Let’s start by saying we here at Knotty Toys for Good Dogs have a bias in favor of using a dog harness instead of a collar for walking your dog.
A collar is great accessory, good to keep ID tags on or in the case of a training collar (often referred to as a choke collar; if you are choking your dog, you are not using it properly. Get the advise of a professional when using a training collar) if used properly they’re a great tool for getting your dog’s attention.
A collar can put a great deal of pressure on a dogs throat & could cause serious injury to the trachea & the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck.
Smaller dogs such as toy poodles or chihuahuas, are delicate & dogs with short muzzles, such a pugs will benefit from a harnesses instead of a collar because of their unfortunate predisposition to breathing complications.
There are two general designs of dog harnesses, those that are front attaching & those that are back attaching.
For larger dogs, we suggest a front attaching harness. This type of harness attaches in the front of the dog between the legs & can offer more control as it gently tightens when the dog pulls & guides from the front.
For smaller dogs, we suggest a back attaching harness.
A dog collar is obviously cheaper & easier to use. Most people put one on their dog & leave it. A harness should be used for walks but removed when at home. So it may take an extra few minutes & effort but we feel a harness is a much safer alternative.
What does your good dog wear, a collar, harness or both? We would love to know, please leave us a comment. If you liked this post or any of our others let us know by clicking on ‘Like’ or follow or blog.
CEO Olivia ❤
Further Reading:
Collars vs. Harnesses: Which is the Best for my Dog?
Choosing the Right Collar or Harness
Walking Equipment for Your Dog