Dog Harness vs Collar: Which is Right for Your Pet?

Your pet parenting journey is riddled with choices at every step of the way. Choosing the right diet for your pet. The right treats. The right shampoo. And so on. One such choice that you contend with is that of dog harness vs collar. Which one is better for your dog? What are the potential risks and benefits of each? Is one safer than the other? 

Well, there are no blanket answers to questions like these. It all boils down to your specific circumstances such as the breed of the dog, the age of the dog, the kind of activity you intend to use a harness or a collar for, any underlying issues, how well-trained your dog is to walk on a lead, and so on. 

In my experience of making the harness or collar for German Shepherds, for instance, I’ve found harnesses to be the better alternative because they reduce the pressure on the neck, distribute it more evenly around the body, and make it easier for me to be control of my dog’s movements on walks. However, that may not be a choice that works well for you and your pet. To help you decide, let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of both dog harnesses and collars, as well as see which works better in what situations. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dog Harness

Is a dog harness the right choice for your dog? To help you settle the raging dog harness vs collar debate, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of a harness. 

Advantages of a dog harness 

Dog harnesses have become increasingly popular in recent years. The following advantages of using a harness to secure your dog are the reason why: 

1. More secure

A dog harness is far more secure than a collar and minimizes the risk of your dog getting loose and escaping. This can be a huge advantage if you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation with your dog — for instance, your dog trying to engage in a fight with another dog or trying to break loose to chase another animal, or even a vehicle or person. 

2. Offer better control

A harness also offers you better control of your dog’s movements, making it easier to control them in high-traffic areas, high-risk situations, as well as while training. If you have been wondering how to stop a dog pulling on a lead, training your dog on a harness can prove to be far more productive. 

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3. Can reduce leash-pulling

Speaking of how to stop a dog pulling on a lead, harnesses are believed to be an effective deterrent. However, it’s pertinent to mention that a harness alone is no magic wand that will put an end to lead pulling. That takes patience and consistent training. However, a front-clip harness can counter your dog’s tendency to pull to a large extent. 

4. Fewer tangling issues

This is a major win for the harness in the dog harness vs collar debate. Since the harness has a single and fixed point of contact — as opposed to a collar that moves around a dog’s neck — it decreases the likelihood of your dog (or you) getting tangled in their leash. 

5. Better distribution of pressure

This is perhaps the biggest advantage of a dog harness. As opposed to a collar in which the entire pressure is concentrated on the neck, a good quality, well-fitted collar enables a more even distribution of pressure on the back and chest. This means there is reduced strain on the neck and trachea. In case your dog lunges or pulls while wearing a harness, there is no risk of injury or strain to a delicate part of the body such as the neck. 

Disadvantages of dog harness  

As may be evident from the many benefits we’ve discussed, harnesses typically make for a safe choice for most dogs. However, they are not without their drawbacks. Before you invest in one, be mindful of the following disadvantages of dog harness: 

1. Finding the right fit can be a challenge

Taking your dog harness shopping and making them try on different styles and sizes until you find the perfect fit can prove to be quite the challenge. Since they’re designed to cover a significant portion of the body and every dog’s size and build can be different, getting your hands on the right fit can be difficult. 

Pro tip: You can counter this challenge by choosing a dog harness with different adjustment points. 

2. It can be uncomfortable if the fit is not right

A harness that’s not the right fit for your dog can be extremely counterproductive. If it’s too loose, your dog may break free. If it’s too snug, it can cause injuries like cuts and abrasions and also make it harder for your dog to breathe. Besides, given their design and fit, some dogs don’t feel comfortable wearing a harness. 

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3. Uncomfortable in hot weather

Another one of the disadvantages of dog harness is that it can be uncomfortable for your pet in hot temperatures. 

4. The wrong design can increase pulling

I know it sounds like I’m contradicting myself but hear me out. “Wrong design” is the operative term here. A dog harness with a back clip is pretty redundant in preventing lead pulling. There is even a study that suggests back-clipped harnesses can enable a stronger pull in dogs. If you’re considering a harness as an answer to how to stop a dog pulling on a lead, making sure you choose the right design and fit is imperative. 

5. No room for ID tags 

Harnesses typically don’t have an ID or tag holder, which can make it harder to track and locate your dog should they ever escape. Although you can find means and ways to attach your pet’s ID tag to their harness, it’s usually more work than it ought to be. That, for many pet parents, may qualify as one of the disadvantages of dog harness. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dog Collars

A dog collar is a more traditional choice for reining in your pet. These have been around in some shape or form for thousands of years. However, does that mean that in the dog harness vs collar choice, the latter has an edge? Certainly not. To help you decide whether a collar would be the right choice for your pet, let’s explore its advantages and disadvantages. 

Advantages of dog collars 

First, let’s look at the advantages of dog collars. 

1. Easy to put on and remove 

Dog collars are definitely less effort-intensive to put on and remove, and that can come in handy if you need to quickly restrain your dog in a risky situation. For this reason, collars can be a better choice for puppies who have still not mastered the ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ cues and are generally such bundles of energy that it is hard to keep them still for the two minutes it may take to put on a harness. 

2. Less intrusive 

One of the biggest advantages of dog collars is that they’re less intrusive, and therefore, less stressful for dogs to put on. Most dogs get wary of things going over their heads. Some may even get stressed or anxious every time this happens. A collar makes for a better choice in such situations. 

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3. Lots of styling options 

We, the pet parents, have solemnly sworn to spoil our furry babies silly. That, for many, includes accessorizing and styling their pets, what with bows, bibs, scarves, and more. Of course, customized collars are a big part of the dog styling game — a feature that the more functional harness lacks. 

4. Tag and ID holders 

This is a huge advantage offered by dog collars. You can conveniently attach your dog’s tag or ID to them, making it safer for your dog to be out and about. 

Disadvantages of dog collars 

While collars offer some functional as well as aesthetic benefits, they have their share of drawbacks too. Here are the top disadvantages of dog collars: 

1. Collars exert pressure 

Given their small surface area, collars are known to exert extra pressure on your dog’s neck and throat, especially if your dog pulls or suddenly lunges forward. This is why collars are especially not considered Ideal for brachycephalic breeds (dogs with short snouts). In fact, a study even suggests that fluid pressure inside the eyes shoots significantly if your dog pulls on the leash while wearing a collar. 

2. Can cause pain and injuries

The pressure exerted on the neck and throat can result in chronic pain in the area as well as the back, especially if a dog is prone to excessive leash pulling. Dogs can also sustain injuries or suffer trauma from pulling on a leash tied to a collar. 

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3. Can be a choking hazard 

If a dog’s collar gets stuck on objects like tree branches and fences, it can prove to be a choking hazard. Given how much dogs love to explore and may run off to places without your supervision, this can prove catastrophic. 

4. It’s easy to slip out of a collar

Picture this: You take your dog for a walk around the block and the neighbor’s dog, their sworn enemy, is approaching from the other side. Both posture and growl and bark, because that is how dogs communicate. Then, your dog gets agitated, pulls back and forth, and the collar, which you’ve tied on a little loose for comfort, slips right over their head. 

Now, you have a dangerous situation on your hands. You, your dog, the other dog, and their owner are all exposed to risk. This is one of the scariest disadvantages of dog collars.  

Dog Harness vs Collar: How to Choose

Now that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of dog harness as well as a collar, let’s circle back to the question of which one is right for you. As I said before, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The choice can be different if you’re contemplating harness vs collar for small dogs as opposed to harness vs collar for large dogs. 

It can also vary depending on age, your dog’s temperament, the activity for which you intend to use it, and so on. Let’s take a look at the factors you must consider when making the dog harness vs collar choice. 

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• Comfort: The primary consideration has to be your dog’s comfort. Typically, in the harness vs collar for large dogs choice, people lean in favor of the former and that’s what most vets or trainers also recommend. But all of that becomes inconsequential if your dog gets stressed or anxious the moment you try to put a harness over their head. In that case, a collar would be more appropriate 
• Safety: In the dog harness vs collar debate, the points for safety definitely go to the former. A harness is a safer choice both in terms of keeping your pet secure as well as avoiding physical harm such as strain and injuries. For brachycephalic breeds such as Pugs, Shih Tzu, Boxers, and Bulldog, a harness is a better choice. When contemplating harness vs collar for small dogs, many pet parents lean in favor of a collar given the size of their dogs. However, if that small dog is a Pug or a Shih Tzu, the choice changes entirely. So, it’s all relative
• Purpose: Since a harness offers better control, it is considered a more appropriate choice for activities such as hiking, walking, or biking. But if you’re taking your dog out to a secured park on a sunny day and are confident that your dog will respond to your commands even off-leash, then a collar can be a more practical choice 

Dog harnesses are a better choice in many ways, however, collars have their functionality. I prefer to have both for my pet. The harness works well for long walks and playtime. However, when I need to take him out just for a pee break, a collar comes in handy. So, dog harness vs collar doesn’t have to be an either-or choice. You can work with both, but it’s important to use them appropriately.