Collar vs. Harness
You see it every day. Pet owners pulling their dogs around on leash. Or better yet, you’ve watched dogs pull their pet owners for miles. All this force must go somewhere, and it’s usually applied to a dog’s fragile neck.
In a previous article, I discussed how collars can cause neck injuries in dogs, but I left out a valuable piece of information. Intentional and accidental collar jerks can cause more harm than previously stated. Plus, I forgot advice for small and medium sized dogs too. Shame on me!
So, here’s an updated addition to my previous article. 😉
The Answer
Should your dog wear a flat buckle collar or body harness? As a dog trainer, this decision is pretty easy. Allow me to explain why one piece of equipment causes more harm to your dog than the other.
Year in and year out, dogs are injured during walks while wearing a collar. While most pet owners try not to pull their dogs’ leashes, it still happens. Dog leashes are basically security lines to keep our dogs safe with us. Without leashes, dogs would run into oncoming traffic, chase other dogs, or basically run off and never be seen again. And it’s precisely that abrupt stopping-in-mid-walk motion that causes injury to your dog’s neck.
Think about it this way: If a car comes barreling down the road, you’ll suddenly stop your and your dog’s forward movement within nanoseconds. Yup, as you guessed it, these tiny start-and-stop leash movements can cause neck injury.
Collars Cause Injury
Collars can cause more harm than we previously thought. Before jumping into the specifics, it’s important to understand I’m discussing flat buckle or Martingale collars here. Choke and pinch collars cause considerably more injuries than flat collars, and it’s well documented. With that clarification, let’s discuss this further.
Interestingly, I had a great conversation with my holistic veterinarian who is certified in animal chiropractic care. He treats numerous neck, shoulder and forelimb injuries while completing chiropractic adjustments. Just by feeling the spinal area, our vet can tell if a dog is a leash puller. Honestly, I’m not shocked by his findings, but I was determined to find additional data and research.
Guess what? There’s really nothing to compare. Now, there’s substantial research proving choke chains cause issues, but little about flat buckle collars.
With that said, just watching a dog repeatedly strain against a flat collar makes my neck hurt because all that force goes somewhere. Even though there’s little scientific data collected so far, it’s pretty obvious that neck injuries can happen when dogs wear collars.
How to Choose the Right Dog Harness
Over the last 5 years or so, I’ve seen body harnesses become extremely popular. I believe that’s a good thing! While body harnesses will reduce direct pressure to a dog’s neck, they must be fitted correctly to prevent front-end damage too. Plus, not all body harnesses are alike.
Size
When choosing a body harness, make sure it’s completely adjustable around the neck and chest area. Many small dogs have a robust chest, so they don’t fit in a size small harness. Measure your dog beforehand and check the label’s fit measurements.
Construction
Look for body harnesses made with padded material that’s easily adjustable. Comfortable harnesses should sit around the top portion of your dog’s shoulder and not circle around his or her neck. Chest straps should fit snugly, yet not restrict your dog’s front leg movement. Many dog harnesses slide into your dog’s armpits, which is extremely painful during walks, so pay attention to how a body harness moves while your dog walks around wearing it.
Brand Recommendations
Like most pet owners, I appreciate brand recommendations for body harnesses. I recommend the Freedom Harness, Balance Harness and Ruffwear Harness. These are tried and true, completely adjustable, and won’t restrict your dog’s shoulder movement.
Should Collars Be Banned?
Of course not. Collars should carry your dog’s ID if he or she escapes. Microchip your dog, which is even better than ID tags. But don’t forget to remove your dog’s collar when left home alone or crated.
Body harnesses are best for all dogs. For strong-pulling dogs, I recommend front clip harnesses.
This is an interesting article and I do agree that in most if not all instances a harness is better but as it says in the article there is little evidence. We need studies to be done with comparisons over extended periods of time to provide data. There must be people reading this article who, if not themselves themselves in a position to instigate studies, have contacts in a position to do so
Bingo! Many veterinary chiropractors feel well fitted harness will prevent injuries, but there’s just no real data supporting it. Thanks for all your support!