PROS & CONS OF COLLARS:
Collars are a comfortable and secure way to keep ID tags and licenses on the dog at all times. Some dogs may become experts at ducking out of their collars; broad-necked or small-headed dogs have a higher risk of escape. Most dogs do not seem to notice wearing a simple flat-buckle collar (It is recommended fitting collars with room for 2 fingers between), whether on-leash or off. Collars can be hard to fit properly to super tiny dogs. Collars come in a huge variety of types and materials; some kinds of dog collars serve specific needs, like for duckers or more safety. Collars are known to cause thyroid and/or trachea damage to dogs who pull. Some collars detach under generalized pressure, eliminating the risk of suffocation in an accident. It is possible for collars to get caught on objects during play or in a dog fight, and may injure or suffocate the dog wearing it; collars are also known to get caught in the jaws of other dogs during rough play.
HARNESSES:
Harnesses create less pull-stress on both the dog and human during leashed walks. Harnesses should still always be removed while the dog is inside, or playing with other dogs. Front-clip harnesses have shown to be most effective when training dogs not to pull on their leashes. Harnesses can chafe skin around a dogs’ elbows if worn excessively. Dog harnesses tend to come in a greater variety of sizes than collars; there may be better options for extra small or extra large dogs. Often harnesses are not adjusted to fit properly; if not fitted correctly, harnesses may cause the dog discomfort. In the event of a dog’s harness getting caught on something, the dog is safe from hanging. A harness that is improperly fitted may actually inhibit movement and alter the dog’s natural gait.
In a July 2015 blog post, Peter Dobias, DVM, notes the high rate of thyroid disease among large breeds of dogs who often pull strongly when on-leash. “It seems obvious that the collar actually pushes on the throat exactly in the area of the thyroid gland,” he says. He postulates that the trauma created by the pulling can inflame the thyroid, triggering an aggressive immune response when the body tries to remove the inflamed thyroid cells.
In January 2013 Dr. Jean Dodds addressed the issue via a reader-submitted question about collars and thyroid health. She said, based on the location at the front of the neck, the thyroid gland and neighboring salivary glands “can be easily injured by trauma and sudden pressure forces, like could occur from the slip ring and chain of a metal collar, and a metal prong or hard braided leather collar,” recommending harnesses or head halters for strong-pulling dogs.
Additionally, in 2011, Anders Hallgren studied the connection between problem behavior and back problems in dogs. In looking at 400 dogs, Hallgren found dogs who were strong pullers, or who were exposed to collar corrections, were most likely to display cervical injuries. In discussing the findings in his book Back Problems in Dogs: Underlying Causes for Behavior Problems, Hallgren notes, “The soft tissue at the front of the throat could also be injured, depending on how you handle the leash.”
Pulling on leash is problematic for many reasons. It’s likely uncomfortable for the dog (even when the desired forward motion trumps the discomfort); it’s uncomfortable for the human handling the dog; and it skews natural dog body language, potentially contributing to conflicts between dogs.
We’d say the additional potential for contributing to the development of thyroid disease, particularly in breeds known to be genetically predisposed, makes using a well-fitted front-clip harness a wise choice.
