While collars are great for keeping your dog’s identification, harnesses are better for walking and practically every other activity outside your home. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club, harnesses allow you to exercise more control over your pup, even when you’re already confident in their leash manners.
But apart from having more control, harnesses offer specific benefits to different dogs with their individual temperaments. Among the dogs that need harnesses the most are:
Puppies aren’t born knowing how to behave when leashed. Using a puppy harness will help you train them without putting them in harm’s way.
They can try to pull, get all tangled up, or even tumble around without hurting their fragile bodies, especially their necks.
It gets even worse when they’re held back around their necks, so it’s always better to walk them in a harness than a dog collar.
The worst heavy pullers will pull against their dog leash with all their might, even when they’re already on the verge of choking. Plus, it takes incredible patience and energy to teach them proper walking and leash manners.
But with either a no-pull or a front-clip harness, you’ll be able to enjoy walking your dog rather than getting walked by them.
For senior or injured dogs, it’s important to distribute the pulling pressure across a larger part of their bodies.
There are specialized senior dog harnesses that allow you to safely assist them when they want to get up, or if they just need extra help getting around.
Harnesses are perfect for dogs with slender bodies or just remarkable talent in wiggling out of their collars.
Usually, these include the greyhound, saluki, and whippet. Using a harness makes it more difficult for them to escape.
If any one of these describes your dog, a harness is probably best for them. Otherwise, you still might want to consider a dog harness since they are generally more stylish and there are many options to choose from. Plus, many have ample padding to keep your pup comfortable.
The best dog harness for your pup really depends on their breed and temperament. For example, a pug harness would be very similar to a Frenchie harness, but just slightly different in size. Those would be the step-in type where the harness forms a Y across their broad chests.
If you’re looking for a pitbull harness, or one for other strong breeds that tend to pull, a front-clip harness might be your best bet.
A dachshund harness, on the other hand, would be a standard type. That way, they have ample support across their chests as well as their long, slender bodies. Some even have additional straps along the back to keep it even more secure.
Once you’ve chosen the right type, all you need to do is learn how to put on a dog harness. In the beginning, it might get a bit frustrating.
But once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that it’s actually pretty easy to put on. If, for any reason, you’re still not convinced that a harness is the right choice, make sure you know how to choose the best dog collar for your pup.
***If you're looking to introduce your pup to a new harness, we've got you covered!***
