When it comes to equipment for your dog, there is a world of choice so it can be difficult to understand what's best. Harnesses have become more and more popular due to a growing concern for the damage that collars can cause to the dog's neck, including damage to the trachea and thyroid gland as well as coughing, choking and snoring issues.
Whilst I agree that this is clearly a problem with dog collars and should be avoided, a harness may not always be a better choice. They, too, are capable of causing injuries to the dog and there are other possible pitfalls of using a harness which will be explained in this article.
Reasons I Like Harnesses
(Image from Rehab Vet)
1) Comfort for the dog
As you can see in the above diagram, there are a huge number of important body parts within the dog's neck. These could become damaged when pressure is applied from a dog's collar when he lunges forward and pulls on it. This can lead to a damaged trachea which causes coughing and snoring. Additionally, the thyroid gland can be affected which may cause hyperthyroidism, a very serious illness in dogs.
This is one of the main reasons a dog owner chooses to walk their dog on a harness instead of a collar. Harnesses, generally, will avoid this area so that little strain is put onto the dog's delicate neck.
Additionally, dogs with poor eye health such as glaucoma, weak or thin corneas or other conditions which could be affected by intraocular pressure (fluid pressure inside the eye) should not be walked on a collar. This study showed that dogs' intraocular pressure increased significantly when pressure was applied on a collar, but not when pressure was applied to a harness.
2) For recall training
If a dog has recently been adopted by a new family, is in foster care or has poor recall, a very useful tool is a recall training line. This allows the dog to have the freedom of being off the lead whilst in training without the risk of him being completely out of control from the handler.
It is used as a safety measure, allowing the handler to quickly bring the dog back under lead control when needed. However, this is only safe to do if the recall line is attached to a harness. The line should trail on the floor behind the dog so that it can be easily stepped on, preventing the dog from going any further, when needed. However, it must be attached to a harness so that any pressure or sudden jerk on the lead is evenly spread over the dog's body. If it were instead attached to a collar around the dog's neck, the impact could cause serious injury.
The same applies when using harnesses in sports such as running, canicross and cycling. A lead should never be attached to a dog's collar in these scenarios.
3) A handy 'handle'!!
Even with the best training, sometimes it's still reassuring to have a physical hold of your dog. For example, imagine you're walking down a narrow path when a horse rider suddenly appears behind you. Even with a good 'sit and wait', I still prefer to know I have my dog under close control whilst the horse passes so as not to spook it. Sometimes there isn't the time or the need to clip a lead on so the option to easily and quickly hold a dog's harness can prove very useful.
A few years ago, my dog Bella accidentally fell into a canal. Luckily the water level was high so she did not fall any distance but it was certainly a heart stopping moment! Because she was wearing her harness, it was relatively easy to hoist her out safely! Whilst this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, I still feel that wearing a harness gives an extra level of safety if we were ever to need it again.
Reasons I Don't Like Harnesses
1) Anti-pull harnesses
Whilst it is untrue that harnesses cause dogs to pull on the lead (instead this is a learned behaviour), I do not believe they are the solution to the issue of a dog who pulls. If a dog has already learned to pull, it is a difficult behaviour to break. This is because the behaviour is self rewarding - the dog is trying to get to somewhere or something and they will likely achieve this! For example, your dog may want to sniff a particular tree so they pull on the lead towards it, and likely your response is to follow the dog to the tree because you assume they probably want to do a wee! Alternatively, they may pull towards another dog and you indulge them because you want to allow them to say hello, especially if it is a dog they know! Every single time this happens, your dog is learning that pulling on the lead results in a reward. Therefore, breaking this habit is extremely challenging! It requires a huge amount of consistency on every single walk, every time they pull! So even if you are late for work or it's pouring with rain, you must still ensure you do not allow your dog to pull! Harnesses alone will not achieve this.
Harnesses were originally invented for draught horses as they allowed the horse to pull huge weights by utilising the power in the shoulders. They were then adapted for dogs for the purpose of pulling sleds in Arctic regions and pulling carts in battle. Since then, they have been used by the military to carry medical supplies and to display signs, such as service dogs who wear harness to let other people know they are working.
As harnesses were initially designed for the purpose of the animal dragging heavy weight, it seems counter-intuitive to then claim that a dog harness will prevent pulling. However, this is a notion which is constantly marketed by manufacturers of so called 'anti-pull' harnesses!
Harnesses which claim to prevent pulling rely on a couple of different methods. The most common is to use discomfort so that the dog is punished with pain when he pulls.
The above is a popular harness marketed as 'anti-pull' and claims to 'stop pulling instantly'. Let's take a look at how it works...
The harness consists of a thin elastic strap around the dog's side and under his forelegs with an area of padding and a webbing material on the chest. A toggle prevents the elastic from coming loose and the lead is clipped at the end. This means that as the dog tries to pull or lunge, the elastic tightens around the dog's side and under his legs. The armpit area (axilla) of the dog is very sensitive and often the site of rashes and sores from poorly fitting harnesses. The elastic strap, even with the slight padding, causes discomfort and even pain to the dog when it is tightened as the dog pulls. This means that the dog learns that when he pulls or lunges, he will experience pain, and hopefully this will mean he will stop pulling.However, for some dogs the adrenaline produced when he is pulling overrides the discomfort caused at the time. For example, a dog who lunges at other dogs due to behavioural issues would likely continue to do so despite of the pain because the level of adrenaline would override the pain. However, this does not mean that there would not be discomfort felt after the adrenaline had come down. For other dogs, the pain is enough reason to cease pulling, but it is incredibly unfair and unnecessary to use pain to prevent pulling.
The reason the manufacturer can claim that pulling will be stopped 'immediately' is because the feeling of wearing a harness, especially one which is designed to cause discomfort, feels very unusual to the dog at first. Therefore, whilst the dog is trying to figure out what strange clothing has been put on him, he will likely not attempt to pull against it!
This image is another example of an 'anti-pull' harness which uses discomfort and pain to prevent the dog pulling. Again, this harness targets a very sensitive area of the dog and uses pressure on this area when the dog pulls.
The second type of 'anti-pull' dog harness relies on a clip at the front to attach the lead to. The theory goes that this will guide the dog in the desired direction and away from what they are pulling towards. However, I still find that this has limited success. A dog will naturally pull against anything pulling on him, in the same way that if I was to pull on your sleeve now and try to pull you towards me, your natural reaction would be to pull away from me. Personally I find that the owner only gets into a battle with the dog wearing the harness, him trying to drag the dog away whilst the dog continues to try to pull in the opposite direction and perhaps jumping up and lunging too. Because the harness allows the dog to use more strength, a large dog will often win this battle! All this results in is the dog learning to repeat the same behaviour in the future, ie continuing to pull on the lead.
Although dogs can of course be taught not to pull on the lead, wearing a harness alone does not achieve this. The dog's time to adjust to the new harness may buy you some time to start the training but once he has learned to pull it becomes self rewarding to do so. I am yet to meet a dog owner who has entirely solved their dog's pulling issues purely by using a harness!
2) Ill-fitting harnesses
Ill-fitting harnesses can pinch at the dog's skin if too tight or rub and cause sores if too loose. Because dogs come in so many different shapes and sizes, there is not a 'one size fits all'. It is very important to ensure the harness fits properly and to regularly check it for slacking or tightening, as well as examining the dog for any injuries caused by the harness.
Dogs with particularly thick coats are the most difficult to size for a harness so it is always best to ask for assistance or a second opinion if unsure. Additionally, a dog can escape from a harness which is too loose, especially slim breeds such as greyhounds who often require a harness specifically designed for their breed.
3) Poorly designed harnesses
An ill-fitting harness is clearly a problem but some brands of dog harness cause problems even when fitted 'correctly' due to their inherent poor design. Whilst the aim of a harness is to take pressure off the dog's neck, some harnesses cause problems to other areas of the dog instead.
Many popular harnesses appear to choose aesthetic value over practicality. This is not uncommon in the pet industry (for example the use of artificial colourings in dog food) because after all it is us humans who choose our dog's products, not the dog!
Harnesses which horizontally cut across the dog's chest can affect the movement of his joints. This is especially problematic for puppies whose joints are still forming. The forelimbs can experience limited movement which can cause damage to the joints.
Additionally, I have come across many harnesses which dogs can easily manoeuvre their way out of. Some harnesses will literally slip over the dog's head if the dog pulls backwards or stays still whilst the handler continues to walk forward holding the lead! Clearly this is a dangerous problem, especially if you were walking your dog close to a road.
4) Car harnesses
Another popular use for a harness is for safety when travelling by car. It is extremely unsafe, and likely to invalidate your insurance, to allow your dog to be unrestrained when travelling. For this reason, a number of harnesses have been designed so that they can be attached to the seat belt clasp. However, safety testing has shown that the majority of car harnesses for dogs available fail to meet minimum safety requirements, meaning the dog is no safer than if he were unrestrained. Always check the safety testing of a car harness, or use a different method of restraint such as a secured crate.
Additional Information
Dog identification
Many dog owners are aware that it is a legal requirement for a dog to be microchipped, but many do not realise that it is also a legal requirement for a dog to wear a collar displaying valid identity information. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that 'every dog while in a highway or in a place of public resort shall wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it'. Therefore, avoiding using a collar entirely actually means you are breaking the law. A dog should wear a collar at all times displaying up-to-date information so that in the event he becomes lost, he can be returned to you. It is highly unlikely that a member of the public who may find your dog owns a microchip reader so there would be no way of knowing how to contact you. If you are lucky, a member of the public may be kind enough to take your dog to a vet to be scanned but why risk it? Your dog could be lost in the night when vets are not open...if he simply had a visible ID tag any person who finds him could easily contact you. So, if you do choose to use a harness, don't ditch the collar entirely!
Overall, the decision of whether to use a harness for your dog relies on a number of considerations. If you are looking for a solution to a pulling issue, I do not recommend a harness as I believe there are other, kinder and more effective methods. If you use a car harness, it is vital to check its safety testing, or use another method to secure your dog such as a secured crate. However, if your dog is not much of a puller or is undergoing recall training, a harness can be a great bit of a kit when fitted correctly. Please get in touch if you require any help with choosing a suitable harness, or would like to prevent your dog pulling on the lead.
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