Are you torn between a collar and a harness for your goldendoodle? Often, the best choice for goldendoodles will depend on several factors. To help you decide, we’ll talk about them in more detail below.
Both a collar and a harness have their own set of pros and cons. Hence, it’s up to you to determine which is better suited to your pooch and their needs. Plus, various collars and harnesses are designed for different circumstances, making a choice even more confusing.
Dog Collar vs. Harness: Which Is Better?
Regardless of your dog’s breed, it will need regular walks. For that, you have two types of leash attachments to choose from: a dog collar and a harness. So, how do you decide which is better?
Using a Dog Collar
Go to any pet store, and you’ll find a dog collar in every color, design, and material available. Aside from attaching to a leash, you can use it to keep ID tags or rabies tags around your goldendoodle’s neck. Here’s why some advocate using it over a harness:
Pros of Using a Dog Collar
- Collars will give you more control over your dog during walks. Even better, you won’t need to exert as much physical strength as you would if you used a harness.
- There are many styles to choose from, depending on you and your pup’s needs. You can get a flat collar, martingale collar, or a rolled collar.
- Compared to a harness, collars are easier to put on and take off.
Cons of Using a Dog Collar
- Dog collars are not really for breeds with necks bigger than their heads. Often, especially when it’s loose-fitting, they’d be able to wiggle out of it and escape.
- A too tight collar is most likely to hurt your dog, even more so if it pulls on its leash.
- Collars may cause throat damage, back pain, and other issues when not used correctly.
Using a Harness
With the long list of advantages that harnesses offer, more and more fur-parents are making the switch. That said, choosing a harness over a collar will still depend on your dog’s breed and overall behavior. Here’s what you can expect from using a harness on your dog:
Pros of Using a Harness
- Since a harness wraps around the dog’s body instead of its neck, they are generally more comfortable to wear on walks.
- Harnesses are designed so that dogs can’t slip out of them so easily, ensuring your pup’s safety during trips outdoors.
- The way a harness is designed also helps avoid injury, especially for dogs who like tugging on their leash. Plus, it keeps the leash away from your pup’s legs, so it doesn’t get caught.
- Dogs with tracheal collapse or other respiratory problems will benefit from wearing a harness over a collar. It also helps ease back pain.
- Using a harness also eliminates the worry of your dog choking, especially if not leash-trained.
Cons of Using a Harness
- If you have a very active and excited dog, you’ll find putting on and taking off a harness incredibly hard.
- It will depend on your pup’s size, but it can be more tiring to walk a dog on a harness compared to if it’s wearing a collar.
- If your dog has long hair, there’s a good chance wearing a harness will result in tangles. It can even bring discomfort when worn during hot weather.
- Those with large-breed dogs might find themselves being pulled by their dogs during walks instead of the other way around.
Which Is Better for Goldendoodles?
Ideally, you’ll want to use collars during your goldendoodle’s early months. More specifically, get a flat collar and a four-foot leash when you are leash training Micro Goldendoodles. Do this using positive reinforcement techniques, like giving praise and treats, to avoid associating the leash with bad experiences.
Proper leash training while still young will most likely discourage pulling or tugging. Then again, some dogs just don’t grow out of this behavior. In that case, you might be better off using a harness instead. This way, you protect your dog from injuries.
In the end, your choice will ultimately rely on your dog’s behavior during walks. Does your dog get distracted easily and run away whenever it gets the chance? If so, a dog harness might give you more peace of mind. On the other hand, if your goldendoodle is generally calm and is properly leash-trained, you shouldn’t have to worry about using a collar.
Leash Training Is Key!
Whichever you decide to use in the end, remember to find a way to have your dog wear its ID tags at all times. More importantly, take the time to research effective leash training methods.
Pulling and tugging stress both of you out. It likely won’t stop doing these things automatically, even if you switch between a collar and a harness. If you can’t do it yourself, have a professional do it for you. Trust us; both you and your goldendoodle will benefit from it.
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