Benefits of Harnesses in Walking your Dog
Walks are one of the most important activities that your dog gets to enjoy. Walking isn't just an opportunity for exercise; it's a chance to explore, take in the world, and bond with the handler and other dogs.
Unfortunately, walking can be uncomfortable, stressful, or even dangerous for the handler, the dog, and the community if the dog isn't under control or the wrong equipment is used.
What's Wrong with Collars?
Collars are great for carrying your dog's tags and for casual handling around the house, but they aren't the best tools for walking your dog for a couple of key reasons:
Pressure on the Neck
Collars with double layers may slightly reduced contact pressure, but not significantly enough. No type of collar offers a low enough pressure to make them safe to walk a pulling dog on a leash. Pressure on your dog's neck results in a number of significant problems:
● Intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure, or pressure against your dog's eyes, is increased by wearing a collar but not by wearing a harness. Therefore, harnesses are recommended for any dogs who have weak corneas, glaucoma, or anything that increases pressure in the eye.
● Localized injury. A study found that wearing a harness did not cause dogs to change their gate, and it distributed pressure over a larger area. However, the force exerted on the throat from a collar was localized and had the potential to cause or exasperate injuries.
● Collapsing trachea. Many small breed dogs suffer from a condition known as collapsing trachea, which makes their windpipe collapse and causes them to struggle to breathe. Collars make collapse of the trachea more likely and exasperate symptoms.
Difficult to Communicate with your Dog
A buckle collar offers very little communication between you and your dog. Your dog won't feel any pressure until the collar is suddenly tight against one part of the neck.
Too often, when people walk dogs on buckle collars, they tend to hold on and allow the dog to lean into the collar. As the dog gets used to pressure from the collar, they are even less likely to notice changes in pressure.
Dogs Can Slip Out
Buckle collars should be fastened with two fingers between the collar and your dog's neck to make sure that they aren't too tight. Unfortunately, that's enough room for many dogs to slip their heads out and escape the collar.
Advantages of Collars
Is there any reason to choose to walk your dog on a collar? With all of these downsides, you may find yourself wondering why collars have been the standard in dog walking for so many years. Collars have some distinct advantages over harnesses:
● Convenient. Your dog already wears a buckle collar for their identification, so it doesn't get much easier than attaching the leash to the collar when you want to go for a walk.
● Control of the head. A collar gives you more control over dogs that can be reactive on a walk and easier to get the attention of distractible dogs.
● Takes less strength to control your dog. Whereas dogs can put their weight into a harness and pull hard, when used properly, a collar makes it very difficult for a dog to put their full strength into pulling.
Considerations in Harnesses
Harnesses solve many of the problems that are brought up by collars. They are generally considered a safer option. However, they do have some downsides as well.
Advantages
● Reduced risk of injury. Perhaps the biggest benefits of dog harnesses is their increased safety. By distributing pressure across your dog's body, harnesses make it less likely that injuries will occur. Dogs are less likely to suffer injuries to their neck or joints, have problems with their trachea, choke, or have increased pressure on their eyes when they wear a well-fitted harness.
● More secure option. As a rule, harnesses make it more difficult for dogs to escape than do collars.
● Increased body handling. Harnesses offer you more handholds to control your dog than just the neck.
Disadvantages
● Dog may be able to pull more. Dogs are better able to put their weight into most harnesses, grip the ground, and pull hard. Powerful dogs may be able to pull over the average person while wearing a harness.
● Can't control the head. Harnesses let dogs turn their head around completely, which can make it more difficult to control the dog.
● Inconvenient. Harnesses can be a challenge to put on in the best of circumstances, much less when a dog is wiggling with excitement to go for a walk.
Training Your Dog to Walk Nicely
The negative consequences of a collar or a harness only occur if your dog misbehaves. Your goal should be to teach your dog to walk nicely. Controlling your dog's behavior is much more effective than just trying to control the body.
Control vs Communication
For far too many people walking their dogs, the leash exists more as a cable between them than a way of communicating. If you expect your dog to learn to behave on a walk, the leash must be a channel of information.
When your dog pulls, they need to experience a firm pressure. When they stop pulling or walk with a loose leash, they should feel no pressure. Experiencing the difference helps your dog to understand what you want and don't want. The same is true when you apply pressure for other reasons, like when you want your dog to come or stop.
Contrary to the argument some people make against harnesses, both leashes and harnesses can offer good communication between you and your dog.
Here are some examples of a leash and harness that I suggest and why:
Mendota Slip Lead
The Mendota Slip Lead can be a wonderful tool for the right owner and dogs. Dogs that may be prone to diseases that can be exasperated by collars should never wear any kind of collar, including a slip lead.
Dogs that continuously pull on the leash can choke if walked with this kind of leash, so it is only to be used for training your dog not to pull. However, it's a very convenient and functional option for the right situation.
● Communication. The primary advantage of this leash is the sliding ring offers continuous communication. When your dog pulls, they immediately feel tightening at their neck. When they stop pulling, the pressure instantly releases.
● Convenience. This kind of lead is just as easy as a collar except that instead of snapping it on, you'll be slipping it over your dog's head. It collapses to be stashed conveniently in a bag or pocket.
● Soft but tough. The half-inch rope is gentle and soft on your hands and your dog's neck, but holds up to your dog biting at it. Teeth tend to go through the gaps in the rope rather than slicing the fibers.
● Escape proof. When fitted correctly, a slip lead is escape-proof for nearly any kind of dog in any situation. A leather stopper keeps the loop from loosening and going over your dog's head. The loop tightens when your dog pulls, so they won't be able to back out of it.
PetSafe Easy Walk Harness
The innovative PetSafe harness is the best dog harness for walking most dogs. It solves many of the typical problems that come with harnesses and collars. It is the ideal tool for walking many dogs and is the safest tool for any dog who may be vulnerable to pressure on the neck.
● Safe. This harness distributes pressure over the chest and shoulders, not on the delicate neck. It tightens so it is difficult for dogs to slip out of.
● Good communication. This harness tightens on your dog's chest when they pull and loosens when they relax, which continuously communicates to your dog to train them not to pull. For this reason, this is a great no pull harness for dogs who may typically pull in harnesses.
● Prevent leaning in. Harnesses that attach to the back allow your dog to lean in and dig in with their feet, which enables them to gain more strength. This harness attaches to the chest, which keeps your dog from digging in and pulling hard.
Walk Your Dog Safely
Whether you want to walk your own dog or you hire a trusted dog walker, it is essential to use the right tools for your dog. Good communication and safety are of the most importance. The Mendota slip lead and the Easy Walk harness both offer great options.