Help.... Collar? Harness? Stop pull? Non-pull? Retractable???.....

[Wooliewoo]

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I’m a little overwhelmed with the variety of collars, harnesses and leads out there. I’ve walked into the pet shop numerous times and still walked out with nothing.

We are due to collect our new Whippet pup middle of August. We will have a 2.5hr drive back with him, we’ll need to keep stopping to prevent sickness and also to allow him to do his business, so we’ll need a lead and collar when we collect him. Ideally I don’t want to waste money, so looking for something we’ll be able to continue to use until he outgrows it. We are also hoping to get him a harness, but again, there are so many different ones out there.

Any advice, throw it this way please x

 

[JoanneF]

I favour a harness, as damage to the trachea is a risk with lead attached to a collar. And with a long line or retractable, only a harness should be used - when a dog on a long line is running, he doesn't know when he will reach the end so if it was attached to a collar the tug on his neck going from full run to full stop is pretty severe.

The only advice I have for a pup is buy cheap as he will outgrow a harness. Keep an eye on fasteners like clips that sit close behind elbows and could annoy him, and for the nylon strapping material that is finished off by heating as that can leave a really hard edge which could be sore against sensitive bits.

Legally a dog must wear a collar outside with an ID tag - I personally think it's a daft rule as the ID tag could go on a harness, but it's the law so we have to just suck it up. Someone with similar breeds to yours will likely have more advice.

I hate seeing retractable leads used by roads. The lock can fail, in a moment of confusion the fingers can fail, so while they have their place you will need a short lead for roadside walking. Some people like washable ones, I like leather - my friends buy shoes and bags, I buy leather pet accessories

 

[Whippylove]

Hi, we bought Rolo a regular soft puppy collar and lead being honest he was so small it hardly fit him! Hes 15 weeks and still wears it now so i can put his id tag on but i use a harness for him as i found collars to harsh for his neck its the ancol puppy harness and it works great. I wouldnt worry about anything to expensive as hes going to grow quickly and when hes ready you can get a whippet collar or harness. Heres the harness Rolo wears.

 

[Wooliewoo]

Great, thank you. I just wasn’t sure if there was any one particular type which was preferable for puppies, don’t want to damage him.

 

[Caro Perry]

I bought a soft webbing collar for Harri when he was tiny. It was so soft and light he really didn't notice me putting it on him. It was fine until he was about 5 months old when we upgraded to the smart leather one he has now.

I bought cheap harnesses - they have to fit properly and the pup will outgrow them. I've passed them on to a friend and she uses them for her dog who is rather smaller than mine. Lots of charity shops have them too if you don't want to buy new

 

[Mad Murphy]

Murphy also had a soft harness like the one @Whippylove has pcitured.. They are just like human children, put something on them and they wear it once then grow!
We started Murphy on the soft harness and a standard lead. Only when he had learned his manners did we use a retractable. We have very strict leash laws here so letting dogs have any freedom is almost impossible without a retractable or long line. When we walk in big areas we use a long line now, but for local parks a flexi is a blessing.
You do have to be very very careful with them and follow all safety instructions and never be tempted by a cheap model if you do go down that road.

 

[Nanny71]

Dudley started with one of the soft ones when he was a puppy. He always wears a collar now because he gets out of his harness and they rub his armpits. He is small and obviously not a whippet. Fortunately he does not pull.
The collar tag in the UK is a strange law as all dogs have to be microchipped.

 

[JoanneF]

The collar tag in the UK is a strange law as all dogs have to be microchipped.

I guess there are two reasons for it. It was in existence before the microchipping law so has likely just not been repealed. And, at least if you come across a loose dog you could try phoning the number rather than having to take it to a place with a scanner then call the chip register (who would probably be unable to give you the owner's details because of Data Protection anyway).

 

[leashedForLife]

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for sighthounds, both adult & pups any age, I like wide martingale AKA limited-slip collars, without buckles - they adjust by making the neck opening smaller [to keep the collar from slipping over the dog's backskull], or larger [to remove the collar, by slipping it over the dog's head].

An inch-wide collar would be the narrowest I'd choose, & 1.5-inch wide would be better. The width spreads any pressure over a larger area, no matter who causes the tension - the dog pulling on the leash, or U pulling on the leash.
As Ur pup is a Whippet, I'd think U can buy a sighthound-style martingale that will fit him clear into & thru adulthood.
He has less growing to do than, say, a Lab pup.

As for leashes, I like veg-tanned harness leather with no stitches or rivets, they are SELF-BRAIDED to tie the snap into one end, & create the wrist-loop at the other. They get more beautiful & supple as silk with time, & they last forever - 15 years of heavy use easily, 20-years or more is quite possible, with decent care. And they're not delicate - getting wet with salt water won't hurt them, so long as U rinse them soon after with fresh water [not soak - rinse!] & then hang 'em to dry; over a shower-curtain rod is great, or hang by the clip from a hook.

here is my fave:

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that's from J&J dog supplies, it's 1/2-inch W x 6-ft long, with a brass spring-clip.

this is their leather long-line:

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it's 15-ft long & made of a single piece of leather; as both are veg-tanned, they are NOT highly-polluting standard "chrome tanned" leather, & they're incredibly durable. This is the pale color of brand-new veg-tanned harness; with use, they become a beautiful dark honey shade, & when very old indeed, become almost mahogany, with a rich red cast.

I also like Y-harnesses of nylon webbing, such as the Sure-Fit, which adjusts at 5 different points, & yes, has so far fit every dog I have ever tried it on. They are sold on Amazon.co.uk

HTH,
- terry

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