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Dog Harness
Dog Harnesses vs. Dog Collars
Many owners face a dilemma whether to choose a regular
dog collar or a dog harness for walking their dog. It
doesnt just depend on the size of your dog, but quite
often the breed of your dog plays a role in which tool
to choose.
For everyday use, most people would do well to keep a
regular dog collar on their dog. This way, they can
attach identification tags to the collar to aid in
finding their dog should they get loose. Walking a dog
is a different matter however. Not every dog should be
walked on a regular dog collar. If your dog is well
trained and properly behaved while walking, a regular
dog collar should suit you fine, but there are many
arguments for why a person should use a harness to walk
a dog.
Many small dog owners may want to consider purchasing a
harness for their dog. The reason for this is that small
dogs have very small, tender necks and collars can rub,
irritate, or even injure them if improperly used.
Harnesses allow for better walking control over your dog
while not stressing the gentle neck area. Owners of
breeds such as pugs and others with small noses may want
to consider using a harness as well. These breeds have a
tendency toward breathing problems and you do not want
to exacerbate them by having a collar irritate their
throats.
Most regular dog harnesses are made from sturdy nylon
and come in a variety of colors with matching leads
available. To properly fit a harness, you will want to
measure your dogs girth just behind the front legs. You
will want to add a couple of inches to this measurement
to ensure that the harness fits tightly, yet comfortably
and will not rub or irritate skin.
Most harnesses have
an opening for each let, one for the dogs head and
clasps under the belly with a metal buckle type clasp.
These types of harnesses will have a D ring on top of
the harness, on your dogs back, for you to attach the
lead to. You may still want to use a regular dog collar
for identification purposes.
Larger dogs that pull are also well suited to using a
harness. There are harnesses specifically designed to
prevent pulling. One such harness is the Sporn Training
Halter. This is a harness that fits around each of your
dogs front legs and has a neck strap. The straps
feature sherpa padding under the arms for maximum
comfort of your dog. Because your dog is no longer
pulling you, it is much easier to train basic commands
such as sit, lie down, and stay. The Sporn Training
Halter is a wonderful tool to help you teach your dog to
behave.
Another reason why you might want to use a harness for
your dog is if you take frequent car trips. Many
harnesses today offer safety belt latches so you can
connect them right to your seatbelt. This way, your dog
is as properly restrained in your car as you are in case
of accidents. And we all know it is not very much fun or
very safe to have a loose unrestrained dog on a car trip
with you. Most of the seat belt type harnesses are made
of nylon and have sherpa padding under the arms for the
comfort of your dog.
If you decide to choose a harness for your dog, be sure
to first decide the purpose of the harness. After that,
make sure the harness properly fits. If you have
questions regarding the fit of a harness, please consult
your veterinarian or pet professional for advice.
About the Author
Jennifer MacRostie lives in Wisconsin with her husband
and their Border Collie and three cats. She is a
freelance writer and columnist for WOOF. She has worked
in the veterinary industry for four years. She is a new contributor to http://www.my-dog-collar.com
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