Harness or Collar?

One of the questions I get asked a lot is whether dogs should be walked on a harness or a collar.

My answer is usually the same:

It depends on the dog, the situation, and what you’re trying to achieve.

Like most things in dog training, there isn’t one piece of equipment that is perfect for every dog.

What I do know is that choosing the right equipment can make training safer, easier, and more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

Harnesses Don’t Teach Loose Lead Walking

Let’s start with one of the biggest misconceptions I hear.

Many people buy a harness because their dog pulls on the lead and they’re hoping the harness will stop the pulling.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.

A harness is a piece of equipment, not a training program.

One thing I often discuss with clients is that sled dogs wear harnesses because harnesses allow dogs to pull efficiently and comfortably.

So if your dog already pulls on the lead, simply putting them in a back-attachment harness isn’t usually going to solve the problem. In fact, it can sometimes make pulling easier because the dog can put their whole body weight into the harness.

That doesn’t mean harnesses are bad. Far from it - I use them all the time. It simply means that a harness is a piece of equipment, not a training solution.

If your dog pulls on lead, we still need to teach loose lead walking regardless of whether they’re wearing a harness or a collar.

When Do I Recommend Using a Harness?

While harnesses won’t teach a dog not to pull, there are plenty of situations where they can be a useful piece of equipment:

I often recommend them when safety is a priority, particularly for dogs learning recall on a longline, newly adopted dogs, nervous dogs, traveling and restrained in a vehicle, and dogs that may unexpectedly hit the end of the lead.

One of the biggest reasons is that they help distribute pressure across the dog’s body rather than concentrating it around the neck.

For longline work, I almost always choose a harness over a collar.

If a dog suddenly takes off after a bird and hits the end of a 10 metre line at speed, I’d much rather that pressure be distributed across their body than concentrated around their neck.

The same applies when dogs are learning recall and freedom outdoors.

Mistakes happen.

Dogs get distracted.

Harnesses help make those mistakes safer.

What Makes A Good Harness?

Not all harnesses are created equal.

When I’m choosing a harness, I’m looking for something that:

• fits well
• is adjustable
• doesn’t rub behind the elbows
• doesn’t restrict shoulder movement
• allows comfortable movement
• is secure and difficult to escape from
• is comfortable enough for everyday use

I also prefer harnesses that don’t sit straight across the front of the shoulders. Dogs move through their shoulders with every step they take, and we want them to be able to move as naturally and comfortably as possible. That’s one of the reasons I generally prefer a Y-front style harness.

A poorly fitted harness can be uncomfortable, restrict movement, or create rubbing and pressure points.

Why I Like The True Love Harness

Over the years I’ve seen a lot of different harnesses come through training classes, daycare, boarding, and adventure walks.

The harness we use and recommend is the True Love harness.

I like it because it’s adjustable, comfortable, well-padded, and gives a secure fit on many different dog shapes.

It also has both front (chest) and back attachment points.

For longline work and adventure walks, I’ll generally use the back attachment point.

If I’m working with a dog that pulls on lead, I may use the front attachment point to give the owner a little more control while we work on the actual training side of things.

Again, the harness itself isn’t teaching the dog not to pull.

The training is what changes behaviour.

The equipment simply helps us manage things safely while that training takes place.

What Do I Use With My Own Dogs?

I use harnesses with my own dogs in certain situations too.  

For example, if we’re heading out on a hike or bush walk, I’ll often choose a harness. I don’t mind the dogs helping pull me up the hills, and a harness gives them a comfortable way to do that.

I also use harnesses for longline work and recall training, where I’d much rather any pressure be distributed across the dog’s body than concentrated around their neck.

In fact, if you’ve read last week’s blog post about longlines, you’ll know that my puppies stay on longlines until their recall is reliable enough that I truly trust them off lead.

Most of the time these longlines are attached to a harness.

We also used a longline extensively with Puzzle after rehoming her at 16 months old. Not only was she learning a completely new environment and routine, but we had also changed her name, meaning we were essentially building an entirely new recall cue from scratch.

The longline allowed us to safely practise recall and engagement without giving her opportunities to rehearse running off or disconnecting from us.

Even now, we still use a harness and longline with her in certain environments if I think she may struggle. That’s not failure - it’s simply setting her up to succeed.

Good dog training isn’t about testing dogs before they’re ready. It’s about creating consistent successful repetitions.

My Final Thoughts

Harnesses and collars are just tools.

Neither one magically fixes training problems.

The goal is to choose the right tool for the job and then put the training in place to help your dog succeed.

For me, harnesses are an important part of longline training, recall training, hikes, and safely giving dogs freedom while they’re still learning.

Used correctly, they can be one of the most useful pieces of equipment a dog owner owns.