Dog Collars vs. Dog Harnesses- Which is Most Appropriate for Your Dog?

Aug. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Dog collars can provide both fun fashion as well as function for your dog.  There are literally thousands of different styles, sizes, and patterns to chose from.  You can get plain and simple, or load the collar up with hundreds of Swarovski crystals for the full "bling" effect.  You'll sometimes hear big dog owners comment that there just isn't any bling out there for the big dogs but that really isn't the case.  Regardless of the size of your dog, from 2 pounds to 150 pounds, you can find plenty of bling.

Perhaps the bigger issue is that of whether or not to put a dog harness on your pet instead of a dog collar.  When making this decision, there are a couple of things that you must consider.

Small Dog Harnesses May Be More Important

Although one might think that a large dog can pull harder and therefore need more restraint, the truth is that small dogs have small necks and small necks have fragile throats and tracheas.  If your dog is under 20 pounds, you could put his/her throat in danger by pulling on their neck from a collar.  Even a small amount of pressure applied in an incorrect way can cause damage to your dog's neck.  We recommend that you find a comfortable fitting small dog harness and use it when you use the leash.  In addition, if you use a car safety belt for your dog, then it is best to attach it to a harness regardless of the size of the canine.  Many of these dog harnesses are made of soft material that is comfortable and can be washed when it gets dirty.

How Well is Your Dog Trained for Leash Walking?

Whether you have a small dog or a large dog, you may need to investigate different harness/collar options if your dog tends to pull hard or if he/she is difficult to control on a leash.  For these dogs that tend to "walk their owners" there are a number of options.  You might first try a harness, but if that doesn't work, then you might consider a type of leash that goes around the muzzle and controls the head of the dog.  There are also "choke" type collars which are usually more popular with bigger, stronger dogs such as Pit Bulls or rambunctious Labradors.  It's not a great idea to put one of these dog collars on a small animal as you might end up with a huge vet bill.  If your dog falls into this category, the best answer usually is some training with a professional.  The monetary investment can be far less than the frustration resulting from a cantankerous canine.

Regardless of whether you use a collar or harness when walking your pup, you'll still probably want to have a collar for the dog's tags.  Most cities require a dog to be licensed and some have still fines for neglecting to do this.  You should also have an dog ID tag on the collar with the dog's name and a phone number where you can be reached most often.  If your dog gets out and a neighbor happens to find it, you'll be extremely glad you did this.  You can find great ID tags for pets for under $20 that will last.  Stainless steel is usually the best way to go on these tags as they will be more durable.  You can find stainless steal pet ID tags as well as a fantastic selection of dog collars, dog harnesses, dog apparel, and more at http://www.doggiedesigner.net and http://www.doggiedesigner.com.

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