Collar or Harness?

Collar or harness – many dog owners make this decision without giving it too much thought. Some prefer the collar because it’s quick to put on, others prefer the harness because you can attach funny stickers like “Mama’s Bestie” to it. It’s important for your dog’s health to learn the pros and cons of both methods, and then decide whether a collar or harness is the right choice for you and your dog.

Collar for Dogs

The neck of every living being is particularly sensitive. The spine is only slightly protected here, the trachea is located here and supplies our lungs with the oxygen we need for life, and the thyroid gland, which produces hormones, is also surrounded by little tissue. In addition, the individual cervical vertebrae are very fine here – and anyone who has “distorted” their neck knows how much the whole body is restricted in its movement if something is out of balance there. Many people can’t even stand the feeling of tightness in a turtleneck – but this is exactly where we attach a dog collar to the body.

In principle, this is not a problem as long as no pressure is exerted on the neck. But every strong tug on the collar, regardless of whether you pull it because you are pulling on the leash, or whether your dog is jerking it because he runs into the leash with all his might out of excitement or when playing, poses health risks and the consequences of this inflamed larynx can be coughing and choking. And severely painful damage to the cervical spine can manifest itself in the animal tilting or swaying its head. Even increased eye pressure can result from prolonged tugging on the collar.

A collar is not a problem, though

• Your dog is only briefly walked across the street or around the block on a leash so he can run free afterward.
• the four-legged friend is really very calm and walks evenly on the leash. This is often the case with senior dogs, dogs that are very well on a leash, or dogs that are well balanced.
• during dog school or training, work is concentrated and with foresight.

However, you should not use a collar if

• the dog tends to be aggressive on a leash,
• walks on the towline,
• runs next to the bike or on the horse,
• the dog is very young and still very playful or
• he very scared

In these cases, the danger is simply great that your four-legged friend will run into the leash with a lot of momentum and injure the sensitive neck region or get tangled and strangled.

Harness for Dogs

The big advantage of a harness over a collar is that it distributes the pressure evenly – while sparing the neck region. But here too there are a few things to consider because a harness that does not fit properly can also damage the dog’s health. Therefore, a harness must fit perfectly.

• The harness must not be too tight and, above all, must not press on the sensitive spine from above
• The chest strap should be a hand’s breadth from the front legs on large dogs and a little less on small breeds. It is important that nothing rubs in the armpit.
• The rotation of the shoulder must not be disturbed. So there should be no strap over the shoulder blades.
• The straps should be soft and wide.
• If the harness has a metal ring in the chest area through which the straps run, then this must not press on the sternum bone.

Benefits of a harness

The pressure is distributed over the entire front part of the body.
If the dog gets into an unsafe situation, for example in rough terrain, you can pull it up or out using the harness.
A fearful dog is better secured in a harness, but it can quickly wriggle out of a collar.

Collar or Harness? Try Out!

Get advice from a specialist retailer so that you buy crockery that really fits and does not rub or pinch. Try out the different fits that are available. Perhaps you can ask your friends at the dog park who have a dog of a similar build to try out their dog harness for a day. This gives you the opportunity to test several models for their suitability for everyday use and ultimately to find your favorite.

And it doesn’t matter whether you prefer a collar or a harness: the most important goal should always be good walking on the leash and the controllability of the dog. In this way, the harmful pressure that the body has to endure is minimized as much as possible.

Puppies can chew through a dish with their sharp teeth in a few minutes – this can become expensive fun in the long run. So only put the harness on immediately before the walk – and also pay attention to what the little one does when, for example, he lies down next to you in the park and rests.