Why Many Dog Trainers Do Not Recommend Harnesses
When it comes to walking your dog, choosing the right equipment can significantly impact your dog's behavior and comfort. While
harnesses have surged in popularity due to their perceived safety and comfort, many professional
dog trainers are cautious — or even opposed — to their use. This article explores the reasons behind their concerns and what alternatives they often recommend.
1. Harnesses Can Encourage Pulling
One of the main criticisms of harnesses is that they often
encourage dogs to pull. Here's why:
- Harnesses distribute pressure evenly across the chest, allowing dogs to exert more force without discomfort.
- This distribution mimics the design of sled dog equipment — built to enable pulling efficiently.
- In contrast, collars create more immediate feedback when a dog pulls, which can discourage the behavior.
For dogs that haven’t been properly leash-trained, a harness may inadvertently reinforce pulling, making it harder to control them on walks.
2. Reduced Communication and Handling
Harnesses may also limit a handler’s ability to communicate clearly with a dog through leash pressure. Professional dog training often uses nuanced leash cues to guide the dog. With a harness:
- Cues become more diffused and harder for the dog to interpret.
- Turning or redirecting a dog is more physically demanding for the handler.
Less communication means slower learning and reduced responsiveness during training sessions.
3. Safety Concerns in Certain Harness Types
Harnesses that are poorly fitted or low quality can present safety risks:
- Dogs may escape from ill-fitted harnesses more easily than from collars.
- Cheap materials can break under strain.
In stressful environments, such as near traffic or crowds, a securely fitted collar is sometimes safer than a harness.
4. Behavioral Implications
Some trainers believe that prolonged use of harnesses can lead to bad habits:
- Over-reliance on physical restraints instead of training and behavioral guidance.
- Decreased opportunity for impulse control and manners training.
This can cause a dog to feel less accountable for their own actions, negatively affecting obedience and discipline.
5. Specific Situations Where Harnesses Are Problematic
While harnesses have their place, they may be inappropriate in certain contexts:
- During obedience training where precise leash communication is essential.
- For larger dogs or breeds prone to strength-based dominance behavior.
- In urban settings with high distraction and safety risks.
When Are Harnesses Beneficial?
Despite their drawbacks, there are situations where harnesses are advisable:
- For very small breeds with delicate necks vulnerable to injury.
- Dogs with medical conditions like collapsed trachea or spinal issues.
- Puppies in early stages of socialization training, where control is essential but pulling is not yet a habit.
Front-clip and no-pull harness designs also offer a compromise, as they aim to reduce pulling while maintaining some level of control.
Trainer-Recommended Alternatives
Most dog trainers suggest:
- A flat, well-fitted collar for well-behaved adult dogs.
- Martingale collars for training, which provide gentle correction with low risk of injury.
- Head halters like the Gentle Leader for dogs with high pulling tendencies, allowing more directional control.
Important Considerations Before Choosing
Before switching from a harness to a collar or head halter, consider:
- Your dog’s breed, size, personality, and health condition.
- Your experience level with leash training methods.
- The environment in which you usually walk your dog.
Engage a professional trainer if you have concerns about your dog’s gait, behavior or responsiveness during walks.
Conclusion
Harnesses may seem like a practical and humane choice, but for free-form walking and balanced obedience training, they may not always be ideal.
Dog trainers emphasize communication, guidance, and respectful control — not just physical restraint. Choosing the right walking tool should align with these goals, and in many cases, a collar-based system may serve better. Always consider the individual dog when making this decision.
