Dog Collars vs. Harnesses: Which Works For Your Pooch?

The number of dog collars and harnesses on the market can cause your head to spin.

Among the selections available, you’ll find an overwhelming cacophony of colors, patterns, and styles. They feature different designs, different materials, and different closures.

Nylon, cotton, leather.

Slip-on, step-through, no-pull.

Snaps, quick-release buckles, Velcro.

The options are endless.

But there’s one question that owners must consider at the outset: Do you want your dog to wear a collar or a harness? This is the first thing you must decide when picking a collar or harness — especially if you intend to use the collar or harness for training purposes.

How do you decide whether you want a collar or a harness? Which is best for your dog? Is there such a thing?

We’ll help answer all of these questions and more below! Let’s jump right in!

Dog Collars vs Harnesses: Key Takeaways

• There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the collar-vs-harness question. Every dog-and-owner situation is different, so it is just important that you think carefully about the question and select the best option for your specific pooch.
• Collars and harnesses both present different benefits and drawbacks. Collars, for example, can be more comfortable for some dogs to wear, but they fail to provide the same amount of control that harnesses do. Harnesses, on the other hand, are a bit heavy, but they can also help address pulling behavior.
• You probably want to try both a collar and a harness to find the best option for your pup. Frankly, you’ll likely find (as many owners do), that one works better in some situations, while the other works better in different scenarios.

Dog Collars and Harnesses: Which Is Best?

Spoiler alert: There’s no one definitive answer whether dog collars or harnesses are best.

The answer really depends on what your goals are, what your dog’s body is shaped like, and personal preference.

Many professional trainers use and own both collars and harnesses. Overall, I prefer well-fit and comfortable harnesses for most cases. There’s no one right answer though, so instead let’s explore the reasons that a collar or harness might be better for you and your dog.

You might prefer to use a dog collar instead of a harness if:

Your dog is sensitive to pressure on her sides or shoulder blades. Some dogs are really uncomfortable with the pressure of a harness or are fearful of the harness slipping over their head. While you can work on teaching your dog to be comfortable with the feeling of a harness, it might be easier to opt for a collar in this case.

Your dog has an extreme body shape. For some dogs (greyhounds are a great example), it’s hard to find a harness that fits perfectly. While harnesses, such as the PetSafe SureFit Harness, are highly customizable for oddly-shaped dogs, they can be difficult to fit properly at first and a collar might be more comfortable.

Your dog is well-trained and there’s no need for the extra control and safety of a harness. A dog that does not pull on a leash won’t harm herself with the pressure of a collar.

I prefer using a collar with Barley in training environments, but I opt for a harness while running, hiking, or otherwise enjoying ourselves.

You might prefer to use a dog harness instead of a collar if:

Your dog pulls on the leash and might damage her trachea or larynx with collar pressure. While a standard back-clip harness might make it easier for your dog to pull, it also keeps her throat safe from tracheal collapse. Get a front-clip harness, such as the 2 Hounds Design Freedom Harness or a head halter to use while you teach your dog to walk politely next to you.

Just remember that no tool will teach your dog how to walk politely on a leash. Only training can do that!

Your dog is an escape artist and can wiggle out of collars in no time. Some dogs back out of properly fitted collars, and this is a huge safety risk near roads or wilderness areas.

Consider opting for an escape-proof dog harnesses if you have a Houdini dog. The Ruffwear Webmaster has two straps behind the front legs, making it almost impossible to wriggle out of.

Martingale collars are another option for escape-minded mutts. These collars tighten to a predetermined amount when there’s pressure applied to them, which keeps them from tightening around your dog’s neck too much while also making them hard to escape from.

Your dog is on the small side. Tiny dogs can be quite fragile, making harnesses the safer option. In fact, some vets argue that no small or toy breed should use a collar. Small dogs are at higher risk for tracheal collapse, and you might not notice their pulling as much as with a large dog who drags you down the street.

The Mesh Wrap N Go Harness is an extra-comfy and extra-secure option for pint-sized pooches. Its Velcro is incredibly strong and the design pretty escape-proof, which will keep your pup safe — but keep an eye out to ensure you don’t Velcro her hair into it!

Your dog has a short snout. Brachycephalic breeds, including pugs, boxers, and bulldogs, are at extra risk for overheating and any air constriction from collar pressure can be dangerous. These dogs should always be walked on a nice, comfy harness that keeps pressure off of their necks.

You and your pet are engaging in heavy activity or movement. Even when dogs can walk nicely on leash, it’s best to use a harness if you’re going for a run, hike, or other big adventure. A good-quality dog harness that does not restrict shoulder movement will keep your dog comfortable while doing heavy activity.

If your dog is pulling you at all, as in canicross or skijoring, ensure that you have a harness specifically made for this. Harnesses that are made for pulling are very different from your average walking harness.

Head-to-Head: The Pros and Cons of Collars and Harnesses

Again, there’s no hard-and-fast rule regarding the selection of a harness or collar for your pup. The answer will vary from dog to dog, owner to owner, and situation to situation.

But to help you decide which one is best for your circumstances, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of each option below.

The Pros & Cons of Dog Collars

Thinking a collar is the right choice for your pet? Just keep the following benefits and drawbacks in mind:

The Pros & Cons of Dog Harnesses

Just like collars, harnesses have a number of strengths and weaknesses you should consider, including the following:

Bottom Line: Should I Choose a Collar or a Harness?

In most cases, a good-fitting harness is a safe bet.

The only time that I purposely avoid a harness with a dog is if the dog is afraid of the harness, we cannot find a harness that fits the dog properly, or the dog has an injury (like a rash on her stomach) that makes harnesses uncomfortable.

Otherwise, the benefits of harnesses often outweigh the benefits of collars in my book.

The bottom line is that choosing between a collar and a harness is a personal choice. Your preference may vary from day to day and depending on your activity. For example, my dog Barley wears his Ruffwear Front Range harness while we’re hiking, on casual walks, and in nosework class.

However, we use his flat buckle collar when we’re in agility or obedience classes and working on leash training.

Dog Collars vs Harnesses: FAQ

The entire collar-vs-harness debate causes confusion for many owners and leaves them with lingering questions. We’ll try to help address this by answering some of the most common questions on the subject below!

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Now that you know what we do, we want to hear your thoughts! What do you think? What’s better — harnesses or collars? Do you have one you prefer over others? Let us know in the comments below!