Dog Harness for Small Dog: Why Walking your Dog with a Harness is Safer

 

Harnesses connect a dog to a leash to better allow the owner to walk alongside with some degree of control. Many small dog owners are opting to use a harness instead of a collar for walking to keep their dog safe and secure. For many small dogs, a versatile harness is a safer alternative – eliminating the pressure from the dog’s neck. From a training aspect, dog harnesses teach how not to pull as pressure is more evenly distributed over the dog’s body. There are a multitude of reasons why walking your dog with a harness is safer.

Dog Harness for Small Dog Benefits

Collars can become a safety hazard for a small dog. They can be easily caught on fences and other items, causing injury to your pet or even strangulation.

When not fitted properly, collars can cause several major problems. Too loose and the collar can cause chafing and loss of hair. Too tight and the color can restrict breathing. Harnesses are fitted around the body and chest, drastically reducing the risk of injury to the pet.

A small dog, especially teacup breeds weighing less than ten pounds, can easily slip out of a collar. Harnesses provide more security for a small dog, making it difficult for the dog to escape and become lost, stolen, or hurt. Harnesses have two points, belly and chest, where the harness attaches to help ensure that the dog doesn’t get free when walking. A dog harness for small dog breeds also controls the dog’s forward movement.

The use of a harness is also a more humane way to train a small dog.

Pulling a leash to teach the dog when to stop and go can cause unnecessary strain on the neck and trachea – sometimes even choking the dog. When a harness is fitted correctly around the dog’s torso, a gentle tug to the leash during a training session will not cause any harm to your pet.

Harnesses not only benefit large dogs, but can keep a small dog safe and secure as well. They provide comfort and convenience to both the pet and owner. Using a harness instead of just a collar can give pet owners control over their dog and help to keep them safe from hazards during walks. Putting a harness on a small dog will also take the strain from the neck and evenly distribute the weight throughout the body. In most cases, walking a dog with a harness is more effective and is certainly safer.