Should i get a harness for my dog

Harnesses actually discourage pulling. By switching to a no-pull harness , you can more easily manage your dog, redirect the pressure from any pulling to their chest rather than throat and prevent leash-pulling harm. A no-pull harness can give you the extra control you need to prevent your dog from:. Your dog should definitely wear a harness if they have a reputation as an escape artist.

And for the dogs who will escape no matter how careful you are, a harness can make it easier to catch them. Dogs are much more agile than humans and can easily dodge our hands as we dive to catch them by the collar. The handles on dog harnesses give us something to grab on to, making it much easier to bring your little escape artist home. The two types of leash attachments that you can use are harnesses and collars.

Whether you just got a new dog and aren't sure which to use or you are looking to switch things up, it's important to know the pros and cons for both dog harnesses and collars before making a decision.

Harnesses reduce pulling: Harnesses cover the dog's chest, shoulders, and upper back, which disperses pressure over a larger surface area than a collar giving you better control over your dog, says Carly Fox, DVM , Staff Doctor at New York City's Animal Medical Center.

To reduce pulling even further, you can use a no-pull harness. Harnesses do not put pressure on your dog's neck: Since harnesses fasten over the dog's chest and not around the neck, they do not put pressure on the trachea.

This makes them ideal for pets that have neck problems, a collapsing trachea, or restricted airways, says Arndt. A harness can also help prevent these issues from arising. Harnesses tend to be more secure: Harnesses are generally better at preventing accidents because they fasten more securely around your dog's body.

While dogs can easily slip out of their collars and potentially run into traffic or another person's yard, harnesses offer much more security and safety, says Fox. Harnesses are less convenient : A collar can just slip on, but harnesses take more time to fasten.

Harnesses may not have a place for an ID tag : Some harnesses don't have a place to carry a tag. It's best to get a harness with a ring for a tag—or use both a collar with a tag and a harness when out walking. What about head halters the ugly? When head halters also known as head collars, head haltis, head harnesses first came out they were all the rage in the positive circles; they were the first real management solution positive trainers had to strong dogs pulling when they wanted to avoid using prong or choke collars.

Over the last several years head halters have fallen out of favor with many positive trainers myself included. This is because recent research and anecdotal experience has shown us that head collars are uncomfortable for most dogs and can cause serious injury to the face and neck if they are mis-used. The only time I might suggest a head halter now is if the strength of the owner and dog is so mismatched that other solutions simply aren't safe, and if the owner is using the head halter they must not jerk of pull on the dog at all, which for most dog owners can be difficult.

Many dogs do not take as easily to a head halter as they do to a no pull harness, and it can take several weeks of conditioning the dog for them to learn to tolerate it like in the video produced by Jean Donaldson below. The importance of harness fit. I recently worked with someone who said they didn't want to use a harness on their dog after their initial experience using a harness; I had asked why, and they mentioned that the harness had rubbed the dog's hair off on his shoulders.

The harness was a very poorly fitted Easy Walk harness, and did cause hair loss where it was rubbing. However, this is not a problem with ALL harnesses, it was an issue with the type of harness, harness fit, and how they were using the harness, pulling on the dog while on walks which added to the irritation the harness was causing. However, this is a very clear example of everything discussed in this blog.

Not all harnesses are created equal, and you want to be careful when choosing the equipment you use with your dog! Harnesses: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Tags: polite leash walking Leash walking puppy training dog training equipment harnesses dog physiology head halters. Featured Posts. Regis, Phoebe, and the attack of Frankenstein. Must Love Growling Dogs.

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