A dog harness – the safer option for walking your beloved pet
Although dog collars are useful when walking trained dogs who have a calm temperament and don’t have a tendency to pull on the leash, many pet owners don’t realise that using a dog harness instead of a collar can make walking their pet much easier and more enjoyable
A pet pulling on the leash is something that almost every dog owner will have to battle with at some point. It can be annoying for the person walking the dog and can also be dangerous for the animal, as the collar can press against the throat as they pull, to the point of causing an injury. For larger dogs who have yet to be trained and so tend to pull when being walked, a harness is a much safer choice. When a dog pulls when they are wearing a harness, the force will be spread across their chest area, rather than around their throat, ensuring that no damage is done to their neck
Dog harnesses also give the owner more control over the dog’s movements and can be extremely useful when trying to teach the dog to behave when out for a walk. When used correctly, a harness will serve as a practical training aid that will eventually teach the animal to walk calmly without pulling. However, when first using a harness, it’s important that the owner is realistic and doesn’t expect miracles. A dog who is used to pulling on the leash will try to do the same with the harness and it will take some time and patience on the part of the owner to ensure that the dog learns how to behave when wearing a harness during a walk
Choosing the right kind of harness for a dog can be tricky, to say the least. Many dog owners go through several harnesses before finding the most suitable one for their pet; they may be ill fitting, or simply the wrong style for a particular breed. When purchasing the harness, it’s important to consider what situations it will be used in; for instance, some owners like to jog with their pets, in which case a slightly longer and more durable harness would be required. Others might need one that serves more than one purpose, for example walking and travelling by car; for this, the owner would need a dog harness that comes with a seat belt attachment.