Are collars going out of fashion?

[Goldens4ever]

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On my daily walk today i noticed every single dog i saw had a harness and lead and no collar its seems to be more common now for a harness and lead.

Are harness and lead better?

I planned on getting a good collar and lead for my dog, interested to know if harness's are better or not especially for large dogs.

 

[excuseme]

I think the harnesses are a fashion product and people think it is the thing to use.
A harness is fine if you are happy for your dog to walk in front and across of you as you are walking with no respect!
There will always be dogs that pull, whether they use a collar or a harness, in most cases this can be corrected with good training. If your lucky you may have a dog that naturally walks with you without the need to be in front, whether it is using a harness or a collar.
I think I see more dogs wearing a harness that are either pulling or walking in front, than those in a conventional collar and lead.

Dogs are used for pulling when put into a harness (such as a Husky) also horses and cattle, it makes pulling easier for them to pull from the shoulders/chest area, no working animal pulls from the neck effectively.

My favorite anti pull device is a "Halti", when correctly fitted and correctly used.
All animals with training can be lead from the head!

I would never use a harness, there is nothing wrong with a collar.

 

[Goldens4ever]

I agree im not a fan of the harness i prefer collar and lead

 

[RGC]

I think the harnesses are a fashion product and people think it is the thing to use.
A harness is fine if you are happy for your dog to walk in front and across of you as you are walking with no respect!
There will always be dogs that pull, whether they use a collar or a harness, in most cases this can be corrected with good training. If your lucky you may have a dog that naturally walks with you without the need to be in front, whether it is using a harness or a collar.
I think I see more dogs wearing a harness that are either pulling or walking in front, than those in a conventional collar and lead.

Dogs are used for pulling when put into a harness (such as a Husky) also horses and cattle, it makes pulling easier for them to pull from the shoulders/chest area, no working animal pulls from the neck effectively.

My favorite anti pull device is a "Halti", when correctly fitted and correctly used.
All animals with training can be lead from the head!

I would never use a harness, there is nothing wrong with a collar.

I think the harnesses are a fashion product and people think it is the thing to use.
A harness is fine if you are happy for your dog to walk in front and across of you as you are walking with no respect!
There will always be dogs that pull, whether they use a collar or a harness, in most cases this can be corrected with good training. If your lucky you may have a dog that naturally walks with you without the need to be in front, whether it is using a harness or a collar.
I think I see more dogs wearing a harness that are either pulling or walking in front, than those in a conventional collar and lead.

Dogs are used for pulling when put into a harness (such as a Husky) also horses and cattle, it makes pulling easier for them to pull from the shoulders/chest area, no working animal pulls from the neck effectively.

My favorite anti pull device is a "Halti", when correctly fitted and correctly used.
All animals with training can be lead from the head!

I would never use a harness, there is nothing wrong with a collar.

There are dogs whose necks are wider than their heads, like our whippet. In such cases, unless one wants to strangle the animal, there’s no alternative. I’d love to use a collar with Mabel (and she has several) but she can get out of them. However I’m willing to learn and would never presume that I’ve always got it right.

 

[niamh123]

I use a collar and lead for my 3 with no problems
It is a legal requirement for a dog to wear an ID tag,I have never seen a dog who wears only a harness with an ID tag attached to the harness

 

[RGC]

I use a collar and lead for my 3 with no problems
It is a legal requirement for a dog to wear an ID tag,I have never seen a dog who wears only a harness with an ID tag attached to the harness

It must have been mine.

 

[RGC]

It must have been mine.

She’s always had our details on her harness.

 

[Tinytom]

Tom has a harness with an id tag on as he has a flexi lead whilst in the woods....
My sighthounds wear martingale collars ...

 

[JudyN]

The law states that when out in public dogs must wear an id tag on a collar. So even if you use a harness, the dog should have a collar with the tag attached - it's not enough to have the id on the harness.

There are advantages to a harness - the AKC lists some here: Dog Harness Vs. Collar: Which is Better?

 

[JoanneF]

It is a legal requirement for a dog to wear an ID tag,I have never seen a dog who wears only a harness with an ID tag attached to the harness

The law states that when out in public dogs must wear an id tag on a collar. So even if you use a harness, the dog should have a collar with the tag attached - it's not enough to have the id on the harness.

Apparently Trevor Cooper was asked specifically about this at a Dog Law seminar. He said he would be quite comfortable arguing that it was legally acceptable to have ID on a harness instead of a collar. His argument was based, I believe, on the definitions of a collar/harness being sufficiently similar in law.

@Goldens4ever a pulling dog can cause trachea damage on a collar. And some harnesses help prevent pulling. That said, while there are various pieces of equipment available that help, it is training that really prevents pulling.

You might find this information helpful.

The Problem With Head Halters – Suzanne Clothier/Carpe Canem Inc.

 

[Finsky]

I have used both with my dogs....separately with some dogs and both same time with others, but I do prefer harnesses with my dogs in general. Having small dogs, some larger dogs have been known not to be too keen to them and in case of emergency, you can quickly lift small dog out of way without hurting their neck which could happen with collar. Some of our dogs have been VERY VERY stubborn to practice the learned skill of not to pull and even if you get them to walk nicely for majority of the time, they are very quick to react to many 'huntable' creatures.
I've had one terrier that did few sudden movements when wearing a collar and it did result a damage to its wind pipe.

And not only that, I've had several occasions that dogs have managed to pull their heads through the collar when the temptation of a chase/hunt got too exciting to miss...

So yes, I am more fond of a harnesses with our kind of dogs, saying that....I do tend to use rope type lead as well as ours have learned that feeling its weight around their neck results more attention and controlled behaviour. Hence there is some occasions that I still use collar as well, purely for training purposes.

AND I have attached identity tag and a 'info barrel' containing more contact information in case accident happens. I find I can tuck them quite easily inside the harness loops so they don't get pulled off during dog's rough and tumble play....(we've lost numerous tags if they are dangling on the view). Getting those tags hidden within collar would be difficult.
Harness or collar....I've noticed there is LOTS of dogs out without their tags...I don't know if people don't simply know that they should have them on their dogs or don't they just bother at all and they trust that the chip does the job...??

Oh...and...I've tried Halti with couple of our past dogs but I find that they do not sit nicely with terriers that have shortish muzzle. No matter how well I tried to fit them and tried some alterations to them as well, they always ended up traveling close to the dog's eyes and it just didn't look comfortable...and the dogs showed it too. So I've not bothered with them anymore.
I've got now a double ended leads that I've made for our dogs....one end being attached on the harness and if needing more controlled walking on the heel, then the other end will loop over the dog's head for it...but being flat lead material and that loop set so that it tighten up only so far around dog's neck...it is relatively safe for the dog and is not able to damage their windpipe with a sudden movement.
As our dogs are all still young, they are easily excitable....their needs for collars/harnesses may possibly change later on the life with changing body shape and older dog's calmer behaviour...or one would hope so

 

[JoanneF]

they trust that the chip does the job...??

I don't know why people do it but even trusting it to the chip, it means someone has to take the dog to a place with a reader. I have scooped up and returned so many dogs to their (usually frantic) owners, I actually carry a spare collar and lead now.

 

[RGC]

She’s always had our details on her harness.

The law states that when out in public dogs must wear an id tag on a collar. So even if you use a harness, the dog should have a collar with the tag attached - it's not enough to have the id on the harness.

There are advantages to a harness - the AKC lists some here: Dog Harness Vs. Collar: Which is Better?

Thanks for that, JudyN. I did say that I wouldn’t presume to always have it right. We’ll put the ID tag on her martingale collar but she’ll still have to be in a harness. You can see that her head is small by comparison with the size of her neck.

 

[Hemlock]

I use a slip lead. It's quick and easy (especially when arthritis starts to set in) and does not hurt a dog if dog is trained to walk nicely on a slack lead. My dog(s) have always had martingale collars with ID on unless working, and I fitted these to be on the loose side in case someone tried to snatch the dog away. Dog theft isn't a new thing. I had all of mine ear tattooed until the microchip became compulsory, and had/have an engraved metal plate set into the collar with my contact details but not my address as I didn't want lowlifes coming to the house. The address is a legal requirement but I thought I would rather be in court explaining why I did the wrong thing than losing my dog because I did the "right" thing.

I have no criticism of harnesses as long as they are used properly. This does not include letting the dog pull like a freight train, or being allowed to amble on a long line across everyone it meets. Ideally harnesses should have a chest fastening and another ring between the shoulders by the neck, and the owner uses a double-ended lead. Then if it leans into the harness, it turns itself back to the handler. I would not personally use a harness, but many people just don't have the timing or staying power to train a dog to walk nicely, and at least there is little risk of throat damage using a harness. Badly fitted harnesses can do damage, though, and I once saw a very unhappy Golden Retriever whose owner had unwittingly trapped his masculinity when fastening the harness.

 

[Inka]

Are harness and lead better?

I planned on getting a good collar and lead for my dog, interested to know if harness's are better or not especially for large dogs.

I think you hit the nail on the head "Are collars going out of fashion?" It is about fashion, and that is about what others do, you see in the pet shop, on TV...like any fashion.

Harnesses originally were invented to teach and enable a dog to pull (a load/cart/sledge)safely, comfortably and without causing injury to their trachea, for a working harnessed pulling dog it builds up muscles which enables a stronger/faster pull while keeping the dog in a forward balanced motion... the right type and fit of harnesses can be very useful for dogs who have neck, back or trachea issues, also useful initially when teaching a shy/sentitive pup who is learning about the world around them out for the first few scary times (although I would also use a collar too )they are used professionally often along with a collar as two points of contact... then fashion kicks in and as you say lots of people see and are encouraged to purchase fashion harnesses in the pet shops and off they go 'water skiing' down the street the dog building up those pulling muscles. extending their flexi leads which are highly dangerous as if the dog/pup is 10-20 ' in front of you in a second it can see a cat or someone it thinks it knows on the other side of the street and be in the middle of the street well before the following handler can react.

A well fitting harness, or collar ( or both used together) and lead is up to the individual to decide, however NO gadget trains a dog not to pull on the lead...lots of gadgets sold encourage pulling, lots of them can cause injuries, it is up to the individual to teach a pup/dog to walk on a lead without pulling first whatever they choose to use.

 

[Whippylove]

All my whippets wear harnesses and don't pull they happily plod along, I also use Id collars on them. Myself I prefer a harness as long as you choose the right one for your dog.