Collar or Harness for Your Dog

We have a standard Poodle who is 71 lbs and when he was a puppy at about 45 lbs. he would jerk me and pull me with the collar on and nearly pulled my arm out of socket. I was advised to get the Gentle Leader and all pulling stopped, he walks by me and yet I let him go on a leash farther out and he is more free but never pulls or jerks me. He was groomed once when they decided to just use the collar, which he does have one on, and they said he pulled and jerked them and they put on the Gentle Leader I'd left and couldn't believe it was the same dog. It just mean that you are in charge and not he dog by the way it works. I would recommend that and they come in all sizes and work.

We have a lab and couldnt walk him with a regular collar once he got "big." He pulled too much. A regular choke collar didnt work either - he just pulled and choked and gagged.

I got a "gentle leader" or "halte" head harness and, he didnt pull on that, but would rub his head in every patch of grass he saw trying to get it off.

My husband took him to obedience class and they required everyone to have those metal choke collars - with the spikey things inside. It looks terrible, but my dog walks nicely with it on and I can take the dog and the kids in a double stroller for a walk.

I took some dog training classes when my husband managed a petsmart.

I learned that with harnesses, dogs will instinctually pull harder. Worse for some breeds, but overall, this is true.

We use a 'gentle leader' for our dog. It's a collar that goes around his face. It does not restrict the jaw in any way, shape or form, but it absolutely prevents him from pulling. I would never use a harness on a dog over 10-15 pounds, and I would never use a collar on a dog that pulls (it can injure their trachea). Train the dog not to pull first, then switch to traditional collars.

It depends on the dog. Small and/or brachycephalic breeds a harness to make sure to pressure on their throat. Dogs with a head smaller than their neck, like a greyhound, a martingale collar. Most other dogs a collar, head halter (gentle leader), or easy walk harness. A collar on most with tags for id ( I also microchip), since a harness you aren't going to leave on full time.

I love the gentle leader and easy walk harness that premier make. It is not a regular harness and does not allow pulling. A normal harness enables and encourages pulling. I like that the gentle leader gives you full head control. After that I would choose a regular collar or the easy walk. A regular harness gives you very little control over a large dog. That being said if you have a dog that can slip a collar, make sure to have a martingale collar adjusted so it is not a choke collar, or a harness.

I don't like choke or prong collars at all and find there are always better options for training and general use. My dog can be a puller, but she knows a good heel position when asked and knows to stay close no matter what. I started her on a flat collar, but also started using a gentle leader when she was about 4 months old.

Enjoy your new puppy!

I train to a collar right from the start. For a puppy, use a nice, wide one, making sure it fits snugly so puppy can't back out of it.

I have no particular objection to a harness, but (imo) they encourage the dog to pull.

I prefer a harness. Even the best trained dogs will lunge every so often. I have worked with dogs my whole life, and have very well trained dogs. Once in a blue moon something will set them off and they will pull. (Usually, it's a loud noise, that causes them to react instinctively.) I feel like a harness is safer for the dog, personally. A harness will only encourage a dog to pull, if they aren't properly trained. My dogs don't behave differently with a collar, then they do with a harness.

Really, it's a matter of preference. My preference is a harness, many other people love their collars. Either one works fine. If your dog is not very well trained, a harness is probably not the best option.

I have a small breed dog (Boston Terrier) and I will only use a harness on her. I don't like the idea of choking my dog if she should pull away from me. I know people like the collars for larger dogs, but you have more control with the harness.

I do have a collar for my dog but it is only for her name tag, rabies tag and microchip tag. I usually take the harness off when we are in the house.

Well, I know that small animals (cats, guinea pigs, ferrets, etc.) can't use collars for leashes because their windpipes are too soft. For them, you need a harness. I would suspect it's the same with a puppy, but your vet or breeder would know best.

My dog is actually pretty smart. Which you wouldnt know sometimes by looking at him.

In his harness he PULLS. As in on a whim we put my goofy lab in traces with a friend's mushers, and he did GREAT. His best position is right behind the lead dog, but if you need some serious pull, put him right in front of the sled.

On a collar he will pull hard enough to choke himself out. Not a choke collar, to add. He will choke himself to passing out on a plain old regular collar..

<rolls eyes> Daft Dog. I've NEVERZ trained a dog like him. He's an utter goofball.

The ONLY way to heel him is with food or 'in trouble', and then he glues himself to you.

Every other dog I've trained to collar (no choke) within a few months old, and off leash not long after.

HIM? Oy. Years. And then only by shameless bribery.

But he's a born sled dog! And he's smart as a whip every other way.

(chocolate lab who thinks he's a husky. Talks, sings, escape artist, very pack structure oriented, stamina for days, one heckuva double coat -sheds more than the huskies I've had, super gentle with kids but bowls over adults, knows all the commands but considers whether or not they're REALLY a good idea before complying... The whole shebang. Goofball.)

So while in general xyz, there's always the individual quirks, and breed quirks to take into account.

GENTLE LEADER. hands down the best collar/harness ive come across. I have a german shepherd (big dog) and it works amazing!!

Mine wear harnesses. but for most dogs I think it really makes no difference either way.

we use harnesses for walking.
It gives you more control. They do have collars on but we don't use them for walking.
When they were puppies they slipped out of them a couple of times so we started using harnesses and just kept using them. It does not encourage them to pull. I had one one time until we got him trained well, he would pull no matter if he was in a collar or harness. Choking him and all.

Harness young and old.

My dog is very old and has had a harness since I got her at 3 years of age. She kept slipping out of the collar when we walked her. Granted she's not trained to walk "respectively." We are able to allow more freedom by using a harness. Dogs need to explore too. Safety is the reason for making that decision. What works for your dog is fine no matter their age.

To me it's preference. I prefer the control of a harness and I like that it doesn't go across the dog's throat. I never had problems with pulling. I make the dog sit for every tug. That quickly gets old so they learn to behave if they want the walks to be walks and not sitathons. I had a dog who was a notorious collar slipper and a harness put a stop to that.

Harnesses are the only thing that works for my dog because he can actually get out of his collar and run away. He was wearing one since he was a puppy but if a dog doesn't need one it should probably have a collar.

i SHOULD get a harness for my spazzo. i walk him with a choke collar, which he respects most of the time but when he does lose it, he nigh nears chokes himself.
idiot.
khairete
S.