Collar VS Harness, Which is Better?

Collar VS Harness, Which is Better?


Collar or harness? which one do you choose? Decisions, decisions... If this is your first time owning a pooch or if you've always had one, then at one point you've probably thought about buying a collar to be able to walk it, but should you get a collar or a harness? 

First things first. Each one has it's benefits and each one has a purpose. Now depending on the breed of your pooch, you might choose one over the other for walking and identification purposes. If you have a dog with respiratory problems (i.e: French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Pug) or a toy breed, then a collar might not be the best choice for you, as they are known to cause neck injuries. This can be brutal on brachycephalic breeds and more than discomfort can cause long term health problems due to the strain on the neck. Bigger more athletic dogs can wear either one, just remember that harnesses encourage pulling and it's a bit more difficult controlling a strong, athletic dog with a harness rather than a collar.


Some people prefer to use collars to teach their dogs basic obedience commands and to simply restrict them from jumping on people and pulling. It is perfectly fine to use either a collar or harness, but for this purpose a collar might be more suited. Still keep the breed in mind.
 
Still undecided? What about ease of use? A big turn off from harnesses over collars is the fact that harnesses aren't meant to be worn all the time. They can cause rashes and bald spots if never taken off, while collars are always readily available and are relatively comfortable for pooches. Since you have to take the harness off after every walk it increases your chances of misplacing it and then not having the tool to walk your dog. Collars definitely win the battle in this aspect.

So what's the verdict? Well, in our honest opinion you should always buy a collar even if you're buying a harness. Collars can be worn at all times meaning your dog can keep an I.D. tag at all times. And one of the most important aspects of a collar is to make sure your pooch is always tagged. Make sure your dog is microchipped and tagged at all times as you never know what can happen. As for walking, both are awesome tools, but remember. If you have a brachycephalic dog like a bulldog, then a harness is definitely the better option, just research which one is better for your specific breed and purpose.
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