Harness v's lead

Hi all

After (yet more) advice.
Loony is due to start her walks and she's been growing used to time round the house with her collar/lead (as per your advice ).
But i'm curious to now the pro's/cons of using a harness instead.

Our other dog we used a harness as a pup as she used to pull so much she'd choke, but after she trained we swapped to collar and lead as I found it easier.
But with staffs is there a benefit to either in the long term?

All advice gratefully received.

I have always used a collar and lead,just my preference as i find it easier to train the puppy to walk on a loose lead.

I asked our vet this week about collar or harness and she said to persevere with collar, that with staffies sometimes owners switch to harness because the neck ends up the same width as the head and collars easily come off...not sure how true this is

i use a flat leather collar and have never had a collar come off over a dogs head.

Have you thought of using a canny collar or similar device ? This may well stop any pulling on the lead, we used one with Rocky and it did work.

We do now use a harness though as he is one a long training lead most of the time. We use the Ezydog harness which does appear to be more comfortable than some others we have used in the past and it does not rub on his chest.

im in the same boat, do harnesses promote pulling? those ez dog products are nice. mite be interested in one of the wide collars when the time is right or a padded chest harness.

For Kodi I use a halti head collar, semi check or a harness, depending on where im going and how many people are about, he pulls if allowed (obviously hes not allowed) due to his "I dont trust some men attitude" I like to have best possible control

Mazda uses a harness purely for medical reasons, her trachia is collapsing but with choice id use her soft staffie collar

jojobda wrote:im in the same boat, do harnesses promote pulling? those ez dog products are nice. mite be interested in one of the wide collars when the time is right or a padded chest harness.

I got Kodi a ezydog harness for xmas after Dave (Tilly & Tommys dad) recommended them and I must say after trying nearly every harness in the UK and even some USA imports haha Ezydog is brill

So the halti and canny are for pulling correction?
Would they be advisable even if there's not an issue? (here's hoping ).

I use both, for long walks i usually use a harness but short walks or just going out in the car i use a collar

Only problem is he grows so fast it seems like im buying a harness every couple of months, collar seems to last long.

Iv used ezydog but for Benson seemed to rub to much on belly/legs, so now have the fleece Xtra dog harness and its lovely but not cheap

I think it is so much easier to start out and persevere to train the pup not to pull in the first place and this is easier with a collar and lead.In 35 years of owning GSD,BOXERS and STAFFIES i have never had a dog that pulls when on the lead.If taught early and consistently there should be no need for pulling.

I don't like harnesses - but that's a personal preference! I like to have control over the head of my dog & even a front ring on a harness doesn't do that for me.

I use a half check because a normal collar will come off if Dempsey pulls. I've always trained my dogs to walk nicely on a collar & lead so I've never had a problem with pulling.

Caryll wrote:I don't like harnesses - but that's a personal preference! I like to have control over the head of my dog & even a front ring on a harness doesn't do that for me.

I use a half check because a normal collar will come off if Dempsey pulls. I've always trained my dogs to walk nicely on a collar & lead so I've never had a problem with pulling.

Sorry for my ignorance but what's a 'half check'?

yeah collar for me.. The harness doesnt control the direction of the dog very well compared to a lead on a collar

My dogs have fleece harnesses from dog-games.co.uk

We tried the halti and Roxy hated it. She'd see it coming and go and sulk and the minute it was on it was like all confidence was lost. We'd get out and she'd refuse to walk! no more of that for us

I recently bought a harness for Kuchar in the hope that it will stop him pulling (I now have a bad shoulder) and also that pulling up whilst on a long lead won't jerk his neck. And he hates it and won't walk in it.

When my shoulder (and back) are better I will start over more gently with him - have it on him in the house whilst we're playing etc so he gets used to it etc.

We have a harness for Obi. I had a harness with my last staffie and he walked beautifully on that he was a b**ger on the collar and lead so when we got Obi we bought him a puppia harness and now he's a big boy he's got an Ez dog one (christmas pressie)

Fraggle wrote:

Caryll wrote:I don't like harnesses - but that's a personal preference! I like to have control over the head of my dog & even a front ring on a harness doesn't do that for me.

I use a half check because a normal collar will come off if Dempsey pulls. I've always trained my dogs to walk nicely on a collar & lead so I've never had a problem with pulling.

Sorry for my ignorance but what's a 'half check'?

Sorry, I should have explained! This will show what it is, better than I can explain it.....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Softex-Check-Adjustable-Collar-61cms/dp/B0059GL568/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1357347626&sr=8-10

We use both at the same time and just change where the lead is attached dependant on the situation

Personal preference. Loki used to pull so much to other people/dogs that he'd choke himself, so I got him a harness and he walks great on it. He walked great even on a collar, just the people/dogs that were the problem. He still pulls to dogs near us, but we're working on it. I find it easier to work on it knowing that I'm not hurting him, it gives me more confidence.

Harness helps the dog pull so not the best idea just use a collar.
Keep the leash short and relaxed and when she pulls correct her. Did that with all my staffies and after a while they walk next to you without pulling. My pup's 7 months now and I even tie her to my belt sometimes can't feel her at all when were walking.You just need to be consistant and don't let her pull you around.

i have both after when on a walk i suddenly noticed tash was minus a collar and had to retrace my steps to find it, i now have an ezydog harness and collar and think they are brillian

Personally for me the harness was the best thing I ever bought! I just have a simple plain leather harness and a short chain. Almost instantly Logan walked a lot better when I started using the harness.

He doesn't pull at all (unless a squirrel or rabbit runs by) and I find it a lot easier to control him, as if I need to move him away from something the harness moves his whole body and he doesn't fight it at all. I also find it quicker to clip the lead on and off if I need to do it in a panic.

I think it might be a case of different things work for different people. You can buy a strong, padded leather harness on ebay for £20 (I saw the same harness in my local pet store for near £60) and leads are very inexpensive. So it would be worth trying both if you could.

Also, your pup looks absolutely fantastic!

I started off using a collar on Zeus when he was a pup but as he got older, and alot stronger, he started to pull alot and would choke himself.

I then moved onto the 'Stop Pull' harness from Pets At Home, and its worked a treat. I always have him on an extendable lead so he can go and wander around on his walks, with this harness he stops when he knows its coming to the end most of the time, and if he doesnt stop, he won't force himself forward as he does when he is on his collar.