Why All Dogs Should Wear A Harness

When someone pictures dogs in movies and TV they always think of the highly trained dog that goes off to the porch or wherever and comes back with its lead for a walk and that's a very iconic image that most people have in their mind when it comes to taking your dog out for a walk but my first thought when I see that is 'where is the dogs harness' and it's one of those things that most people don't seem to think about when it comes to dogs. Harnesses. Most people if asked would probably state that a harness is not a vital piece of gear and that it is just something that its sole purpose is trying to get you to spend money on something that you and your dog do not need.

(Images above all show different dogs and angles of lead pulling showing how uncomfortable the dog is just look at the faces of the dogs)

That type of thinking is the wrong kind of thinking for people to have. A harness should be a required piece of kit for all dogs and their owners in my opinion. Why? Well, to put it in simple terms it is what is best for the dog. Now before I get into why I personally think everyone should use a harness on their pooch and some science that will help back it up I'll start with why it's such a good thing for the owner's first

It will reduce pulling -  The correct use of a harness will help you as an owner have better control over your pooch as they are less likely to pull in a harness because you have control over a larger portion of their body than you would do if you were using a collar. A harness will ensure less pulling as since you have better control and the dog can feel you are more in control they will be less likely to pull than just on a collar. A dog will feel more in control in just a collar than they would in a harness.

 One of the first things I always think about when I see a dog wearing just a collar is how that dog can be seriously hurt even if the owner is taking the utmost care and not even thinking of hurting their dog, all it can take is for the dog to want to pull to say hello to another animal or person and the damage is starting to take place even just slight pulling here and there can cause an issue for dogs and over time will have negative impacts on the dog's health.

Pulling on the neck increases the pressure on the jugular vein. This can cause a build-up of pressure around the brain and can affect the flow of cerebral spinal fluid. Pulling on a dog's collar can also constrict blood vessels, put pressure on the thyroid gland, nerve damage to the dog, and even lead to deformation of the base of the dog's tongue. Some dog breeds are even prone to a condition called tracheal collapse which can be brought on by collar pulling tracheal collapse has happened in dogs who have only worn a flat collar for walking. A tug can cause major pressure and trauma to a small area of the neck. If you catch the neck at a critical angle, you could blow a disc, cause nerve or muscle injury, or worse.

A study conducted by a canine specialist at Nottingham Trent University with additional support from the University of Nottingham found that with all the collar types and styles tested – even those that were padded or had a wide fitting – the pressure exerted on the model neck would be sufficient to risk injury to the dog. The researchers argue that as all collar types will pose some risk, dogs should be trained to walk without pulling, or walked using a harness that applies no pressure to the neck therefore reducing the risk of injury to the dog. If you would like to read the full study click here

(Images above show the comparison between a dog and human neck and the different areas that could be affected by collar pulling)

How would you feel if you were wearing a necklace and someone out of the blue kept pulling on it tightly against your neck. A) It wouldn't feel good B) It would probably end up causing you injury. What I like to do in these situations is imagine what that would feel like for me. If It would make me uncomfortable or cause me injury or distress then I am definitely not going to be putting an animal through that. 

I have a small dog and I only put her on just a collar and lead as a puppy when we went into a pet shop to get her harness so that she knew a lead was something that we wear outside. She was not even put on the floor while just wearing a lead and collar to get the associations in her head from a young age.

A harness can be purchased from most places but the best place I would recommend is going to a local pet shop and asking them for help in fitting a harness correctly to your dog as there you will be able to find the correct size and style of harness that will be appropriate for you and your dog. I say appropriate for you as an owner as you are going to want to have a harness that you know you can easily put on your dog and take off your dog without struggle for you or causing stress for your dog. As an example, if you are less able to move fingers properly due to injury or illness a better harness will have velcro instead of buttons or types of fasteners or if you have a high-energy dog, you know will need something stronger than a harness with a strong fastener will be better but all staff members at your pet store should be able to help you figure out which is the right fit both size wise and style-wise.

(Images above all show different dogs in different harnesses showing examples of harness types)

If you have a dog that you are thinking of getting into a harness and are worried as to how they will react to the situation then use plenty of treats so they know that the harness is a good thing and that they can trust it, let them get used to it by having a good sniff of the harness it may also help your dog if you get their scent onto the harness before you introduce it to them. If you think that sounds insane how can I do that then take one of the dog's favorite toys and rub it onto the harness so that they can smell their scent on the harness so it doesn't seem too alien to them.  

If you are looking into harnesses and want something a little bit different then some companies make harnesses with removable side patches that you can have personalized with your dog's name or nickname or other information such as if they are nervous or not friendly and even a contact number for the owner or business who is walking the dog. I have a few harnesses for my dog; a velcro and clip harness and a harness that has one large lockable clip and one band on the front of it with removable side patches each one is just as good as the other but it is fun to have multiple so you can change it up for both yourself and your pet.

A harness is the safest option for walking a dog but that doesn't mean that you should just ditch a collar altogether. When you are at home with your dog and not doing anything then sure they can be naked and roam free but when they are outside the comforts of the house they should be wearing a collar for the sole purpose of displaying an ID tag so that they can be returned to you if ever they should get themselves lost or in a bit of a pickle where contacting you is required.

As everyone should be aware it is always safest to be able to slide at least 2 fingers between your dog's collar and their neck this allows for movement when the dog is playing and allows the neck muscles to move freely and without risking injury to your dog. When fitting a dog with a collar it's very easy to do at home but if you feel cautious about this then again go into your local pet shop and ask a member of staff for assistance with the correct fitting of a collar. 

My advice as to what you should put on a collar may differ from others as I am not the expert here but what I would include is;

Dog Name (on front of tag) This is debated by some people as most people may tell you to put your surname on so people can't get the dog to respond but personally, I would put the dog's name so that people know who they have with them and for if any reason a stranger finds your pooch and has to take them to the vet the vet also knows who this pooch is for any forms they have to fill out

A Current Contact Number (on the back of the tag) Now I say the current number and preferably a mobile number so that you the owner can be reached quickly and not have the risk of the dog ending up in a shelter as nobody can reach an owner or have the dog taken to the vets looking for a microchip meaning that you can be reunited with your fluffy friend sooner

But that is just simply what I would put on a collar but if it is a slip-on tag that goes onto the collar then all information can go on the front to be easily read or if you feel it would be better then you could put other information on the collar such as a current address (for the same reason as a current contact number). You could also add if the dog has a microchip or if they are on medication as this could help reunite you and your fluffy friend sooner.

I am not writing this as a scare tactic or to force people to do things and I am certainly not getting anything from any company that makes and sells harnesses, I am simply just writing this to share with people what damage is truly being done by just walking or exercising your dog on a collar alone as we all simply want what is best for our fluffy companions and want them to live happy and healthy lives free from illness and injury.

Lucy, Animal Advocate (UK)