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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Collar or Harness?

17 replies

UpWithPup · 20/12/2014 18:37

We took pup into a small, local (non-chain) pet shop today, to pick up a few bits. He was wearing his collar and lead. The lady in the shop asked if he had a harness, why he wasn't wearing one, didn't he like it etc. She said we should really use it to protect his throat instead of the collar.

As it happens he does have both, I just find the collar easier. He is a small breed and doesn't pull much (no more than you'd expect a 4 month old pup!) So I guess my real question is, am I being dreadful careless? Is the collar going to hurt him?

OP posts:
Gingerfudge · 20/12/2014 18:48

I use a harness for walking because I have a sight hound and he pulls, if he didn't pull I wouldn't bother and would go for a wide collar instead.

SpicyBeat · 20/12/2014 19:05

I much prefer harnesses for all dogs. Even non-pullers can occasionally pull after a smell or something of interest and a harness takes away the risk of hurting the throat.

Original poster
UpWithPup · 20/12/2014 19:11

I can see your point SpicyBeat, but how big is the risk of them being hurt?

OP posts:
Hurr1cane · 20/12/2014 19:13

Apparently you shouldn't use harnesses because harnesses are made for pulling and dogs should walk next to you or behind you so that they know you're in charge. Dogs are pack animals and apparently are a lot calmer and happier when they aren't the leader of the pack, as the leader is responsible for the whole pack, and the leader walks in front.

That's from a lot of research I did when I fostered a dog for a couple of weeks. Slightly obsessed about doing the right thing I was as I'm usually a cat person. Cats aren't pack animals and are happy as the leader of the entire world.

youbethemummylion · 20/12/2014 19:17

We have a collar for ID and a harness for walking. Ddog walks mostly slightly behind us so having a harness doesn't automatically mean a dog will pull.

Hurr1cane · 20/12/2014 19:19

No maybe not. I'm just saying what my research came back with. I'm not a dog expert by any means. I just worried about doing exactly the right thing while I fostered one in an emergency situation.

Gingerfudge · 20/12/2014 19:23

Training stops a dog from pulling, my Dpup like to be upfront when walking with the family, is not in the least distressed about leading....he needs to learn that pulling doesn't get him what he wants - forward movement - ie pulling is non rewarding behaviour. He pulls - i stop, he doesn't need neck damage to get that message.

basildonbond · 20/12/2014 19:25

Sorry hurr1cane but your research em wasn't very thorough - if it had been you'd have found out that pack theory is outdated discredited unscientific bollocks

Hurr1cane · 20/12/2014 19:29

Haha fair enough. That's why I'm a cat person then Grin I really did a lot of reading as well.

Oh well

writingbeagle · 20/12/2014 19:32

I have a harness. Our puppy pulls and the trainer suggested it, because he was choking himself. The training advice of not moving when he pulls wasn't working because he pulled so hard he choked and it wasn't good for him. We are still training him to walk on a loose lead, but using harness and he is improving.

CMOTDibbler · 20/12/2014 19:33

I only use a harness when going running with ddog. Dpuppy did have one when he was small, but is now walked on a wide sighthound martingale collar.

However, if I ever used long leads or those extending leads, it would always be with a harness

SpicyBeat · 20/12/2014 23:22

Well I couldn't quantify the risk. The harness is lower risk though and in the absence of a compelling reason not to, I will always prefer the lower risk option.

SpicyBeat · 20/12/2014 23:25

I also don't like collars for behavioural reasons. They make it much harder for dogs to do anything approaching an appropriate greeting of another dog on lead.

LimeJellyHead · 08/01/2015 22:27

I always use harnesses on my dogs. It is safer (no strain on their necks) and a harness feels more secure too. It feels odd now to clip a lead on their collars.

Staffle · 09/01/2015 08:11

Mine wears a harness and we are not having any trouble training loose lead walking even though we also do canicross with him where we encourage him to pull. He seems to know the difference.
I feel much happier knowing if the loose lead training goes out the window and he pulls on the lead he's not doing his neck more damage (rescue - already had neck damage from a collar and lead Sad). He does seem to like his harness though - he automatically puts his paws up to get it on (not trained!)

niqnet1 · 09/01/2015 12:39

We've tried a lot of harnesses and our favorite it the Dog-Games harness. The perfect fit one is easy to get on and off if you do decide to use one with your dog.

EasyToEatTiger · 09/01/2015 13:08

I use a harness for on-lead, and take it off off-lead. Collar is to hold ID. The less to get tangled in hedges the better!

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