on a leash.
Help avoid injury (such as throat damage) in small dogs who are more likely to pull or tug at the leash.
Help prevent your dog’s leash from getting caught under his legs.
Help discourage pulling if you use a front-clip harness.
Be better for dogs with tracheal collapse (a hacking cough often brought on by excitement, exercise, drinking water, or extreme temperatures).
Cons of dog harnesses:
Can be harder to put on and take off.
May require more physical strength than walking your dog on a traditional dog collar, depending on the size of the dog.
If a harness is too big, your dog may be able to wiggle out and escape.
Dog harnesses that are too tight can be painful for dogs.
Can be uncomfortable in hot weather.
Harnesses that hook on the back can actually help train your dog to pull you — the exact opposite of what you want.
As with buying collars, you’ll need to make sure you select the right size harness for your dog. A harness fits if you can slip one finger between your dog’s skin and the harness (for small dogs) or if you can fit two fingers between your dog’s skin and the harness (for large-breed dogs).
