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

Original poster

Collar Vs Harness

41 replies

Frenchfancy · 09/12/2020 15:10

We've been having a discussion on the puppy thread about Harnesses vs collars and I thought I'd ask for some other opinions.

I was avoiding a harness for Frenchpup as I had read that it can cause development problems in shoulders for young dogs. But the more I read the more confused I get. Our old DDog only ever had a collar so even though I'm an experienced dog owner I don't know the answer to this one. Examples of the different things I'e been reading:

For Collar

For Harness

Does anyone have any thoughts/experience?

OP posts:
PollyRoulson · 09/12/2020 17:41

Collars and harness are a big topic amongst dog owners Smile.

Without trying to sound like Boris I tend to stick to the science.

Before going any further the damage by collars and harness is always done by the dog pulling not just wearing them (apart from shoulder harnesses which are the work of the devil!)

There are many scientific studies to show that collars do damage to the Trachea, Larynx, Oesophagus, epiglottis, lymph glands, thryoid if a dog is allowed to pull on the lead attached to a collar. Tracheal collapse is also thought to occur with a tight collar on the neck. Also interestingly there is some damage to a dogs eyes from pulling on a collar for a long period of time.

So that does then to imply that a harness is better but tbh there have been less studies on a harness.

What has been studied is cross the shoulder harness can causes growth issues in puppies and dogs so I would avoid them.

The Y harnesses sound like the perfect answer then! However what has been studied is that a dog that pully in a y fronted harness tends to put more weight on the off side leg to the owner.

On a personal level I will always use Y fronted harnesses on my dogs and ensure that they are trained to walk without pulling.

If you want to read the papers
Grainger, J., Wills, A. and Montrose, V. (2016). The behavioral effects of walking on a collar and harness in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 14, pp.60-64.

Also been one more recently by Zilch on harnesses

PollyRoulson · 09/12/2020 17:55

The harness article you linked to is mad - total rubbish especially where is says:-

Inhibits you being a pack leader!!!! the article is just mad up tosh and none of the points are correct.

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 09/12/2020 18:31

@pollyRoulson thank you for that considered reply. I know the article was a bit mad, but I was trying to demonstrate the different view points.

Lots of the articles I could find were from places trying to sell harnesses. Obviously it is better for them to sell harnesses as they cost more and you go through more in the lifetime of the dog. Our ddog had 2 collars in her life, one as a puppy as a leather one as an adult.

I can appreciate how a little dog like a pug or a Yorkshire could get serious neck damage from a collar with an owner who yanked the lead. But I also think that some of the harnesses for sale approach the fashion clothing for dogs which I dislike.

OP posts:
defnotadomesticgoddess · 09/12/2020 18:37

We used a collar for 7 years and then got a harness (we were going camping and thought it would be easier). Wish I’d got it sooner. He walks better with a harness. If we’re going somewhere where he’ll be off lead I just use the collar as I worry that the harness would get caught in bushes etc, pavement walking I always use the harness for. We got a perfect fit one which is measured exactly for him and has padding over the bits that might otherwise rub.

PollyRoulson · 09/12/2020 18:51

Good harnesses with no fashion aspect at all are perfect fit and Mekuti and ruffwear. I would not use any other type unless using for specific sport.

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 18:53

Train your dog to heal with a proper collar. You have absolutely no control over the dog with a harness.

SunshineCake · 09/12/2020 18:53

Once ddog had moved off her puppy collar and lead she went into a harness. She has had two types and is absolutely fine with it at aged four. Puts it on herself near enough. I don't feel as secure if I ever clip her lead to her collar, she is actually better just walking next to me, and I worry about her neck if I have to stop her suddenly.

SunshineCake · 09/12/2020 18:55

@Madbengalmum

Train your dog to heal with a proper collar. You have absolutely no control over the dog with a harness.
Bollocks.
midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 18:55

My friend breeds french bull dogs and boston terriers and always recommendeds to new owners that they should use a good quality chest harness. (Between the legs not straight across) she's never recommend a collar on a bracchy breed (even though hers are long nosed free breathers)

Floralnomad · 09/12/2020 18:56

We use an Indi dog Houdini harness on our dog , he has tracheal issues caused by very severe ‘Battersea’ kennel cough as a puppy and only wears a lightweight house collar for tag purposes .

Dora26 · 09/12/2020 18:59

Google “Gentle Leader” - my niece is a vet and this was a godsend for me and my young strong Springer

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 18:59

Also when my jrt pup jumped in a very weedy pond that she could barely swim in and couldn't get back out of, having the harness to hook her and haul her out is probably what saved her. We'd never have got hold of a collar and it would have probably hurt her lifting her out by it too

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 19:11

Sunshine, thankyou for your polite and constructive words. You are wrong and anyone I have ever encountered who trains or works with dogs has told me that if at all possible a dog should be trained to heal, and common sense tells you that having a dog in harness does not allow the control you have with a collar.

SunshineCake · 09/12/2020 19:17

I disagree.

I feel it is not possible to have control of a dog when one doesn't feel secure. Hence me using a harness.

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 19:23

I have absolutely full control of my dog in a harness as does everyone I know, which is a lot. Collars are easier to slip than a properly fitted harness too

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 19:24

Sunshine, let me put it this way. In my experience of having and training dogs over the last 20yrs, i would definitely say that if my dog wanted to misbehave on a harness i would be far less likely to be able to correct said bad behaviour than if he/she were on a collar. I certainly think to teach a dog how to walk properly from a young age is important.

If your dog doesn’t feel secure on a collar then you are using the wrong type of collar. With a 50kg dog, i would have no control whatsoever on a harness.

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 19:26

Well the fact you are using the word correct behaviour in regards to dog training tells me we have very different approaches anyway!

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 19:27

Also the vast majority of pet owners do not have dogs that weigh over 50kg mine is barely 5

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 19:36

Midnight, yeah I do want a young dog who has manners and i do correct bad behaviour. Certainly don’t want to force out of control animals on anyone else, that would be very selfish.

SockDrawer · 09/12/2020 19:36

common sense tells you that having a dog in harness does not allow the control you have with a collar.
I have much better control over my dachshund in a harness than a collar. I vary though because I want him to walk well regardless of what he wears (and he does).
I don’t have a bouncy, pully 50kg dog though @Madbengalmum so I have a different experience to you.

@Frenchfancy for a Frenchie so much would depend on the fit of the harness (because of their broad chest and low shoulders). A good fitting harness like ruff wear or perfect fit might be the answer. Are you part of any Frenchie groups? Owners with experience of the breed might be able to give you the best advice.

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 19:38

Sockdrawer, absolutely depends on age/breed, i agree.

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 19:43

@Madbengalmum I find reward based training far more effective, as do the majority of trainers and behaviourists these day - teach the dog what you do want not what you don't. It's more reliable when they are choosing to do something because they want to than because they think they have to.

PollyRoulson · 09/12/2020 19:44

@Madbengalmum

Sunshine, thankyou for your polite and constructive words. You are wrong and anyone I have ever encountered who trains or works with dogs has told me that if at all possible a dog should be trained to heal, and common sense tells you that having a dog in harness does not allow the control you have with a collar.
I train and work with dogs - always use a harness Smile
PollyRoulson · 09/12/2020 19:44

(But equally if trained properly then you dont need "control")

Madbengalmum · 09/12/2020 19:48

Polly, sadly using a harness on my large breed dogs has only ever encouraged them to pull even more, even a no pull harness. Your advice is against every other trainer i have encountered, who have all said that ideally you would want a dog to be leash and collar trained. Interesting.