[RubyTuesday]

I’m curious to know what equipment people use when walking their dogs, and why, but specifically would like to know the following:

What do you attach your dog’s lead to: a collar or a harness? And why do you use what you use?

I’ll start: I have a whippet and I walk her on a fleece-lined harness from Dog Games because I don’t want to apply pressure around her neck, and as it is fleece-lined it doesn’t cause irritation to her skin either.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

[cigwyllt]

That looks very similar to the balance harness that my father and I use for our dogs.

Does yours have two points for the lead? Dad has two leads for his dog and I have a double ended lead that matches the harness. One clip goes on the chest and the other on the back.

Balance Dog Harness - stop your dog pulling on the lead - 30 day money back guarantee.

[RubyTuesday]

No, my fleece harness just has one point of contact on the back, though I do think that two point of contact harnesses are the best, and use them when I walk greyhounds for a rescue I volunteer with.

I'm just curious as to the reasons why people choose to use a harness, or just collar and lead, and why they choose a particular type of harness - as I have had lots of different responses when I've asked people directly why they use what they use. So, why do you and your father choose to use a balance harness?

[cigwyllt]

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin LOL

My father who is nearly 80 has a large lab cross puppy - he's 10 months old now. Last month we were out with our dogs - I had my old lady who is a total angel on the lead and his pup was pulling and leaping everywhere. I rather foolishly suggested we should swap. The pup did not like being apart from my dad and was even worse for me to the point where he pulled me over onto the gravel of the car park leaving me with a really badly messed up face and spectacular black eye.

I was worried he would do the same to my dad so bought him a very expensive harness. Within hours Bonzo had chewed through it. I then gave him my old girl's harness - again it lasted a day or so. A no pull harness - he got used to it. Halti - he hated it and dad didn't like using it on him because he was miserable!

Then we went to the local agricultural show - with dad's dog bouncing and prancing like a pony - and saw a stall that said "Ask us about stopping your dog from pulling!" So we spoke to them, they fitted Bonzo with a harness and showed dad how to use it and walked with him for 10 mins or so and that was it - we were sold on the idea.

I have always walked my terriers on collars but when I saw a balance harness with matching lead for sale in the local second hand shop I bought simply because it was such a bargain and it's brilliant!

[RubyTuesday]

Thanks for the reply.

And I'm really glad that you have found that a no-pull harness works with your father's dog as I'm always concerned that dogs that pull on collars are at real risk of injury to their throats, and of course there is the risk to the dog walker from being pulled over.

[Lunareclipse]

It also depends on what type of dog you have. Pugs and Italian greyhounds don't do well with collars. Best to use a harness. And harnesses aren't good for large working dogs. Especially dogs that were bred for drafting, like saint bernards or swiss mountain dogs or bernese mountain dogs. These breeds have a natural tendency to pull and hooking them up to a harness is only encouragement. A collar is better for them. I can't remember what type of dog you said you had. But I hope you find the best one for your dog.

[Lara's mom]

My senior Border Collie X uses a collar and leash. My way younger shorty JRT uses a collar for short jaunts and her harness for long walks.

[MyBiGdog.co.uk]

Hi guys,

We are in the process of setting up a new website specifically aimed at large dog breeds. We have got loads of collars and leads in stock already like Flexi, Rogz, ez dog, wacky walkr etc but wondered if anyone has come accross any good products or combinations for their large dog? We have had several large breeds over the years but currently have Ridgebacks and found them far too powerful from an early age to have any form of chest harness but have had great results as soon as we use a halti head harness. Our friends have a Weimaraner ( of course being a bit smaller than a ridgeback) hated a halti but swears by a chest harness.

Really appreciate any thoughts and experiences....

[Lunareclipse]

I don't use anything special for mine. Just collar and leash. They were taught from the very first to have leash manners.

[Deafdogsrule]

Well, I have 5 dogs... all have different set-ups.

Zoe wears a cloth martingale type collar and retractable leash, as in roder to feel secure, she needs to be able to get away, and she's gota funny shaped neck, so a regular flat collar will slip off her head

Scout wears a Black Dog Balance Harness and double ended lead, as she has a habit of wanting to pull. She has a perfect heel, when asked, but loose lead walking is a bit much for her! LOL She walks beautifully on her Black Dog Balance Harness, and the webbing used is so soft and light!

Oliver wears a Black Dog Training Halter and a Black Dog Balance Harness, with a double ended lead, one clipped to the front clip of the harness, and one clipped to the head halter. Ollie wears this get-up in order to control his fear aggression gently and kindly.

Mouse wears a nylon slip lead, as she is allergic to metal, and this is the only way I can keep metal away from her skin. The slip lead has no metal rings, just a nylon loop. I knotted in two places, one so it doesn't choke her, and one so it doesn't loosen too much and come off her head.

Boo wears a Puppia Rite Fit Vest style harness, to prevent any extra stress on his spine (his back is weak)

[bigpawsup]

Now mine depend on what we are doing.

Neighborhood walk – buckle collar and lead for Gypsy. We went back to the easy-walk harness for Tazzy because of her unique greeting issues!

Trail hike – backpack harness for Gypsy (she carries the water bottles, kibble, and cloth bowls) still on 6 ft lead. Tazzy is in full harness so if I tell her to “get up” she can pull someone this is attached to my waist.

Camping – both dogs backpacked with supplies with a secondary harness under the pack. I have waist leads for both dogs on a cloth lead. I want to be able to cut them free is needs be.

These would be my main 3 set ups. We have other (short leads for going to festivals and long for open parks). When they are on harness they always have on their buckle collars.

[MyBiGdog.co.uk]

A backpack harness that sounds like a good idea!! What brand is the harness and what breed do you use it with?

[bigpawsup]

My girls are lab mixes - one over 100lbs and one about 70. Outward hound is decent for day hikes, but the clip is plastic. I put a metal C clamp style latch and padded the belly band.

The "big" packs are the Mountain Smith. Good harness, doesn't slip or move around too much on the dog's back. I forget the model number, but the version we ordered has a metal clip. Even in brush the pack doesn't come off and the harness is strong enough that Tazzy has "assisted" me up some terrain without a snag or tear.

There are several others out there. The real key is finding the right fit on the packs. Before I found the Mountain Smith, I had taken Outward Hound saddle bag and used carpet thread to attach them to a pulling harness. Wasn't much to look at but really worked.

[MyBiGdog.co.uk]

Checked out the mountain smith products - they look well made and like there able to carry a lot of bits and pieces thanks

[Artemis9886]

I use a harness for my dog. It works great and just came on to the market. It doesn't wrap around the dogs front legs. It wraps around the hind legs to prevent the dog from pulling without hurting the dog. Check it out. Just google Horganharness. The website should pop up. I am recommending it to all of my friends with dogs.

[MaraX]

I use a collar.

[akismaster]

If those are the choices, I'd use a collar.

Personally, I'd only put a collar on my dog whenever we'll go outside the house. Whenever I'm home, the collar is off because I don't want to get the ring of fur around his neck trimmed because of the collar.

Plus I know and I trust myself that my dog won't go out without me.