Harness vs. Collar

[Guest Jandy]

I've seen several posts here referring to using a harness for their Cairns. I've never used one and wonder what the advantages/disadvantages are vs. a regular collar.

Packy loves to try to chew on his collar tags (rabies tag and name/phone info) -- he practically does somesaults trying to get at them. Really fun to watch when you move the tags to the back of his neck! Sometimes he just sits with the tags in his mouth, kind of like a pacifier.

[tena]

That's cute....I can picture it. I got Sophie, as a 3 yr old breeder throw away from the dog pound, and started her socialization with a collar. That was a big adjustment to her. We spent the first few weeks of socialization using a collar and lead. I switched her to a harness after 2 weeks, because that's when her fear faded enough to let her personality begin to emerge. Frankly I needed the 'handle'. I find it is much easier to physically control her , if need be when she is wearing her harness.

Sophie wears her harness all the time. 24/7. It's taken off to brush her, to dry it and her off after the snow, and at bathtime. Although Sophie is a grown dog, and has outgrown most puppy mischief, she is only 3.5 months into socialization, and that brings the puppy out in her. Not many dogs her age still get stuck under the couch exploring...harness comes in hand here.

For us, the harness makes Sophie easier to handle outside. Understand that I am not close to 'heel' walking with her yet. She generally leads the walk, and the harness enables me to bodily move her along if need be. or change her direction if she spots something interesting but forbidden..ie a cat. She pulls less on it, and if I need to pull her, the harness give a lower center of gravity.

Once she has finished gaining muscle mass, and weight, and is farther along in her socialization I anticipate changing her back to a collar.

Those are my thoughts.

Tena

[bubba]

When I walk our dogs, they wear harnesses, otherwise they have on collars. They are investigators while on the leash, and the gagging sounds are more than I can handle. I put them both on the same leash with a split lead and I find when they are in the harnesses, they don't pull nearly as much. It is also a lot easier to grab them by if need be.

The kind of harnesses I use cross in the back like an 'X' and there is a metal link there that you hook the leash to.

pat.

[toomanypaws]

Bubba exlained it accurately. A harness keeps them from gagging if they pull. Even a Cairn trained to heal by your side will still have a tendency to pull if something alerts his attention. My Cairns also wear collars in the house. It gives me something to hold onto when I brush them daily. The type harness I use attaches around the neck and around the belly. This way, if one were to come undone, I still have my Cairn.

[wheezie23]

I walk my two with a coupler like Bubba described and harnesses. I find the pups are easier to control, too. I recently switched to the Sporn harnesses and am absolutely amazed at the difference in Tuckers leash behavior. Normally he would pull and strain, but with the Sporn, all it takes is a little corrective tug from me and he settles right down. Well worth the money spent!

Thela

[OzGirl]

I recently switched to a harness for Roxy because she gets so excited if she sees anyone when I'm walking her. She used to pull so hard and be standing up on her back legs pulling against her collar to get to them. I was concerned she would damage her throat or something. Since I started using the harness she has been much easier to walk and when she does get excited she isn't putting all her weight on her throat.

[Maggie15]

We've switched to a harness for walking for the same reasons as above. Maggie would pull on her collar hard enough to choke herself and cough and gag! ...the harness pulls around her chest rather than her throat and she seems to pull less with it, or at least its easier to control and we dont feel like she is choking herself. Our harness goes around the neck (loose) and another hoop behind her legs with a clasp. If your dog doesn't pull on a leash and can walk nicely on a collar, then i'd probably stay with it. And count your blessings!hahaha! We only put a collar or harness on her when we are going out.

a

[Milopup]

We use a plain ol' nylon harness from Petsmart because of the choking issues.

Is there really a big difference between the normal nylon harness from Petsmart/Petco and the Sporn? Is it worth the extra money to switch over?

[Eliz222]

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the Sporn harness!!! We, also, only use the harness when they go on walks, otherwise they have their collars on. The Sporn harness is WELL worth the money spent! Finch would pull so much that I was the only one who wanted to take her on walks, and I didn't even want to! I bought the same harness for Scout and taking them on walks is a dream! I use two leashes, but I also have the double leash that connects to both of them, so I should try that too.