Collar Or Harness For Small Dog

[WinGus]

I was just wondering what's better to use when walking a small dog (well, still puppy, but she probably won't get much bigger), a flat collar, half-check or a harness?

I started off using a flat collar, then had to get a half-check for training so switched to using that for her walks. I'm finding she does choke a bit now on the collars, so wondering if it is better to use a harness on her. Do you think it gives better control?!? I'm still working on the pulling problem.

Thanks.

[Beks]

Hi WinGus!

God how adorable is that little dog! He reminds me of my mum's mini Foxie called Lenny. When he was a puppy and we'd go for walkies, he was okay on a regular collar. When he grew up a bit I found that he had quite a thick neck compared to the size of his head, and he could quite easily "slip" the collar (which gave me a scare the first time it happened!). From then onwards we used a little harness, and it was fine!

Good luck!

Bek

[Poodle wrangler]

This isn't what you want to hear. ..

Pulling is a training issue, not a collar issue.

Walking at heel or just on loose leash is an advanced training exercise.

My standard poodle (avatar) was driving me bonkers pulling at training, but eventually it clicked and I can now walk with a loose leash.

I would have bought him a dress if told might help stop him pulling .

Problem is that you are using the collar to drag the dog back to you- that's why she's "choking".

Harnesses are used on sled dogs for pulling, so aren't going to help the problem, though will take the pressure off the neck and on to the body.

Training, training, training.

Have you started classes, yet?

[skip]

I use a harness. Dog is 4 kg. Bit older than yours at 3 or 4 yrs?

She goes to training and agility. At obedience she has a collar but she more or less just bounces along in heel.

She travels to off lead park in the harness which doubles as a car harness. Off lead at park.

Walking in the street on rare times I must confess for the first few mins they do pull on the harness. More me being slack than them. Then they both trot along next to me. Very light.

I really don't like a collar on small necks. I see some small dogs at training in them. Some in chokers and getting dragged around. They choke and cough, I don't see the point.

Why do you need a half check for training? I remember my first day at obedience. I spent particular time to buy 2 small chokers. I had a rottie previously and chokers were what I thought you needed. So the teacher looked at me and asked "Why"? I told her I thought they were required and she suggested collars.

Don't know if it's correct, just my opinion. Love these little dogs!

[WinGus]

Hi Beks

She actually is a mini-foxie, 7mo. I don't seem to have a problem with her slipping the collar, although I guess there's always a first time! Thanks for your advice.

Wingus

[Pug Hugger]

Louie has a harness for 'fun time' and outings to the beach, park etc

He has his show lead for show training so he learns when he needs to work.

Finally he has a collar and lead which I will use at obedience

Of these I find he walks best on hte harness, but has also had more experience on the harness

[WinGus]

Hi Poodlewrangler

Yeah, I know the pulling on the lead has nothing to do with the collar, it's just that whilst I'm working on it, she's choking. I'm not pulling her back when she pulls. I just stop and wait for her to loosen the leash. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Should I use treats rather than just praise when she walks loosely? Is it better to have her walk in front on a loose leash or at heel?

We have been going to classes (on and off) since August, but hasn't done much. She doesn't heel unless we are practicing the obedience training at work. Even when we tell her to heel, she ignores us!! What's even worse is that when she gets excited (like tonight - she was adamant to get to the park for a run!), there's no holding her back!!

Thanks for your help!

[WinGus]

Hi Skip

Pepper is 7mo and only 3kg.

The training club that I go to recommended a half check because she was so small, otherwise normal check chains for bigger dogs. I thought they worked the same way?

I might try a harness anyway, thanks!

[WinGus]

Hi Pug Hugger, does Louie ever get tangled up in anything when he's wearing a harness during "fun time"? Did it take long for you to teach him to wear a harness?

[Pug Hugger]

Hi Pug Hugger, does Louie ever get tangled up in anything when he's wearing a harness during "fun time"? Did it take long for you to teach him to wear a harness?

Not really, sometimes he gets tangled, but most dogs get tangled sometimes! The first few times we put it on he went stupid, rolling over to get it off. But now he knows it means we are going somewhere and he is happy to wear it. When I first brought him home I put the harness on for five minutes at a time (without the lead) for a few days, then I introduced the lead but did not hold it, just got him used to the feel of it. Finally I bribed him to do a few laps of the yard (with food) and from there he has been fine in it.

Louie as a whole though is a pretty easy going boy though - if your little puppy is more skittish it may be harder to train them.

[skip]

No wonder we get confused. My club says don't use the check chain but a flat collar. Yet your club says use the half check and normal check on bigger. So they don't reccommend flat at all? Maybe somebody more experienced can let us know what is the norm?

I was happy to go with out the check as my dogs really don't need it.

I had to shell out for a dearer Black Dog harness for the small girl cause only they came in a small enough size. (In pink! of course). But previous to that I had to use a cat harness which wasn't good. Other dog has a small in a cheaper brand.

To be fair to you Wingus, it sounds like your dog is a lot more motivated than mine. My girl bounces around but always with me. I'm her centre. Even off lead she will walk beside or more likely just behind me all the time. Like a little shadow. Wish she was more drive sometimes.

And mine is fairly timid as she was locked up for her first 8 months or so. No socialisation at all. Does your pup get shy at training or is she more into playing with the others?

So cute.

[WinGus]

Hi Skip

Yeah, I wish an expert would explain the difference between a check collar and a flat collar, although I do wonder if it has anything to do with different training methods?!? I'm not actually finding much difference between the two.

I think I might try and get a harness. My breeder gave me one when I bought her as a puppy but it's probably too small for her now.

Mini-foxies are supposed to be bold and fearless, so I guess sniffing every blade of grass, every tree and investigating every stick is part of her genes! I had wondered too if she is like this because she is closed up in the laundry pretty much the whole day so getting to go out on a walk is extremely exciting. I actually envy you because your pup follows you around and is scared to leave you. Pepper wants to bound up to every other dog whenever possible, and is not afraid to play with any dog. The only time she gets afraid is if a bigger dog is overly pushy in sniffing her or playing with her. Then she gets a bit cranky. She is more nervous of people than other dogs. She won't often let the trainers touch her at training. We are working on this one too. We thought we had socialised her with enough people when she was younger, but perhaps it was the way we went about it. Never mind.

Maybe we both have to look at K9Force's article on drive training.

[Cazz]

Mishka's a tiny toy, he has a harness. The collar I got for him's too big, so I've decided to use the collar for identification and a harness if I walk him. He is such a big baby though, he walks in front of my feet and sits so I pick him up.

Buffy doesn't go out for walks either. She's only been walked once, she didn'tm pull, but I hated choking her if i had to check her. She'll be getting a martingale collar in the mail. Buffy's built like a small staffy, but she's chipped as a JRTx, which also explains why the lost dogs home rehomed her.

[Poodle wrangler]

Don't lose heart .

The pulling will settle with time and consistency- I thought it'd never end with Charlie- and it was 25kg pulling me.

My other dog's a mini poodle who walks like dream, so I'd forgotten what it was like to have a dog that pulls. Sometimes I'd wish I'd left Charlie at home and brought Oscar to training. Very frustrating!

You can buy car harnesses at those cheapie shops for <$8 and they're adjustable- might be OK to try out?

Can you try a game before starting your walk to tire her a little? Or start off your walk at a light jog, so she's not pulling the leash?

[poodlefan]

A flat collar does not tighten. A check chain tightens.

Don't walk your dogs on a harness unless it's a Y type one. Harnesses that have straps that go around the front of their chests restrict movement and can lead to long term physical issues. Many harnesses also cut dogs under their front legs.

On a dog that small, I'd be using a flat collar or a martingale. It's not like you need more leverage for control.

[skip]

Hello Poodlefan,

I don't think I've seen a "Y" harness? (I know my horses used to wear a "Y" martingale). Mine have a band round the neck and round the girth with a joining strap top and bottom?

I wouldn't like to think this is damaging? Mine wear them in the car and then off lead so there wouldn't be any pressure then? The harness isn't tight and I just pop them on a lead mainly to be polite if I meet someone with their dogs on a lead.

Walking in the streets on rare occasions they might pull a bit for a minute then they really don't put any pressure on the lead at all. I use 2 long thin leads and they just trot along next to me. Would this be bad for their chests and if so where to you get "Y" harness?

At training they are in collars to work but even in the vetting they usually have harnesses on still. I stopped with the collars here as one of mine gets so excited when its her turn she used to start that reverse coughing some small dogs do.

Thanks for your help. I was once thinking about getting the leather guy here to make me 2 harness but then I don't know if he could get the buckles small enough.

[WinGus]

I'm not sure what a Y harness is either. Are they the car harness type ones? I always thought harnesses were better for a dog's body than a collar, but maybe not?!?

From what I've seen, I seem to have a martingale collar (part collar, chain sits at the back of the collar to pull it together), but the training school called it a half-check. Not sure if there is a difference.

I have been reading through Jan Fennell's book and she suggests that if your dog pulls, then you should just turn around and go home rather than prolonging the walk. I might try this. I don't think I'm going to get out the front door though with the way she gets so excited about walkies. I might try playing a game with her beforehand to try and tire her out. Thanks for that suggestion, Poodle Wrangler!