Walking the Dog: Which One is Best, a Collar or a Harness?

&Pup Lead Trainer Holmes Rackleff unleashes her thoughts on which one is best, a Collar or a Harness.

When you’re trying to choose the right equipment for walking your dog, it’s easy to get confused. Many trainers swear by one type and eschew all others. Dog equipment brands pitch their products as the only one you’ll ever need. Your family and friends become self-appointed experts with opinions that they can’t wait to share with you. When you’re looking for the best leash-walking gear, suddenly everyone thinks they’re an expert.

The truth is, when you’re choosing your leash-walking equipment, there is not one solution for every dog. When deciding about using a collar or a harness, you have to consider your dogs’ safety, their emotional comfort, your training goals, and the right leash pairing.

Safety First

The most important consideration is your pup’s safety. Where safety is concerned, harnesses have a major advantage over collars – they are much safer for dogs who pull. If your dog pulls on walks, even a little, then a collar can become dangerous for them. Pressure from collars can cause a collapsed trachea, nerve damage, thyroid injury, even chronic eye and ear issues.

For snub-nosed (aka brachycephalic) dogs like pugs, English bulldogs, and French bulldogs, pressure from collars can be even more dangerous. These breeds are exceptionally prone to developing breathing problems, and they should almost always be walked with their leash attached to a harness instead of a collar. Small toy breeds like Yorkies and Pomeranians are similarly at risk. Coughing after pulling on the collar is a sign of tracheal collapse. If you’re ever walking your dog and hear a cough that sounds like a goose honk, get a harness.

Harnesses are designed to distribute pressure evenly across a dog’s chest and back. This reduces the risk of injury when walking on a leash. They avoid any potential strain on the neck or throat, making them ideal for dogs with respiratory issues or breeds prone to tracheal problems.

It’s not impossible for a dog to hurt themselves with a harness. Some dogs have delicate skin where their chests meet their forelegs, and harness straps can cut into these areas. Even without leash-pulling, some dogs with short coats can develop bald patches and soreness where their harness rubs. Choose harnesses that have wide straps and good padding – these options reduce the risk of chafing, rubbing and cuts. And never leave your dog in their crate while wearing a harness.

When shopping for a harness or collar make sure that the tools you get are not only comfortable for you, but also your pup. At &Pup we have added felt sleeves to our The Harlow Collar line. This prevents the leash from chafing your hand but also is soft against your pup’s neck. For our The Isabella Collar, we used the finest Italian leather to be very soft and comfortable for your pup.

Fear, Anxiety and Stress

Harnesses take more time to put on, and they require more handling. If your dog is afraid of being handled, if they run when they see a harness, if they freeze or cower when you put their harness over their head or legs, then you might consider walking them with a collar only. This is a conundrum, because you have to weigh their physical safety against their emotional well-being. In these cases, it’s a good idea to find a trainer or behavioral consultant who can help you desensitize your dog to walking equipment, improve their overall enrichment at home, and help you teach them to walk on a leash with minimal stress. If you have access to a yard, they might even suggest taking a break from going for walks while you help your dog get comfortable with their equipment.

Learning the Leash

No matter what equipment you use, you are going to have to train your dog to walk on a leash. Some equipment can help, some can hurt, but no equipment can replace the learning process. Leashed-walking is not a natural behavior for dogs, so they need some help from you.

If your dog is already pulling on the leash, then harnesses can provide better control. If your dog is a strong puller, they discourage pulling by redirecting the dog’s movement. Generally speaking, it’s better to choose a harness with a front clip – it resists pulling in a way that causes your dog to stop, but it doesn’t cause any harm or injury to your dog.

If your dog is new to leash walking, then it’s possible to train them with a collar only. However, if they develop a pulling habit, it’s safest to switch to a harness.

There are two great methods for learning the leash: loose leash walking, and heel walking. Loose leash walking is a little easier to learn and provides more freedom to sniff during walks, but heel walking is also a marvelous way to teach your dog to walk in perfect harmony with you. You can teach either one of these methods, or both! Whatever you decide to do, make it fun for your dog with plenty of treats, and consider taking a class in your area.

Leashing Up

There are many leashes on the market, but the ones best suited for most dogs are flat leashes between 4 ft and 6 ft. Combined with training, the leashes give enough slack for your dog to sniff on walks without walking too far ahead. The only leashes to really avoid are retractable leashes. These long, spring-loaded coils were originally used as a recall tool for hunting and tracking dogs. They are still a good tool for recall training in large, unoccupied fields, but that’s pretty much it. In cities, towns and parks, retractable leashes are a hazard. If a dog runs at full speed to the end of the line, the sudden stop can hurt them, or you, or any passing dog that might accidentally get clotheslined by the cord.

Two is Better

For many dogs, especially city dogs, the safest option is to wear a collar with identification tags and a GPS locator, and a harness for attaching the leash. A collar with ID tags, but no leash attached, is not in any danger of breaking from pulling. If your harness fails and your dog runs off, the ID tags on the collar can help you find them quickly and safely!

Deciding between a collar and a harness depends on your individual dog’s comfort and safety. Take the time to assess your dog’s needs and consult with your veterinarian or a professional dog trainer if you’re uncertain. Remember that both collars and harnesses have their merits, and the right choice will help ensure enjoyable and safe walks for both you and your dog.

Private Sessions

One-on-one session with a trainer for one hour at the park. Sessions range from “basic skills” to “advanced” and “tricks.” Members can purchase single sessions or discounted packages.

Group Classes

The &Pup Training Program is split into three classes: The Novice, The Apprentice and The Pup Master. These classes are designed to be taken in order, with each level building on the previous. Any pup can complete this program; they don’t need to be a training aficionado to succeed. Classes are four consecutive weeks with an average of five to eight pups per class.

The Essentials

The Essentials covers all the basic training skills that every pup and their human should know. Build the foundations for creating a positive relationship with your pup while teaching crucial commands like sit, stay, and come when called.

The Next Level

Building on the foundations taught in The Essentials, The Next Level introduces challenges like duration, distractions, and distance to strengthen skills. The difficulty gradually increases each week to strengthen behaviors and improve reliability effectively. New skills like stand, give a paw, wait at doors/gates, and heel position are also introduced.

The Master Class

With exercises designed to replicate real-world scenarios, The Master Class gives you and your pup the ability to effectively utilize your training skills in everyday life. The class also covers exercises that help to prepare pups for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen tests, therapy dog testing, and service dog work.

Specialty Workshops

Specialty workshops are led by an in-house or guest trainer on topics including tricks, nosework, obedience, recall, loose-leash walking, and more.

&Pup offers a variety of grooming services to help your pup look and feel their best. Our rates are based on your pup’s skin condition, coat, and hair type. All haircuts are performed using hand scissors. Prices vary depending on your pup’s weight, level of difficulty, and the time spent by our stylist.

All experiences are curated for each &Pup member and their preferences. Your pup’s grooming journey could begin with a personalized consultation with a stylist. From there, he/she will get a bath with our high-quality, signature &Pup organic shampoo and conditioner, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, nail cutting/filing, and teeth brushing. The stylist will brush out, blow out (by hand), and cut, all while giving extra love and attention.

What Makes &Pup Different?

The well-being of pups is our priority. With members-only access, &Pup ensures you and your pup will be surrounded by others who share your inclination to prioritize holistic well-being and socialization. We are more than a dog park–we are an environmentally friendly community focused on behavior, enrichment, and positive reinforcement-based training and play to nourish our pups’ social interaction. The benefits of off-leash experiences and pup-to-pup interaction that we strive to create at &Pup are also proven to create positive and long-lasting effects on their overall health and wellness.

What Is The &Pup Process?

When it comes to dog play, we implement a unique approach based on providing positive feedback, rather than focusing on corrections. While it may seem easier to correct inappropriate play, this can cause confusion for some dogs. It may even result in a reluctance to interact with other pups altogether or cause a buildup of frustration which can result in problematic behaviors like aggression.

Our highly trained team leads pup playtime by teaching pups a scientifically proven foundation of appropriately playing and interacting with others rather than just managing issues as they arise. Our goal at &Pup is to help your pup learn how to interact successfully with others for the rest of their life to ensure longevity and happiness for them and you.

Wellness

&Pup offers wellness exams and general checkups to keep your pup healthy. We recommend a wellness exam every six months to help treat and catch any issues early on. Wellness exams can include the reviewing of allergy and vomit/diarrhea workups, treatment of ear infections, eye issues, lameness, and lethargy.

Preventative Medicine

To keep your pup healthy, &Pup veterinarian team can perform preventative diagnostics such as annual vaccinations, parasite prevention, annual lab work, diagnostic imaging (x-rays), oxygen therapy, nutrition consultations, and genetic testing. Members will have direct access with their &Pup medical professional for issues or questions that arise between appointments.

Essential Park Vaccinations

In order for all dogs in the park to be safe, we require that members provide proof of a negative Giardia test every six months and mandatory, core vaccinations for rabies, bordetella, and DHPP. We also offer non-core vaccines for influenza, leptospirosis, and Lyme.

The Puppy Package

At &Pup, we offer everything that your puppy will need to ensure a long, healthy lifestyle including vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchipping, nutrition consultations, and spay and neutering.

Urgent Care

For issues that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening, &Pup offers urgent care appointments for all members. If your pup is experiencing an emergency outside of open hours or if matters require immediate medical intervention, please visit an emergency clinic.

Diagnostics

&Pup has the latest up-to-date veterinary equipment to better help diagnose your pup. Our doctors are highly skilled at diagnostic interpretation and can easily discern which tests to run to construct the best treatment plan for your pup. From preventative testing to sick patient diagnostics, we offer a state-of-the-art radiology suite, lab work, urinalysis, fecal testing, parasite tests, and cytology.

A Zone for Any Pup

The park has been curated to fit the needs of a range of canine temperaments as well as a variety of needs of our human guests. Whether your dog is high energy and likes to run around the park or is low energy and prefers to take in the view, we have designed an environmentally friendly zone for them to mingle. Areas for you to work, eat and socialize have also been designed into each of the spaces to meet your needs too.

Relax

A low-energy zone geared for relaxing or working while your dog engages. This area is off-leash, allowing your dog to socialize with dogs in the area and enjoy the enrichment provided within this zone. This area is ideal for lower energy and smaller pups.

Play

This zone is geared toward our social pups who love to play. This off-leash area is ideal for higher-energy dogs who want to chase around, play rambunctiously, and check out the sniff zones.

Bond

This zone is used for activities, workshops, and private events. This area can be blocked off from other park areas and made private. The multi-purpose area may be used for behavior assessments, pair or small group play, individual toy play, smaller events, training sessions & classes, agility, and interactive experiences. This area may be on-leash or off-leash, depending on use.

We Are Hiring!

Let’s Grow Together.

&Pup is building a culture of amazing people (and pups!). We are creating an environment that encourages our employees to perform their best and grow within our organization. If you are interested in joining our team, we’d love to hear from you.

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Monthly Events

With &Pup, your pup can now join you for your next night out. Our calendar of events will include a variety of opportunities to socialize with our community. These events range from movie nights to scavenger hunts and everything in between. There will also be holiday events, such as a Canine Costume Party for Halloween.

Private: Event Rentals

Is it your dog’s birthday or the anniversary you met your pup companion? Rent our space, throw a party, and invite your friends. Our Bond Zone is designed to give you a private space to host any event you can envision for your Pup.