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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:
certainshepherdpups · 15/04/2022 18:53

Some harnesses and other "no pull" devices can cause discomfort and injury to dogs. An ordinary harness or an ordinary flat collar are both fine if used properly.

AvDemeisen · 15/04/2022 19:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

OrlandointheWilderness · 15/04/2022 19:03

I think there are harnesses and harnesses. I used to canicross with my spaniel and those are designed to maximise movement, they certainly don't restrict it! I think an open mind and see what suits your dog.

Goawayangryman · 15/04/2022 19:42

I used a flat collar on the advice of two separate trainers but eventually have ditched it because it caused an injury when my nervy young dog lunged after hearing gunshots at close range. I can see that in some breeds a harness might literally ... Harness their strength but now I've belatedly realised that my dog that will walk nicely on a lead will also walk nicely on a harness because pulling isn't tolerated on either.

Mamabananananana · 15/04/2022 19:46

Dumbest thing ive heard today
Harnessess ( if fitted properly) are great for dogs. If you have a strong or excitable breed ( Springers!) it helps you both.
Just make sure and do your homework on the breed, attend puppy classes and insurance!

longwayoff · 15/04/2022 20:43

My small rhino has a Mutts and Hounds harness which looks like a tweed jacket. He's got a collar for ID purposes but I'd never put a lead on it. The harness doesn't pull at his throat or impede his mobility and is the only harness I've found that he can't wriggle out of. It's surprisingly strong and we're sticking with it.

wetotter · 15/04/2022 20:59

I think some people assume, wrongly, that he uses a harness because of pulling. This is simply not correct - the dog will either pull or not pull depending on its training, regardless of how it's attached to the other end of the lead. Walking nicely is a skill that should to be taught in puppyhood and can be done whether harness or collar.

I think it's easier in harness, because no inadvertent scary jerks to the neck when the puppy is still learning and a bit erratic

SpringHasSprungYay · 15/04/2022 21:04

What is a Y shaped harness?

AwkwardPaws27 · 15/04/2022 21:08

@SpringHasSprungYay

What is a Y shaped harness?
Like this - the front piece across the chest is Y shaped so it doesn't restrict the shoulders
Are harnesses as bad as this person says?
ButtockUp · 15/04/2022 21:13

I remember when dog harnesses came into being.
If I remember correctly, there was an item on Esther Rantzen's 'That's Life' programme ( showing my age) that mentioned these new fangled dog harnesses as they were deemed better for training but various vets piped up and said that harnesses put a strain on dog's hearts and shouldn't be used.

I use a harness as my dog pulled too much on a collar.

Would love to know the truth.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 15/04/2022 21:22

Our trainer advised clipping the lead to the harness when ddog is free to sniff and do his own thing and not required to walk nicely and clipping it to the collar when I want him to pay attention to me and walk beside me on a loose lead. I think that's a nice compromise.
He's a big, young dog and it's not very natural for him to walk slowly by my side. His natural relaxed walking pace is a lot faster than a human so he has to try hard to rein it. He can do loose lead walking but it costs me a lot of chicken to reward him and/ or it is very very boring if I have to stop dead every time he gets ahead of me.
Sometimes you just want to have a walk and not care so much about training and that's where the different cue of the collar vs the harness is helpful
I never quite understand how having a dog that walks nicely on a loose lead and also letting the dog have a sniffy walk on its own agenda (both Mumsnet approved activities) are compatible. The only way I can see that it's resolved is if your dog has great recall so they either walk by your side or they are let off and are free. Surely being free to sniff and do your own thing on the lead sometimes would otherwise undermine loose lead walking training? How does the dog know if they have to walk with you and pay attention or they don't? Sadly my dog does not have great recall as yet and right now (adolescent male) it seems an impossible dream that he ever will do.
Until we one day do achieve the mythical 100% recall he has to make do with a long line clipped to his harness for a taste of freedom. It the lead gets clipped to his collar then that means pay attention and walk with me.

StillMedusa · 15/04/2022 23:32

Perfect Fit Y harness all the way here...
I spent time reading up on all the scientific evidence I could find and there is no restriction on movement. The Julius K9 types ARE bad for restricting movement (and dogs can back out of them!)

My dog is large and fluffy and a collar gets lost in her hair..no way could I clip her back on a collar in a hurry. But the harness is comfortable , doesn't get her hot, and she doesn't pull at all because we trained her to walk nicely.
*Unless she spots a squirrel, and then I'm even more glad she's in a harness as she's strngle herself in a collar trying to chase!

AtlasPine · 16/04/2022 03:29

Worth noting that harnesses should come off when the dog is walking off-lead, particularly small terrier and flusher breeds.

Monty27 · 16/04/2022 03:42

I have a large puppy and his lead constantly gets caught under his legs so I'm consider a harness until I'm confident I can let him off lead in the doggie park. Should I?

FleurDeLizz · 16/04/2022 06:20

Surprised that people think haltis and especially slip leads are better than a harness.

wetotter · 16/04/2022 08:05

@AtlasPine

Worth noting that harnesses should come off when the dog is walking off-lead, particularly small terrier and flusher breeds.
That depends on where they are and what they're doing.

If flushing, then arguably collars should come off as well (legal point about being being required to wear an identity tag, v potential for being caught in something)

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 16/04/2022 08:30

Dogs pull because they've not been trained otherwise - and a dog that's going to pull will do so whether it's on a harness or a collar or even on a slip lead.

I'm a dog walker and use harnesses for my "pullers" or my anxious dogs as it protects their necks and gives me peace of mind that they can't slip them and bolt on me if they get scared. A few owners use the JuliusK9 style ones but I always use X or Y shaped harnesses on my own dog and they're the ones I recommend to clients too.

If a dog is going to go off the lead and doesn't pull, then a collar is absolutely fine as I don't need to worry about them damaging their necks.

If your dog pulls in a harness it's because nobody has ever trained it otherwise. My SIL has a husky who walks beautifully to heel in a harness because that's how she's been trained Smile

PollyRoulllson · 16/04/2022 08:31

@WetOtter Working dogs do not have to wear collars when working so dogs on a shoot do not have the issue of collars on when flushing .

Probably peple know already but it is (unless a working dog) a legal requirment to have name tag on collar so all dogs have to wear collars the name tag is illegal if on a harness .

@Covidofallhumanity my dogs will automatically walk to heel when the lead is on - if I want them to have siffy walks they are just given the go "sniff cue" and off they go on a loose longer lead. To come back to loose lead walking they are cued to walk "with me"

lljkk · 16/04/2022 08:32

I had no idea harnesses were ever controversial !
For pulling dogs they seem much kinder, safer, than a collar.

MNers make dog ownership sound so complicated.

SpringHasSprungYay · 16/04/2022 08:35

SpringHasSprungYay
What is a Y shaped harness? 
Like this - the front piece across the chest is Y shaped so it doesn't restrict the shoulders

@AwkwardPaws27 what other shaped harnesses are there? 🤔

Motorina · 16/04/2022 08:45

MNers make dog ownership sound so complicated.

This! Also, dog owners do. No matter what you do there'll be someone willing to tell you vociferously that you're wrong.

@PutOffGettingADog you do what works for you and your dog. Harness. Collar. Doesn't matter. What matters is getting out and enjoying quality time with your dog. There will always be someone ready to tell you you're wrong so smile politely (or less politely!) and ignore them.

I find with my dogs I have more control with them on collar and lead, so I walk them that way when I need close control. I run them - canicross - on harnesses designed for pulling into. And free run them where safe and appropriate. But that's what works for me and my dogs.

This is your dog. Do what works for you. As long as your dog is getting out and enjoying life it really, really doesn't matter what their lead is clipped to.

Motorina · 16/04/2022 08:47

@SpringHasSprungYay the juliusk9 has a horizontal bar that runs across the chest and shoulders and restricts the movement of the forelimbs. Probably a bad idea for general pottering. Certainly a bad idea - would not be allowed - for dog sports where you actively want the dogs to pull into the harness.

SirChenjins · 16/04/2022 08:48

This is a really interesting thread. My (adult) son was once berated by another dog walker for walking our dog with a collar and lead (it was a short walk, I’d forgotten to drop off the harness) - according to her dogs should only be walked with a harness Confused
We use an Ancol step in harness for our 9.5kg cockapoo as he’s not keen on over the head harness and it seems to work well for him - but I’m not sure if it’s ok after reading some of these posts?

Where do you all go to get your harnesses fitted properly?

SirChenjins · 16/04/2022 08:50

This is the one we use - forgot to attach it to my pp

Are harnesses as bad as this person says?
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 16/04/2022 08:52

@SpringHasSprungYay

SpringHasSprungYay What is a Y shaped harness?  Like this - the front piece across the chest is Y shaped so it doesn't restrict the shoulders

@AwkwardPaws27 what other shaped harnesses are there? 🤔

You can get X shaped harnesses and also the bar harnesses like the JuliusK9 which are bad for joints as they restrict shoulder movement.
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