Harness or Collar, you decide.
Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost
Re: Harness or Collar, you decide.
At the shelter we use Sens-ible harnesses. The ring to hook the leash onto is on the front of the dog so when they pull they are turned a little to the side which 99% of the time stops the pulling. We also teach them loose leash walking by turning in another direction when they start to pull and saying "with me." Each time they start pulling we change direction. If we are walking on the trails and there isn't enough room to change directions we stop if they start pulling until they turn towards us then we start walking again. This method can make a short walk very long though.
Re: Harness or Collar, you decide.
Having had a dog that had to have a tracheotomy in I never walk my dogs on a collar, when a dog pulls on a collar they can damage the trachea and larynx, how Ellie damaged her's I don't know but this is her story http://tracheotomy-in-dogs.yolasite.com/
The problem with headcollars very few people use them properly, I have been away for the long weeekend and saw many dogs with them on, none being used properly. A friend saw a Dalmation break his neck with one on. They should only be used with a harness or collar, the dog walking on these and the headcollar for when the owner needs extra control.
I don't like the D ring at the front either, I don't want my dog turned into me when I am walking as I am disabled and need my dogs to walk straight. It is better to teach your dog to walk properly instead of relying on gadgets to solve the problem, they don't, they do help control your dog if needed.
When you just use a headcollar you only control the head, the body can still flip out and leap about which is how the Dalmation broke his neck. When a dog behaves like this they can also over extend one side of their neck as well as compress the other leading to serious neck damage.
With an ordinary collar you do control the neck, the body is still able to leap around and the dog can damage the trachea and larynx.
With a harness you control the body which is the biggest part, the head and neck can still move but not far, a harness may bruise a leaping dog but that is very little damage compared to the headcollar and ordinary collar.
If you add a headcollar or collar to a harness you do have a lot more control, you not only control the body but the head and neck.
The problem with headcollars very few people use them properly, I have been away for the long weeekend and saw many dogs with them on, none being used properly. A friend saw a Dalmation break his neck with one on. They should only be used with a harness or collar, the dog walking on these and the headcollar for when the owner needs extra control.
I don't like the D ring at the front either, I don't want my dog turned into me when I am walking as I am disabled and need my dogs to walk straight. It is better to teach your dog to walk properly instead of relying on gadgets to solve the problem, they don't, they do help control your dog if needed.
When you just use a headcollar you only control the head, the body can still flip out and leap about which is how the Dalmation broke his neck. When a dog behaves like this they can also over extend one side of their neck as well as compress the other leading to serious neck damage.
With an ordinary collar you do control the neck, the body is still able to leap around and the dog can damage the trachea and larynx.
With a harness you control the body which is the biggest part, the head and neck can still move but not far, a harness may bruise a leaping dog but that is very little damage compared to the headcollar and ordinary collar.
If you add a headcollar or collar to a harness you do have a lot more control, you not only control the body but the head and neck.
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