Puppy Harness Advise

Hi everyone,

Great forum with really useful information.

I pick up my little staffie girl in two weeks and have been doing loads of research.

I want to get her a harness but im just worried about the size and with her out growing it. Her mom is really short and low as is dad, but dads head is massive and I think she will follow suit.

Is it worth buying a harness now or just a collar? Would she accept a harness after being on a collar? What size harness should i get? Are there any particular brands that are good for Staffies?

Sorry for all the questions, hope you can help.

i would start with a collar first for a year then get a harness

I'll agree with Steve. Steve is God
Seriously though.
Its better to start off with a collar. Unless you want to get a harness and want to have something to keep, like babies first booties
As for, what make? That's pretty much up to you really. What ever you are happy with and whatever your dog is comfortable wearing. Don't forget, it has to be strong and well made and not too thin.
I have always liked collars made from materials like in the picture below but with padding of some sort on the inside.
They come in loads of colours (as you can see) and are pretty hard wearing.

Night Crawler wrote:I'll agree with Steve. Steve is God
Seriously though.
Its better to start off with a collar. Unless you want to get a harness and want to have something to keep, like babies first booties
As for, what make? That's pretty much up to you really. What ever you are happy with and whatever your dog is comfortable wearing. Don't forget, it has to be strong and well made and not too thin.
I have always liked collars made from materials like in the picture below but with padding of some sort on the inside.
They come in loads of colours (as you can see) and are pretty hard wearing.

Thanks both, I did read that till the dog is fully grown its not worth it. I have also read about dogs not taking to Harnesses though.

Will stat her off with a collar.

How do you guys transport your dogs around? Are there any car seat harnesses?

just put the harness on when the time comes and leave it on till she use to it people make mistaken by only putting it on when they go out and take it off for hours so they never get to use to it

You can't buy a harness now that will fit through the growing stages. If you're willing to buy new harnesses every time she outgrows the previous one then go ahead, otherwise a collar is better. Harnesses are great, but misfitted harnesses can cause damages (that can of course a collar, too, if the dog isn't properly trained). I'm likely to use harnesses on my puppy a lot, but that is because I have a lot of different sized harnesses so he'll usually have one that fits.

I always get a pup used to a collar first. Then, when they are a lot bigger I might get a harness. I've got one for Dempsey that is webbing with a fleece lining.

Night Crawler wrote:I'll agree with Steve. Steve is God

Pete, you're a crack-up.

I agree, definitely start out with a collar.