Dog Collars Vs. Harnesses

Use a harness rather than a collar. Harnesses are easier on a puppy's skeletal system, particularly the neck.

A puppy's neck is easily strained from owners pulling and yanking at the leash. With a harness, the puppy is pulled from the backside at the tail and not at her neck.

The harness equally distributes the pull throughout her body and keeps her spine in alignment. Also, harnesses make your puppies more visible at night because you can easily attach reflectors to them.

You can attach the leash to your waist during a walk and let the puppy pull you along. Use a quick-release, safety snap in case of emergencies. As she pulls, give the command, "Hike!" so she connects the pulling with the words. It is more difficult to teach a puppy to pull if you have made her believe it is wrong to do so.

The only downside to a harness is that it is easier for a dog to pull out of it. So if you are leaving your dog outside and need to secure her in position for a while, then use a collar instead. You can also use a belly strap to prevent the harness from slipping over your dogs head.


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