As a dog walker, it’s a question I get from my human clients regularly: what collar or harness is best for their dog? As with most questions about pets, there are some best practices to follow, but the answer is largely a matter of personal preference and the individual needs of your dog. We’ve previously talked about the gentle leader collar but there are tons of other options to consider before you hit the streets. There’s an enormous variety of collars on the market, so it can be a tough selection to make. In the coming months, I’ll be breaking down the pros and cons of some of the most popular dog collars and harnesses to help you decide for yourself which is the best option for you and your pup.
I have gotten more recommendations from fellow pet care professionals for the front clip harness than I have for anything else, so it’s safe to say that this is a preferred piece of equipment for the pros! While I personally prefer the head collar, the front clip harness is a close second. I happily recommend these to clients, especially for those with large dogs who pull.
The front clip harness goes over the back, chest, and belly of the dog, not unlike a traditional harness. The difference is that, rather than the leash attaching at the dog’s back, it’s attached to the chest area. Attaching the leash to the chest allows the walker to “steer” the dog from the front, rather than just stopping or slowing their forward motion by pulling from behind. The principle of how it works is the same as the head collar, in that the dog will actually be turned back toward the walker if they pull too hard. The dog is prevented from straining forward (and taking you with them) since they turn themselves to the side when they pull against the leash.
The Pros
The front clip harness is great for dogs who pull – especially large ones! Because the dog’s own momentum is used to turn it back toward you when it pulls, you won’t have to use your own strength to slow them down or redirect them. These harnesses come in an array of sizes and can usually be adjusted to fit just about any dog perfectly. This harness is a safer alternative to traditional collars, which can injure a dog’s trachea/neck if they pull too hard. The harness wraps around the dog’s body, displacing the pressure caused by pulling much more evenly than a collar, which focuses the pressure squarely on the vulnerable neck area. Front clip harnesses are so effective against pulling that they’ve even been recommended by dog trainers for sled dogs – the strongest super-pullers out there! This isn’t costly equipment either, usually running between $10 and $40, depending on the size of the dog and the specific brand of the harness.
Front clip harnesses actually have a leg up on my favorite collar (the gentle leader) in one area: they don’t require any training to use! It might be tough to get your pup to sit still long enough for you to get the harness on correctly but, once it’s on, you can simply clip the leash on and go. The anti-pulling action is automatic and won’t require you to learn any special moves either, so it’s perfect for dogs and handlers at almost all levels of training and expertise.
The Neutral
One note of caution about the front clip harness is that it’s somewhat specific in how and when it should be used. I recommend that you only use harnesses on walks or during other monitored activities where a leash is used (such as a training session). I don’t suggest leaving a harness on your dog when it’s not in use because the multiple straps stretching across the dog can easily become snagged on things, grabbed by another dog, etc. The good news is that, because the harness does not wrap around the neck, there’s a much lower chance that snagging could be deadly than there is with a regular collar. However, your pup could still injure themselves or damage something in your house if they got hung up on something and panicked.
Dogs can also reach a harness with their teeth and claws pretty easily, so it wouldn’t be a challenge for them to chew through or otherwise destroy it if they were so inclined. As long as you are willing to take the harness off between uses, none of this should pose a problem for you. However, if you’re looking for something that your dog can wear all day long, this might not be your best bet.
The Cons
There isn’t much of a downside to using a front clip harness, and the few cons that do exist are relatively minor. The biggest complaint that I have with this harness style is that it can be difficult to put on. There are multiple straps that need to be put in the right places and it’s not hard to get your harness on upside down or backward – especially when you’re working with an excited dog who won’t sit still. I sometimes mess up the order of operations and have to start all over, even when I’m using a harness I’m very familiar with. I also find that the leash becomes easily tangled under the dog’s feet if the tension on the leash is allowed to slacken. That’s not usually a problem for dogs who pull since they’ll keep the tension tight for you, but it can be a bit irritating if you’re walking a dog who likes to stop and smell the roses. This is by no means a dealbreaker, but it does mean you have to pay attention to the leash or use a shorter one than you might otherwise.
The only other point of caution I would give someone who’s considering a front clip harness is that it doesn’t offer the very best control out there. As Vetstreet pointed out, head halters offer more control, which might be necessary if you have a particularly aggressive or reactive dog on your hands. However, this harness still provides the walker with an easy command of even large dogs in a safe way. It should be perfectly adequate for most dogs, but there are more effective options available if needed.
The Take-Away
I heartily recommend front clip harnesses to anyone looking to curb a dog with leash-pulling tendencies. For dogs without pulling issues, there isn’t much advantage to using this over a traditional harness, but it still works just fine. The bottom line is that this harness is a safe, effective, and easy to use option. I would not recommend front clip harnesses for all-day use or extremely reactive dogs. However, in most cases, I believe it is a useful tool for walking dogs that pull. In my opinion, front clip harnesses deserve the good reputation they’ve gotten in the pet care industry. I’ve personally seen problem pullers turn into easily-handled walking companions by simply using this harness, so it has my enthusiastic recommendation.
Is there a collar or harness you want covered? Email me with your suggestions.
Xanadu Pet Care is ready and willing to be your dog walker of choice in Palm Coast and Flagler County. I’ll be happy to teach you the basics of using the face collar!