Leashes, Collars, Harnesses...Oh My!

I remember walking into the pet store when I was a child and first time pet owner. I knew that I needed to purchase some equipment for my new puppy so that I could keep her safe when we were outside and on walks. There were so many choices. Back then I didn't know much about pet care since I was literally 10 years old. There are adult first time pet owners too, that can also find selecting the right equipment for their pet to be overwhelming. Hopefully I can help put you all at ease this this post.

There are some things to consider when deciding what equipment you are going to purchase. The size of your pet is the main thing, then what you are planning to do with your pet and finally the experience level you have with the equipment. All dogs need a collar even if you plan to use a harness when walking. The collar is there to hold their tags. I recommend all dogs having a collar on if they are outside, even if they are in the backyard, put their collar on. Sometimes dogs slip out of their backyard and the collar with tags will help identify where the dog belongs.

I recommend that all dogs be walked on a solid leash that is purchased for the size of dog you plan to walk. You shouldn't put a leash designed for a yorkie on a dog like a cane corso...it is too thin to hold up to the dogs weight if he/she were to pull or lunge at something. I do not recommend dogs having a retractable leash. These leashes are great if you are walking your dog completely alone and want to let them taste a little bit of freedom. However, when you are walking on the sidewalk or in an area you can encounter another dog these leashes are no good. The dog could dart into traffic and get hit because you allow the dog as much space as they want. When encountering another dog there is the possibility of the other dog being aggressive. Again, retractable leashes prevent you from being able to quickly remove your dog. I personally believe that when you have your dog out with you, they should be on a 4-6 foot long solid leash specific to your dog's size.

A lot of people do not like hooking their leash to their dog's neck because they worry about the dog getting choked. This is an understandable concern. Harnesses or gentle leaders are great for walking dogs. The best thing you should do for your dog is to teach them to walk with you. This eliminates the need for harnesses and gentle leaders. When you do choose to use a harness or gentle leader make sure you measure your dog so you can pick the right fit. Your pet store associates should be able to assist you with this if you are unsure. The wrong fitting harness could make your dog very uncomfortable and cause the walk to be a nightmare. Walks should be enjoyable for you and your dog. Most gentle leaders come with a training video so you can learn how to use them properly.

Each of my personal dogs have their own equipment. My lab is a service dog and he has his training collar as well as a gentle leader for when he thinks he needs to be a regular dog but is actually supposed to be working. My rescue puppy and my husky each have a gentle leader and harness however we use them differently. The puppy uses the gentle leader if we will be walking in crowds, he gets very distracted very easily and the gentle leader allows me to have more of his attention. His harness we use when we are out without the crowds. Regardless of what we use, he is expected to walk in a heel the entire time. For the husky, we use the gentle leader when we are walking anywhere. He lives to pull which can be dangerous when we are out walking with the kids. When we are going for a bike ride or hiking, I put his harness on him. This little change lets him know that he will be working and is allowed to pull when given the command. His harness is different from the puppy's harness in that it is designed for pulling and the puppy's is an easy walk harness designed to help him stop pulling.

There are many option for your pet's. I recommend you talk with your trainer to help you make the best choice for your dog!