Want to go for a walk?
You want the best for your dog. And when it gets to walking, using a harness is one way to for you and your dog to have a more enjoyable time. But is a harness the right choice for your dog, and if so, what type should you choose?
Why your dog should wear a harness
A harness or a collar? A harness is safer, as it takes the stress off the neck. When a dog pulls hard, a collar can cause neck injury, particularly if the dog is constantly yanking, pulling and fighting the leash. A harness usually connects to the leash with a hook on the dog’s back between the shoulders, while a collar is attached at the neck. Although a harness is not comfortable and ideal for daylong wear, it’s ideal when walking the dog.
How to choose a harness and put it on your dog
Because a harness is comfortable for most dogs, and it’s easier to control the dog, wearing one can make for a much more enjoyable walking experience for both owner and dog. But choosing the right one can be tricky as they vary in style and function. A small dog may wear a harness to help protect it, while a Rottweiler will need a harness that can help the owner control the dog without hurting it.
This guide will help you choose the right harness for your circumstances and your dog.
When you put the harness on, make sure it’s fairly loose so it’s easy to slip on your dog. Once it’s on you can tighten it, and make sure it fits properly. A good snug fit means means there’s room for only two fingers between your dog and the harness at any point. A dog can slip out of a harness that is too loose and get hurt or lost.
Making your dog used to wearing a harness
Wearing a harness for the first time can be a scary experience for your dog! Let the dog sniff it, and even put it with something that smells familiar first; like a familiar toy or blanket. Gently put it on the dog’s back so that it can get used to it. A treat my hasten the process! It’s also a good idea to let the dog walk around the house with the harness so that it can get used to it, before taking it out the first time. You can read more about your dog wearing a harness in this article.
Even if your dog wears a harness, it’s very important that it still carry identification tags around its neck! You never know when something happens and you get separated from your dog. Even if your dog is microchipped, it still needs basic information on a collar in case it gets lost.
Why your dog should wear a harness
A harness or a collar? A harness is safer, as it takes the stress off the neck. When a dog pulls hard, a collar can cause neck injury, particularly if the dog is constantly yanking, pulling and fighting the leash. A harness usually connects to the leash with a hook on the dog’s back between the shoulders, while a collar is attached at the neck. Although a harness is not comfortable and ideal for daylong wear, it’s ideal when walking the dog.
How to choose a harness and put it on your dog
Because a harness is comfortable for most dogs, and it’s easier to control the dog, wearing one can make for a much more enjoyable walking experience for both owner and dog. But choosing the right one can be tricky as they vary in style and function. A small dog may wear a harness to help protect it, while a Rottweiler will need a harness that can help the owner control the dog without hurting it.
This guide will help you choose the right harness for your circumstances and your dog.
When you put the harness on, make sure it’s fairly loose so it’s easy to slip on your dog. Once it’s on you can tighten it, and make sure it fits properly. A good snug fit means means there’s room for only two fingers between your dog and the harness at any point. A dog can slip out of a harness that is too loose and get hurt or lost.
Making your dog used to wearing a harness
Wearing a harness for the first time can be a scary experience for your dog! Let the dog sniff it, and even put it with something that smells familiar first; like a familiar toy or blanket. Gently put it on the dog’s back so that it can get used to it. A treat my hasten the process! It’s also a good idea to let the dog walk around the house with the harness so that it can get used to it, before taking it out the first time. You can read more about your dog wearing a harness in this article.
Even if your dog wears a harness, it’s very important that it still carry identification tags around its neck! You never know when something happens and you get separated from your dog. Even if your dog is microchipped, it still needs basic information on a collar in case it gets lost.