Collar or harness for whippet puppy?

[OldWivesTale]

Our whippet x bedlington is 9 weeks and we're starting to think about walking him on a lead. I've only ever used collars with dogs in the past but I've noticed lots of people now have harnesses; they do look more comfortable. So what's the general consensus? Can anyone recommend a particular type/ brand?

I don't have that breed, but would always choose a harness.

They are safer as they don't compress trachea (though check the style and the fit, as some are a bit high cut and can press on the trachea anyway)

I prefer a well fitted harness for pups and use Perfect Fit Harnesses.

My last Lurcher pup was really narrow chested at the front, but with a super deep ribcage, which made it really difficult to find a harness that fitted well. With the Perfect Fit you can buy the individual pieces and replace them as your dog grows, which makes for a more bespoke fit and works out cheaper than replacing the whole thing as they grow. They also have a Y shaped chest/front piece, which avoids any pressure on the neck or shoulders and are fleece lined, so even my thin skinned boy was comfortable in them. Oh and they have a front d-ring as well as one on the back, which is great for lead training and security.

I’ve got a ruff wear one, it’s lasted well. I throw it in the washing machine, it’s the one with the handle on the top. The dog is comfortable in it, and she can’t get out of it.

I like my dogs (lurchers) to walk on a martingale collar, but for puppies I use a harness as well so when they misbehave there is no pressure on their neck.
Perfect fit is imo the only way to go as you can mix and match to fit them exactly which is otherwise really tricky with sighthounds, and with delicate whippet skin you need the soft fleece and no where it can rub under their armpits (as it were)

Definitely harness over collar, especially on a dog with a prey drive (like a whippet) - pulling hard on a collar can really hurt them.

On sighthounds, including whippets, DO NOT use the omnipresent Julius K9 harnesses or similar - their small heads, broad chests and narrow waists means they can easily slip out of this kind. Sighthounds need a harness with a Y-shaped front (rather than the single bar of the K9), and preferably a third strap round the tummy.

The Ruffwear Webmaster is the classic, and is what we have - but expensive for a puppy that will grow out of it. Highly reccommend for when he's fully-grown.

This Vari-fit Houdini harness has been recommended to me, and is cheaper. Aldi's Adventure Harnesses are very cheap, and the right shape - my 29kg lurcher tore it, but it would be good for a puppy. Out of stock at the mo though.

Never use a harness on any dog - you have zero control over where they are headed. I use a leather or nylon slip lead which lies loosely on the neck but gives control when needed. Harnesses are great for Husky racing.

Mm dpuppy indeed...

We have Indi dog Houdini harnesses for out patterdale x , he can’t wear a collar because he has tracheal issues and would likely drop dead if someone accidentally pulled on his neck . He walks beautifully on a harness .

Harness. Whatever you choose, I wouldn't use an extendable lead because they can injure whippets when they go from naught to 60mph.

Just adding my vote for a Perfect Fit harness.. brilliant, comfy and please so NOT do what Percheron suggests and use a slip lead. A dog trained to walk nicely will walk nicely on a collar or a harness but if he suddenly pulls a collar will hurt the trachea..a harness won't. Slip leads are useful at the vets but work by causing discomfort!

Oh and they have a front d-ring as well as one on the back, which is great for lead training and security.

Perfect fit say the front ring isn’t to be used for attaching a lead.

I have the same breed but mine is 15 weeks. I just use a padded collar and lead. He walks lovely in it and doesn’t really pull. When he’s bit bigger I’ll get him a proper sight hound collar.

Walk on the collar, you have a lot more control and I think with a harness you’re less likely to work on pulling or prey drive. I see a lot of dogs pulling on harnesses and pretty much dragging their owner along. We start lead walking as soon as we get ours, even just round the garden. Both of ours wear a harness in the car to attach to seatbelts if on the back seats. They will sometimes wear the harness walking round but it depends how long our walk is and if we need to lift them. If you get a harness with a handle they can also be useful for lifting them over styles and into the car. We also use a harness during flyball. Much easier and safer to keep hold of the dog while still getting the dog hyped up ready for their run but that’s quite a niche use.

harness for walking.

Regardless of whether you use a harness or collar you should be training correct loose lead walking from day 1 so pulling shouldn’t be an issue.

@UhtredRagnarson

Oh and they have a front d-ring as well as one on the back, which is great for lead training and security.

Perfect fit say the front ring isn’t to be used for attaching a lead.

You should never attach a lead to just that d-ring, but it’s useful for security if using two leads.

Apologies, brain is frazzled, as about to leave the house for a tooth extraction and I am terrified of dentists!

I realise I probably worded that badly. The front d-ring can be useful for lead training, using either a double ended training lead or two leads, as with keen pullers it discourages the pulling by essentially turning them towards you if they try. More appropriate for retraining inveterate pullers, who are often also rescues that need more lead security, than young pups.

Absolutely agree that loose lead walking from day 1 is the way to go. Used properly, harness or suitable collar is fine. My preference is the PFH, but others prefer collars.

Oh yes I see what you mean @PermanentlyDizzy. I thought you meant just using the front ring by itself.

Sorry about your tooth!!

I have been reading on whippet Facebook pages not to put them in a harness. Don't ask why, not figured this out yet. They all recommend martingale collar but light collar when a pup.

Train to walk nicely on the lead as soon as possible, then the collar/harness decision is just personal preference. The downside of a harness is if the dog slips out of it, so you need a good fitting one, which is tricky with a puppy. Also you don't have control over the head/direction they are travelling in. I use a Ruffwear harness and I think it is great, the dog has never slipped out of it. Worth the money, IMO, but maybe not for a growing dog.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll have a look at some of your recommendations.

We started with our whipp pup on a whippet specific harness but he managed to escape it, and also pulled so so badly. Switched to a martingale collar and he walks SO much better now. Harness was from the trendy whippet, aside from backing out of it (when he was quite small and to be fair only just big enough for it) it was lovely, really well made and soft.

The dogs behaving badly guy graham hall has an interesting podcast on harnesses vs collars which is worth a listen.