Differences Between Collars, Harnesses, And Training Collars For Your Dog
A dog harness is not really a training aid because it actually makes pulling and straining against the leash a more comfortable experience for your dog.
There is an almost baffling selection in dog collars and other equipment for walking and training your dog. Your choice will usually be dictated by the size and age of your dog as well as their temperament and your training needs. Thanks to some incredible looking designs and striking colours available with many of the dog collars, you can also base much of your decision on the look of the dog collar you choose. Understanding the difference between the main options is important, however, to ensure that you make the right choice.
Dog Collars
Dog collars are fitted around your dog's neck and are used to connect to the leash. They also contain some type of method to hold your dog's identification. While chipping dogs has become more commonplace it is still the law in many parts of the world that a dog should have some form of identification tag around its neck.
Do You Need A Dog Collar?
Standard dog collars are ideal for use with virtually any age and size of dog and most come with some way to alter the size of the collar. This allows you to offer a snug fit that isn't too tight or too loose and give you the most control over your dog when walking or training. Lightweight, smaller nylon collars are ideal for young puppies that shouldn't require too much corrective work while larger nylon dog collars are great for dogs that are already well trained to walk on the leash.
Training Dog Collars
A training dog collar is similar in design and function to the standard nylon dog collar except that it uses a flat back design in order to give you greater control when correcting your dog's behaviour. A quick pull on the leash is used to prevent pulling without causing undue harm or discomfort for your dog.
Types Of Dog Training Collar
More aggressive and more specific types of dog training collar are also available. Slip collars and choke chain collars can be used to prevent dogs from pulling or acting aggressively, when used properly. Pinch chains are quite similar except that they pinch the back of the neck rather than constrict the whole neck. Martingale collars prevent your dog from backing up and being able to slip their collar or lead over their neck.
Dog Harnesses
Another option is the dog harness. A dog harness is not really a training aid because it actually makes pulling and straining against the leash a more comfortable experience for your dog. The harness dissipates the strain caused by pulling and spreads it across the entire body. This may actually encourage dogs to pull unless combined with a dog training collar, in which case you can still train your dog while also knowing that they will not be able to harm themselves if they pull or jerk against the leash.
Choosing The Right Option For You
You should try to choose the most appropriate type of dog collar, dog training collar, or dog harness for you. Younger puppies should be encouraged to walk properly without too much assistance from dog training collars because this will make your walks a lot easier in the future but for older dogs that may have already developed bad habits and are difficult to walk it may prove necessary to start out with corrective training and the use of a good dog training collar.