Collar or Harness
Considering to be or already a dog owner? Learning about whether to get a traditional dog collar or a harness for your dog can make an impact on your dog’s overall health and yours as well.
Collar Pros
Dogs tend to be more comfortable wearing a collar than a harness. In fact, some dogs even refuse to wear a harness due to discomfort.
Collars are much easier to put on your dog than a harness. Consider getting a dog collar if your dog does not enjoy wearing clothing.
Collar Cons
Most dogs are able to take off the collar by themselves making them not 100% foolproof.
When a dog pulls, there will be pressure built up on the front of their neck, reducing blood flow to the brain. Collars are linked to long-term eye and hearing damage, as well as an increased risk in developing collapsed trachea -an irreversible disease. Collars are not recommended for owners with big dogs due to the dog’s pulling force. Frequent exposure to this can cause pain in the owner’s arms and back. Metal prong collars in particular are not good. These collars have metal spikes that are designed to discourage your dog from pulling due to the spikes which pinch the skin around the dog’s neck. When they pull, these spikes can scratch, or at worst, puncture the dog’s skin. Eventually, the dog will develop scar tissue which has no nerves (no sense of pain in the affected area). This means that the dog will continue to pull on the lead after building up his or her’s pain tolerance.
Harness Pros
A harness offers more control over the dog. This reduces the dog’s urge to pull on their lead, as they will have to put more effort into pulling in order to get to their desired location, when compared to the traditional collar.
Harnesses are great for training young puppies when taking them outside on a lead because harnesses reduce leash entanglement. This makes harnesses a popular choice for those with multiple dogs.
Harness Cons
A harness is not capable of holding all of your dog’s info -such as the dog’s name and the owner’s phone number.
Although harnesses sound like the way to go, having a dog with long fur and having him or her wear a harness on a walk, may result in overheating, especially on a hot day. Not only that, but your dog’s fur may get stuck and tangled in the harness as well, causing pain when trying to untangle them.
Thank you for reading this blog and I hope this helped you choose whether to get a traditional collar or a harness. Either choice, I wish you and your dog many bright years to come. See you next time.
Citations:
[1] “Collar vs. Harness - Why Your Dog Needs Both.” Atlas Pet Company, atlaspetcompany.com/blogs/adventures/collar-vs-harness-why-your-dog-needs-both.
[2] “Dog Harness VS Collar: The Pros and Cons.” 4Knines®, 4knines.com/blogs/4knines-blog-home-page/dog-harness-vs-collar-pros-cons.
[3] Reisen, Jan. “Dog Harness Vs. Collar: Which Is Better?” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 27 Apr. 2020, www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/best-dog-harnesses/.