Collar or Harness and What's Better for My Dog?

If your dog is a perfect pup and walks calmly on leash with no pulling, wriggling or zig-zagging, then a collar might be all you need. But, for dogs who don't have exceptional leash behaviour then a harness is a good addition to a collar and can give you better control over your pet.

Harnesses also have lots of other positives, which are important to consider:

• A harness disperses pressure over a larger area of his body, reducing strain on your dog's body. Collars can't disperse the pressure so can cause a multitude of injuries including back, neck, nerve and thyroid damage. We never want to harm our pet's and vet bills are expensive, so avoiding injury is always our number one priority.
• Also, consider your dog's breed and physical condition. Dogs with weaker necks or trachea, may benefit from a harness. 
• Harnesses make it much harder for your dog to escape or wriggle free. Keeping them safe and out of trouble and away from dangerous traffic or other aggressive dogs.
• They’re useful to support with training especially with puppies. More control will help to correct bad behaviours before they become a nad habit.
• If you have a strong dog, then a harness gives you a better chance to match their power and is easier on your arms, shoulders and back. Some dogs might walk perfectly fine on collar and leash for 90% of the time, but then have the odd explosive pull or lurch when something catches their attention like a cat or a another familiar doggy friend. This is when a harness can really help to get your dog back under control and keep them safe.
• Harnesses discourage pulling because your dog won’t be as successful in moving forward. His pulling won’t get the result he’s after as easily and he'll start to realise that there's just no point in pulling.

So, a good harness will reduce pulling, increase your control over your pup, and decrease risk of injury to both your bodies! The benefits of a harness could also improve your walking experience and reduce some of the stress of excercising a dog with bad walking habits, making time with your pet as enjoyable as possible. At MyDog'N'More we have several harness options for you to choose from. You should consider the following factors when choosing which might be best for your pet, including:

• Size and strength of your dog
• Type of activity the harness will be worn for. Some harnesses have mesh and breathable materials for excercise and allow for easier movement
• Consider where you want to clip the leash. Clipping the leash in front on your dog’s chest means that he will get redirected when he tries to pull forward. Front clips are a good option of larger dogs. Whereas clipping on the top is better for smaller dogs to avoid the leash getting tangled around their legs.
• Easy of putting on your dog and options for adjustment to get a best fit. A poorly fitted harness can do just as much harm as a collar, so please choose the right size and fit for your pet. If you're unsure about sizing then it's best to opt for a harness that's adjustable. The rule is that it needs to be snug, but not tight and it should be comfortable.

Even though it's clear that harness is a great idea, don't rush to throw out your dog's collar! Harnesses aren't meant to be worn all the time, so a collar is a great option when your dog is just hanging out at home. Collars with tags or name plates are also useful for ID purposes and are essential at all times when they're out and about.  And remember, it's sometimes nice for your pup to be totally naked, so if they sleep indoors then this is a great time to give them some freedom from both their collar and harness.

So now you should have a much better understanding of why you should choose a harness and just as importantly, how to choose the right harness. Please check out our harness range. Use the product descriptions and the sizing charts to find a best fit!