We have an 11-month old, active puppy. She is on the smaller side and wears a harness (not a collar). She wears it 24-7. We use it for walking, of course. And sometimes we lift her by it--it's a supportive chest/back harness (for example, if she's getting into the car, misbehaving with one of the kids and we need to move her quickly, or for a quick move to her crate).
I'm curious. Does anyone else use a harness for a small dog for the same reasons?
I think harnesses are a great idea. Some breeds of small dogs are susceptible to developing a collapsed trachea, and this is very much aggravated by a collar. However, I would never pick a pet up in one. It just seems like a bad idea.
There is L. on this site who may weigh in on this and is very knowledgeable about dogs - her name is Tara.
We do use a high quality, padded harness on our standard poodle and leave it on 24-7. A properly fitted harness shouldn't chafe anywhere. We check nearly daily to make sure that it is not too tight, or rubbing anywhere. She is a growing dog and a growth spurt could make it uncomfortable in a hurry!
However, I wouldn't lift her by it. It really isn't meant for that and it may also cause anxiety to be picked up in such a way that everything is kind of flopping around freely. We also have a small dog (Papillion) and she would HATE having her legs and body unsupported like that while being lifted. It reminds me a picking up a kid by their backstraps when they are wearing bib overalls. Funny once, but you wouldn't put a kid in overalls for the sole purpose of carrying them around by the backstraps.
Harnesses are meant for walking/car seatbelt use - not as an alternative means of carrying the dog around. Please consider lifting your furbaby with your arms rather than by its harness.
Good luck!
In MY opinion? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Not only NO but HELL NO!
The harness is NOT meant to carry the dog. NO MATTER HOW SMALL. It's for walking and training. If you leave it on and don't pay attention? It can get too tight and hurt the dog.
IF the dog is misbehaving? She needs to be trained about proper behavior not just lifted up and put in the crate. Being a small dog - picking her up too fast and carrying her too far - might break a rib too. I don't know that for a fact, but I know how those harnesses can cut in.
No. Talk with your veterinarian and work with a trainer. But I would NOT keep the harness on all day/night. NO.
I don't because I focus on teaching my dogs not to pull when they are puppies. I believe walking them in a harness teaches them it is ok to pull. I only put my dogs in a harness when I want them to pull something - granted I have always had sled dogs. I have noticed when watching my friend and families dogs that the ones who wear harnesses (these are small dogs) are little maniac pullers. I have taught many family members to get a no pull gentle leader and to work on teaching their dog to walk calmly instead. At the same time to take them EVERY day somewhere (a trail, a dog park) where they can run their heart out. The most important thing in training a dog is giving it a ton of exercise. Most dogs do not get enough and they simply have a lot of energy to burn. Are you doing dog obedience classes? I strongly recommend doing a few of these over the next 2 years...they will make you and your dog practice more!
Yes, we use a harness but only for walking. It works better than leash or lead for
most dogs.
However, don't leave it on her all the time, 24/7. She needs a break from it!
They can chafe dog's armpits, underbelly etc. Try wearing a necklace to bed. It's
uncomfortable.
She shouldn't live in it. It's a tool. Let her be free of it sometimes. When you
you need to move her quickly, pick her up. She's a puppy so it's easy.
I use a harness for my 15 lb Boston Terrier and one of the reasons was stated by mtnewnickname. I would NEVER pick up my dog by the harness unless it was an emergency (another animal attacking, etc.).
Please teach your children how to properly handle your dog so that it will not be harmed.
I use a harness for my 50# 1 year old when I need to use the leash, get her in/out of the car for vet or grooming.
She wears a collar with her tags 24/7.
My yard is fenced in, huge and private so she plays out back a lot and walks are rare.
In my opinion it's the dog's owners job to manage their pet. A harness is a MUCH better solution than a collar that might slip off if the dog fights it aggressively.
My mother in law and father in law put harnesses on all their dogs regardless of size and such. They keep them on 24/7 except when they're bathing.
We use a harness because our Jack is a puller, and while a harness can increase pulling it at least means he is no longer choking himself out. We do not, however, use it to lift him because it puts all the strain of his body weight on one smallish area. His lifejacket which has a handle and is designed to allow for lifting is much more supportive over a larger area, regular daily wear harnesses are not designed for that. But he does wear his padded harness all day without issues such as rubbing or sore spots, and we check him frequently for fit.
No. Harnesses are NOT meant to lift/carry a dog. They are for walking and training.
If you don't remove it often, it can and will chaffe her skin. She can lose hair as well.
Just as with collars, they need to be adjusted regularly. I would not use a harness for lifting. That's just wrong.
There's nothing wrong with letting your dog wear it's harness (or collar) 24/7, but harnesses require extra vigilance from the owner to ensure that they are not rubbing or causing any irritation/sores. Check for proper fit weekly, & adjust as needed (more frequently if necessary due to growing puppy). Some styles/materials work better for long-term wear than others.
*** As for lifting the dog by the harness, unless you have a sling specifically designed for lifting dogs with mobility issues, this should not be done. *** While the harness does distribute force across the chest instead of the trachea (such as when a dog pulls, or is corrected by the lead), it is not designed to support the full weight of the dog, and can cause discomfort or injury to the dog.
If you need to lift your dog, you should encircle the barrel of their ribs with your hands behind the elbows, supporting the breastbone with your hands (for toy & small dogs under 10-15 pounds), or use both arms to scoop the dog around the chest & rear legs (for medium to large dogs up to 100 pounds, depending on your strength).
Regarding comments about harnesses & pulling - there is no evidence to show that harnesses encourage pulling - plenty of dogs pull on collars too! However, for a dog that does pull, there is a redistribution of the force across the more robust areas of the dogs chest to make it safer. Additionally, some harnesses are designed with a front-clip to discourage pulling. However, it is important to do basic obedience training to teach your dog to heel properly without pulling.
If you have any other questions/concerns, don't hesitate to message me privately. I've been involved in training/showing for over 15 years. Hope this was helpful for you. T. :)
2 puppies trained by me and hubbs... nither one wore anything unless we were leash training and then we put a collar on the pup. now our dogs are old and don't wear collars, they free roam in our fenced yard and when we want to go on walks we put a leash and collar on them and remove it as soon as we are back in the fence.
I have a big dog that only uses one for walking. All I want to add is to continually check the tender areas where the harness may rub and create a sore, like the armpits and where the buckle is. Also, check for proper fitting as puppy grows. I would get your vets advice about lifting her in it and wearing it 24/7. A collar just seem so much more comfortable when just hanging around the house sleeping and playing.
