Collars and Harnesses

Prepare your dog and yourself before heading out to explore the great outdoors, which includes other pets and their people. For you: Wear your most comfortable shoes. What should your dog wear?

First, a dog trainer will tell you that pulling is a learned behavior. No piece of equipment is going to solve behavioral issues.  It’s important to teach your pet the importance of good leash walking. That makes for a smart base. Yet for the safety of all and in order to follow the “rules of the streets,” collars or harnesses and leashes are a must. Try a combination of positive reinforcement along with the use of a harness or collar.

Collar or Harness? It depends.

Comfort and Ease of Use. Make sure whatever you use is comfortable for your pet. The fit should be snug, yet you should be able to put your flattened fingers or hand between your dog’s coat and whatever he is wearing. When using harnesses, don’t forget to set the clasps for the proper fit in all sections: upper chest, back, and underside.

Collars. If you have a dog who is relaxed and that you firmly trust not to take off during walks–perhaps it’s a senior pet–collars might be your choice. They are simple to put on and come in a variety of designs and colors. The downsides: some pets have the ability to  back out of a collar. If your dog is a puller, a collar can sometimes put strain on the neck, if pulling occurs.

As Good as Gold foster dogs receive the Martingale collar, which provides a secure, no-slip solution that prevents dogs from backing out of their collars. They offer gentle, controlled pressure for training, reducing pulling without choking, and are designed to distribute pressure evenly around the neck for comfort.

Harnesses. I happen to have a dog that, during a leisurely walk, will do just fine with a regular collar. Yet, on the occasion that she encounters a dog who seems like he’d make a fun zoomie buddy, she’s better off with her harness on. Therefore, the harness is a safer choice to use with her.

Harnesses can be a more comfortable option than collars, greatly  discourage pulling, and can also help avoid injury (such as throat damage.)

Front-clip Harness. When the harnesses are fitted correctly, the leash is attached in front of the dog on its chest. The positioning of the leash on the chest causes the dog’s forward momentum to be redirected back toward you, and the dog quickly learns that pulling is unproductive.

 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Nylon Dog Harness & Leash
Is another humane (no-force) anti-pulling option. With the no-pull, pressure is applied to the animal’s chest rather than their neck to discourage them from pulling.
https://2houndsdesign.com/collections/freedom-no-pull-harness

We use the Easy Walk, another “no pull” design that results in tension to the chest rather than the neck.
https://www.petsafe.com/p/easy-walk-harness/EWH-HC-L-BLK/

Tip from a Trainer for those tough-to-control pups:
Combine a front-clip harness  with the Martingale for that extra-sure control.

NOT recommended: choke chain, pinch or prong collars. These types of collars are designed to hurt, and the dog has no way of knowing why walks are now painful. Positive reinforcement strengthens the human-animal bond, builds trust, and fosters a confident, eager-to-learn pet without relying on fear or pain.

Happy Trails!

Tricia Eastmond
As Good as Gold
Education Coordinator

Mat Stokes
KPA-CTP
Fear Free Certified
http://stokedondogs.com