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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

Are harnesses as bad as this person says?

60 replies

PutOffGettingADog · 15/04/2022 16:24

Considering a dog, my DD (aged 7) would benefit a lot from it.

DD has mobility issues due to a hip and leg condition she also has other issues including regulation with her mood issues due to LDs, her physio and consultant have both said a dog would be helpful to help with all of these things.

We currently borrow my dad’s dog and walk her on a harness, I was under the impression they’re safer than collars as they spread across the rib cage and spine so if the dog pulls they’re less likely to be strangled. Dads dog responds much better to lead training on the harness than on the collar. And a harness is my preferred option for walking if we get a dog.

Was discussing it with the parent of an old classmate of mine who breeds a specific breed of dog. She has said that in all types of dogs, big or small a harness is unsafe and affects the dogs front gait and she will not sell dogs to people walking dogs on harnesses.

So am I wrong to think harnesses are ok to use? It’s put me off buying a dog at all despite knowing it’ll help my DD so much (she’d walk the dog with me until old enough to do it alone).

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/04/2022 16:27

i have a harness as my dog was able to slip out of her collar
i have a harness as she needs one to attach in the car

more and more dogs wear harnesses nowadays

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/04/2022 16:27

i think your old class mate sounds over opinionated

Crocky · 15/04/2022 16:29

There are harnesses that affect the gait of a dog and there are ones designed so that they do not.

Floralnomad · 15/04/2022 16:30

It depends on the harness involved but my dog has tracheal issues and cannot be walked in a collar . He also is very well trained to walk nicely .

AwkwardPaws27 · 15/04/2022 16:30

We walk in a harness. Far safer for the neck.
We use a Y-shaped harness though - there are some shapes that can restrict the shoulder movement.
Ours is a PerfectFit harness & brilliant as adjustable for a growing dog & you can buy the sections in different sizes if needed. Washes really well too.

Greydog · 15/04/2022 16:32

I use a harness on my greyhound - so much safer than a collar, which she could get out of. Also good for in the car

wetotter · 15/04/2022 16:34

A Y - harness that fits properly round the shoulders will not affect a dogs gait in the slightest.

MrsRubyMonday · 15/04/2022 16:35

I personally don't like harnesses, I have upper limb and back disabilities and they allow the dog to put it's whole weight on the lead, in essence like a dog pulling a sled or something. We always used a dogmatic halter and a standard collar, this moved the point of contact under the chin so that if the dog tried to pull it could only use its head.

Original poster
PutOffGettingADog · 15/04/2022 16:36

Thank you my dad uses a harness that adjusts and can be used in the car, dog is perfectly happy on it and it can be adjusted. Dad always tells me when we walk her to ensure 2 fingers fit underneath the neck part of the harness, if not it's too tight.

OP posts:
Notanotherwindow · 15/04/2022 16:38

Harnesses teach them to pull and yes they do affect the dogs gait. I wouldn't say they're downright dangerous but certainly not best practice.

A flat collar should be adequate for a dog with no medical issues that has received basic training. A well brought up dog shouldn't be pulling hard enough to strangle itself anyway as you train them from the day they are allowed outside to walk on a lead.

The only harness your dog should be wearing is the one that clicks into a seat belt in the car or one with a long line for swimming in the sea to allow for you to reel them back in if they get swept out.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 15/04/2022 16:40

@MrsRubyMonday

I personally don't like harnesses, I have upper limb and back disabilities and they allow the dog to put it's whole weight on the lead, in essence like a dog pulling a sled or something. We always used a dogmatic halter and a standard collar, this moved the point of contact under the chin so that if the dog tried to pull it could only use its head.
Nope, Really depends on the harness. If you go for something like a balance harness, this will allow you to control your dog, as it will not be able to use its weight to pull sled like etc.
OP posts:
MiddleOfThePack · 15/04/2022 16:43

Harnesses only teach them to pull if you let them. It's all down to training. That said, my 2 are walked one on his collar [an elderly terrier] and the other [a gundog puppy] a slip lead, in a 'fig 8'. They wear harnesses if we are travelling and we put leads on them when they get out of the car.

The old geezer pulls a little at times, but not much and the puppy can be very boisterous if he hasn't got the slip lead on.

That said, all our previous dogs have been walked in harnesses mostly for their own health and we taught them not to pull anyway.

girlmom21 · 15/04/2022 16:46

I've got a 2.5kg dog whose breed has a history of collapsed tracheas. I'd never use a collar on him.

pleaseletmesleeptonight · 15/04/2022 16:47

We use a flat collar and a slip for any reactions and early training to heel stops the need for a harness.

But we have breeds designed and bred to pull 3-4 times their weight so harness for us would be the best fun for this particular breed they would think they were working and I'll be left for dust!

MyGirlDaisy · 15/04/2022 16:49

I am a dog walker. I walk some dogs in collars and some on harnesses, there is usually a reason why their owners use one over the other. On my own dog I use a Y shaped harness which does not restrict the movement of their shoulders, and they are far more difficult for dogs to escape from. My dog is young, fast but he is also nervous so I also use a collar with a double ended lead for security. If he starts to pull I relax the lead on the collar and hold the one on the harness which protects his neck. In my opinion it is a myth that dogs pull on a harness, my dog only pulls because he is a work in progress and we are working on loose lead walking. All I would say is that whether you use a harness or collar get it properly fitted if you can.

Madasahattersteaparty1749 · 15/04/2022 16:58

The rescue people we got explicitly recommends harnesses for their rescues dogs and Halti leads so you can double clip to the harness and collar if going somewhere new/likely to spook the dog.

We have one that can be multi adjusted and there are loads on the market that’s typical fit suits your dog more. Ruffwear, Julius K9 and perfect fit were all recommended when we were looking.

Original poster
PutOffGettingADog · 15/04/2022 17:03

My dads dog is a rescue, we don't know her history or how she was walked before, all we know is she was a surrender by the owners son (we and the rescue suspect the owner died but never had it confirmed).

OP posts:
Goawayangryman · 15/04/2022 17:25

Pfft. I've heard this said too and I have no scientific knowledge but I just cannot see it being true in all cases. Yes, definitely to the ones with a horizontal bar across the shoulders. That can't be good. But the y ones, they look pretty good to me.

In all things dog, there are people with totally inflexible, my way or the highway, opinions. To say you would never sell a puppy to someone who used a harness is just bananas. I mean of course have your well-researched, scientifically evidenced principles but I'm less interested in orthodoxies. They are usually spouted by folks who don't know their arse from their elbow and/or have very poor people skills.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 15/04/2022 17:38

how would a prospective seller know?

whatisthisinhere · 15/04/2022 17:48

I use a flat collar and a slip lead on my GsD puppy. I've tried him on a harness and he heated putting it on, and isn't trained enough to reliably not pull. He won't even tolerate it for car journeys, so I use a crate for the car, he's much more relaxed.
I think you should just keep an open mind until you get your puppy. Different dogs have different preferences.

PollyRoulllson · 15/04/2022 18:01

Loads of scientific studies on this.

Fact Harnesses do not teach a dog to pull - dogs will pull if not trained otherwise. - just look at all the dogs pulling on a lead and collar.

A lead and collar does cause injury to dogs necks if there is any pressure on the dogs neck. This has been proven in all studies done.

Using a front only attachment on a y fronted harness will also affect a dogs gait as much as using a cross the shoulder harness. However using a front and back attachment on a correctly fitted Y fronted harness will not affect the gait.

A y fronted harness will cause no harm if fitted correctly.

The moral though is to train your dog to walk with no pressure and then whatever you use will cause no issues to the dogs!

Re car travel very few harnesses have been crashed tested so I would personally always crate my dogs in a crash tested crate when travelling.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/04/2022 18:06

@PollyRoulllson all this!

Plus a harness is much easier to pull your dog out of the canal, should they fall in when walking the towpath. Dog + water + straight sides = small, fat human needing as much help as possible to not fall in. …..

Pugfostermum · 15/04/2022 18:11

As said, it depends on the harness. The Julius K9 ones are the worst for restricting shoulder movement. People buy them because you can have the bane of your dog embroidered on them. Also because they see other people have them.
A well fitted, Y shaped harness is what you want.

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