The Advantage of Using Harnesses Over Traditional Dog Collars
By: Betty Miller
Submitted: 2012-02-21 18:16:45 | Word Count: 391
An increasing number of dog owners are choosing to use harnesses with their pets rather than the traditional dog collars. These harnesses allow you to retain greater control over your dog when you re walking them if they are too frisky to be walked with a regular collar and leash. In addition, harnesses are also ideal for dogs who suffer from medical conditions such as respiratory problems or a sensitive trachea which make them unable to wear regular neck collars. And they are a good choice for dogs with smaller heads and wide necks that make it easy for them to easily slip out of ordinary collars.
There are several kinds of walking dog harnesses, classified according to the way they are buckled around the dog s body, and include:
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Roman harnesses. These are the traditional type of harnesses that, unlike regular dog collars, rests just below its neck with another strap encircling the dog s torso behind its front legs. They are generally made of strong materials such as nylon or leather to resist strong pulling from the dog. However, for harnesses made for smaller dogs or those that don t pull as much, decorative but sturdy textiles such as printed canvas may be used.
Step-in harnesses. These are a more convenient type of harness since it requires less buckling. A step-in harness consists of two parallel straps with another strap that runs in the middle of them, creating a harness that your dog can simply pass its legs through without requiring any adjustment. The harness is then simply strapped on at the back of the dog to keep it in place.
Figure-eight harnesses. This harness is essentially one long length of material which is formed into a figure eight with the top loop going around the dog's chest just below its neck and the other around its torso behind its front legs.
Halters. Also known as head harnesses, these are designed to deter dogs from jumping or pulling and work like halters used with horses. A halter consists of a loop around the dog s muzzle and then two straps that buckle in the back of the dog s head, with padding to avoid irritating the sensitive areas of its face.
In addition, there are also dog harnesses that are designed to be used in vehicles and act similar to seat belts in that they restrain the dog and prevent it from moving around while the car is being driven. This will not only help avoid accidents but also protect the dog from injury or death in case the car gets involved in a collision.
If you are planning to use a dog harness, make sure it fits properly on your dog to avoid injuring it. In addition, you should not keep the harness on the dog for extended periods of time to avoid discomfort. To keep your dog s ID tags and rabies vaccination tags on their person, you can buy lightweight dog collars that they can wear along with the harness.
