Walking Your Dog With a Harness

Walking Your Dog With a Harness
Written by Joshua McNiel

When most people walk their dogs, they use a traditional collar and leash set. However, more and more dog owners are trading those in for a dog harness.

Dog harnesses are ideal to walk dogs with for several reasons. One of the main reasons is because of how is distributes their weight. When you walk a dog with a collar, the pulling force will be on their neck, where the collar is. However, if you have a harness on your dog, it will spread the force out underneath their body. This makes it so they can't even feel being pulled.

Dogs choking themselves while they are on a leash or lead is a serious problem. Not only can this cause them discomfort, but it can also cause breathing problems, gagging, vomiting, loss of breath, and in even death in some extreme cases. The chance your dog will choke on a harness is greatly reduced due to the principle behind them. Remember, the force is spread under their body, instead of the neck.

For anyone with a small dog, like Chihuahuas and Yorkies, harnesses are perfect for. These small breeds are often hyper and will try to run away even when they are on a leash and collar. This can cause them to strain their fragile necks. However, a harness is a quick and easy fix for this.

Dog harnesses are also used for sled dogs. Chances are you probably wont need one for this purpose, but it's still a neat piece of information to know about them.

If you decide to get a dog harness there are a few things you should be aware of. Not all dog harnesses are one size fits all. Make sure the dog harness you are buying will fit the dog you need it for. Also, not all dog harnesses work the same. Some harnesses may attach underneath their body and to the collar. Check and make sure you understand how it works before you buy it.

The last thing you will have to decide on is the style and color of the dog harness. Dog harnesses come in a wide range of colors, designs, and styles. Some are made to look more "girly", while others look like they are made for males. I saw a cute harness the other day that was pink with rhinestones embedded in it. It would be perfect for a cute girl dog!

For the small price tag they cost, dog harnesses are well worth the money. They will give your dog the freedom to roam while staying in a safe and comfortable distance.