Harness vs collar for training

I have always opted for a harness for Nifty as it seemed more comfortable for her, so logical for me.
Dogs are not supposed to pull (when they are educated) but invariably when they do, I prefered to have pup pull against a harness across their chest than strangle itself (so to speak) against a collar.

At canine club, almost all are in collars (thankfully chokers and spiked are forbidden) but those who arrive in harnesses are encouraged to use collar. I have refused and will continue to do so for Nifty’s comfort, am I right ?

I hate to hear a dog gagging because he’s pulling against the collar to see new friends or the such.
Why do I feel like the only one who is uncomfortable by this gagging ?
Is it convention that makes people use collars ?

Collars give you more control over the front end of your dog, but that's about it!

If you are more comfortable with a harness & Nifty is learning well, why change? You're right!

But if you have an attachment on the front of your harness, is that not equivalent to the control you’d have with the collar ?

I am wondering if it isn’t based alot on tradition - dogs wear collars, girls wear skirts and horses wear horse shoes ...

No, even a front ring doesn't have the same control as a collar.

But you should use whichever one both you & Nifty are comfortable with. If you're not thinking of entering obedience competitions then a collar isn't necessary.

I, personally, don't get on with harnesses but I think that's my age! When I had a dog 40 years ago check chains were the only acceptable way to train a dog - but I wouldn't use one now, because I wouldn't be comfortable with it.

If your trainer isn't saying "Unless you use a collar you can't train here" then use the harness. After all, that's what Nifty's used to & she'll probably respond better with it.

Not sure. Lexi never liked collars, and i remember buying her first harness when she was about 8 monthsish. Maybe she was just a lazy old sod but i never remember her pulling so much that it caused me issue...but then most her life was on a lunge line so i wouldn't have felt it anyway

Out in the big public, she would only ever pull if another dog came near, and she was immediately put hips in my legs anyway as she was DA (family trait i later found out) so again she never really had any chance or need to pull. but you could put a collar on her and not even touch it and she would gag like you killed her.

Nifty staffy wrote:horses wear horse shoes ...

dont dare say that to anyone who like natural horsemanship

lexii wrote:

Nifty staffy wrote:horses wear horse shoes ...

dont dare say that to anyone who like natural horsemanship

I’m not a NH follower but never said mine were shod

Gus pulls terribly on a collar but walks great with his harness on. Just what he is used to I suppose.

Nifty its entirely your own choice of your personal preference of collar or harness mia escaped from 2 harnesses preferred not to use one

Wow, I would have thought it much easier to escape from a collar than a harness.

In any case, I’m not wanting to do anything more than basic obedience in order to have an educated Nifty to accompany me wherever we go. If that certain instructor doesn’t like harnesses (or anything other than border collies ) then yeah, I suppose it’s his problem not mine.

I just cannot understand those who come with their dogs for the first time, (dogs who are months and not years old), wearing choking chains, spiked collars and the such
I would have thought those obsolete in our day and age

Does the trainer allow prong/spike collars?

gillybrent wrote:Does the trainer allow prong/spike collars?

No, not at all and they even request such equipment be removed immediately.
But it joins the old thoughts that dogs wear collars and when they get too strong for leather version, swap for choker or pronged type.

I was in pet store not long ago and a lady was asking shop assistant for a pronged choker. Assistant was telling her that they are forbidden now so she was looking for an equivent.
Maybe she should try a bit of education (starting with her !) ?

Yes, I quite agree!