The dog harness has many applications and comes in a variety of forms. Uses for a dog range from working, walking, hiking, guiding, sport, health, training, and safety!
In its simplest form, a dog harness is strapped onto the dog’s body across the chest and around the ribcage. There is a ring at the top, between the dog’s shoulder blades, to attach the dog’s leash. Harnesses come in different sizes, catering for very small (including puppies) to very large dogs, and each size is usually fully adjustable to obtain the best fit for varying dog shapes.
The dog harness is generally made of leather or nylon, and may be padded to reduce
chaffing and give increased comfort. There are even designer and fashion versions,
in a variety of materials and styles, including rhinestone.
A harness is sometimes recommended for dogs who have problems (such as a medical condition and/or start coughing) when pressure is applied to their throats by a dog collar as they attempt to pull. By wearing a harness, the pressure is distributed over a greater surface area, and therefore not concentrated just on a dog’s throat which is more vulnerable.
Some harnesses also have attachments for car seat belts, which can help keep a dog safe and also avoid it being a distraction to a driver whilst it is in a moving vehicle! Just a note of caution at this point - please read any manufacturer's recommendations regarding where to locate a dog when it is in a vehicle, and especially the advice about proximity to air bags!
Whilst the dog harness can cause less discomfort than a conventional dog collar, for a dog that consistently pulls at its leash it probably won’t cure the problem. After all, sled and carting dogs wear harnesses and they are very much encouraged to pull for long periods of time!
To stop a dog pulling you need to influence its direction, and the Halti patented harness is said to be able to achieve this by controlling the dog’s shoulders through the use of an additional leash connection on the front of the harness. There is a double ended Halti leash available to work in conjunction with the Halti harness.
If you do have concerns about your dog wearing a collar, then a dog harness as an alternative is worthy of serious consideration. Also, the range of types and styles now available appears to be wide enough to ensure you find something very close, if not matching perfectly, to what you want!
The dog harness can be a real alternative to a dog collar!