Harness or Collar? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Herks Mom · 04-27-2005, 07:30 AM

Which do you prefer? At present I am using a collar. Hercules gets too excited. It's had enough just to get his leash on him. I have heard that a harness is better. Do you have trouble putting a harness on your babies? Would you keep it on them? I have only had my Yorkie since Christmas. We have already been through 3 collars and 2 harness. I'm not having any luck with the harness in getting him to calm down long enough to get it on him.

Biddy's Mom · 04-27-2005, 07:40 AM

We used to use a collar, but now we use harnesses. Biddy gets too excited and is so fast that she would pull on the collar and it would really choke her. We got the harness instead & it has worked out great (although it is more difficult to get on - since she is a psychopath when we are getting ready to go out!!). But it's worth it once we get it on...

bld2751 · 04-27-2005, 08:00 AM

Definitely go with the harness. It's better on their tracheas. It's also better if you are outside and are in a situation where you need to quickly grab them up. Like if a bigger dog is approaching fast and about to attack, or something crazy like that, if you pull up fast by the harness it won't hurt them like the collar might.

Hercules gets crazy excited too when he sees the harness, but he's calming down a little bit. It will take some time for them to understand that the calmer they are, the faster they will get it on and get to go out!

I don't leave it on either one of my dogs b/c I take them outside on a balcony to go potty. But once that situation changes I might. I really don't know what I'm going to do then though.

aimee · 04-27-2005, 08:36 AM

I use a harness on Tia - she does SO well with it now! Perfect!

Sandy uses a collar but she is trained well and doesn't ever pull. She's also 14 lbs.

orinskye · 04-27-2005, 08:46 AM

toby is in between sizes in harnesses...... so i had A LOT of trouble trying to find a new one....... i got him this one from drfostersmith http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2001&Nty=1

if you click at teh "styles" i got teh willow desighn...... it will come in teh mail on monday

browniesmom622 · 04-27-2005, 08:49 AM

i keep the collars on them all the time and we use a harness for walking

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 04-27-2005, 09:32 AM

We also used to use a collar on Magic and one day we ran into LDenise, where we also found out about this site, and she told us the dangers of a collar and what it can do for their little necks....so we switched right away and have loved it...we keep them on all the time, so when we go for walks they are ready...we put one on Sailor as soon as she was big enough and they both do great with them....

Mystify79 · 04-27-2005, 10:18 AM

I use harnesses. I never knew the dangers of collars until I got my Maltese and heard so much about their soft tracheas so Tuffy has never worn a collar. He learned how to walk on a harness in no time at all and I'm hoping it will be the same for Pixie.

yorkieagility · 04-27-2005, 10:22 AM

I use harnesses when I'm walking them. Collar when I'm training.

Herks Mom · 04-27-2005, 10:23 AM

Thanks so much for the advise. Everyone has been so helpful. I just got back from Petco to purchase a harness. Hope this one is easier to put on him. I also picked up some greenies which I had never heard of until I read what everyone was saying. Thanks yall.

TatumsMom · 04-27-2005, 11:04 AM

Oh, I definitely have to share my great find with ya'll. I previously had a poodle so knew about the dangers of collars (as it pertains to walking with a leash) so when I got Tatum, I got a harness that was just a pain in the butt to put on. It had to slip over her head and then get one foot through the straps and then buckle. It was such a mess. Then I saw this one in the Petedge catalog:

http://www.petedge.com/shopping/prod...ctID=1270&AS=1

Got it and it works fabulous! SO much easier to get her into. In fact, we're in obedience class right not and I told the teacher last night that I'm going to work on clicker training Tatum to step into it herself just to see if I can do it. She had been telling us that animal trainers have clicker trained even very large animals to step into boxes and stuff so I'm going to see if I can do it. Even if she doesn't do it herself, it is so much easier to deal with.

As far as the harness in general goes, it's definitely better to walk them with one. I've even had to literally pick her up by the leash/harness from a short distance once when another dog at the ballpark was playing a little too rough with her. You can't do THAT with a collar!

Like "Yorkieagility" says though, my trainer makes us use a Martingale collar when training. I'm not crazy about it just because the dangers of collars have been drilled into me but she said it's okay for just the training sessions.

Check out that harness link though. We love it!

myguyalex · 04-27-2005, 11:19 AM

I used to have a kitten collar when Alex was a baby. Then when he got older I used a collar and the vet yeld at me. Yorkies can easily get esophagus (sp?) collapse. Plus, he would pull and cough. So now I use a harness. I don't leave it on him for long periods of time. He starts scratching at it after awhile. His harness is real simple. It slips on like a collar and clips around his rib cage. It works great!
Idea about the puppy squiggles: Alex is great about putting harness, tops and bows on. But if you have a problem this is what I would recommend...
l would put the harness on and take it off repeatedly throughout the day (if you can), leaving it on for various amounts of time. I assume he associates it with going away or on a walk or something fun for him. This way after awhile he won't associate it with anything in particular. He may after awhile not get so excite.

Just a thought, hope it helps!

Duke's mom · 04-27-2005, 12:34 PM

Duke wears a collar all of the time, but he wears a harness when I take him for walks. His harness is a plaid vest with a D ring on the back that you attach the leash to. I love it because if I have to pick him up quickly I can do so without hurting him. Also, I don't have to worry about hurting his trachea or having him gasp for breath from pulling on a regular leash.

Brutus'mama · 04-27-2005, 12:36 PM

We use a harness. I was afraid of hurting him with the collar. I am going to get a collar with a bell for the house because he's so small I don't want to step on him!

04-27-2005, 07:30 AM	#1
Herks Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tarrant, Alabama Posts: 57	Harness or Collar? Which do you prefer? At present I am using a collar. Hercules gets too excited. It's had enough just to get his leash on him. I have heard that a harness is better. Do you have trouble putting a harness on your babies? Would you keep it on them? I have only had my Yorkie since Christmas. We have already been through 3 collars and 2 harness. I'm not having any luck with the harness in getting him to calm down long enough to get it on him.

04-27-2005, 07:40 AM	#2
Biddy's Mom and Tucker's too! Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,134	We used to use a collar, but now we use harnesses. Biddy gets too excited and is so fast that she would pull on the collar and it would really choke her. We got the harness instead & it has worked out great (although it is more difficult to get on - since she is a psychopath when we are getting ready to go out!!). But it's worth it once we get it on... __________________ Jessica, Biddy, Tucker & Gertie

04-27-2005, 08:00 AM	#3
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	Definitely go with the harness. It's better on their tracheas. It's also better if you are outside and are in a situation where you need to quickly grab them up. Like if a bigger dog is approaching fast and about to attack, or something crazy like that, if you pull up fast by the harness it won't hurt them like the collar might. Hercules gets crazy excited too when he sees the harness, but he's calming down a little bit. It will take some time for them to understand that the calmer they are, the faster they will get it on and get to go out! I don't leave it on either one of my dogs b/c I take them outside on a balcony to go potty. But once that situation changes I might. I really don't know what I'm going to do then though. __________________ Brandi, Hercules, & Athena

04-27-2005, 08:36 AM	#4
aimee The Royal Mommy Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,010	I use a harness on Tia - she does SO well with it now! Perfect! Sandy uses a collar but she is trained well and doesn't ever pull. She's also 14 lbs. __________________ (`'·.¸(`'·.¸ ¸.·'´)¸.·'´) «´¨ `·.¸¸.Aimée, Sandy, and Tia.¸¸.·´¨`» (¸.·'´(¸.·'´ `'·.¸)`'·.¸)

04-27-2005, 08:49 AM	#6
browniesmom622 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ny Posts: 11,253 Blog Entries: 5	i keep the collars on them all the time and we use a harness for walking __________________ We Love our Yt Angel! My Website< > FB page

04-27-2005, 08:46 AM	#5
orinskye YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,990	toby is in between sizes in harnesses...... so i had A LOT of trouble trying to find a new one....... i got him this one from drfostersmith http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2001&Nty=1 if you click at teh "styles" i got teh willow desighn...... it will come in teh mail on monday

04-27-2005, 09:32 AM	#7
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	We also used to use a collar on Magic and one day we ran into LDenise, where we also found out about this site, and she told us the dangers of a collar and what it can do for their little necks....so we switched right away and have loved it...we keep them on all the time, so when we go for walks they are ready...we put one on Sailor as soon as she was big enough and they both do great with them.... __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain

04-27-2005, 10:18 AM	#8
Mystify79 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 565	I use harnesses. I never knew the dangers of collars until I got my Maltese and heard so much about their soft tracheas so Tuffy has never worn a collar. He learned how to walk on a harness in no time at all and I'm hoping it will be the same for Pixie. __________________ Pixie 2005-2015 "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."

04-27-2005, 10:22 AM	#9
yorkieagility YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: House Of York Posts: 1,079	I use harnesses when I'm walking them. Collar when I'm training.

04-27-2005, 10:23 AM	#10
Herks Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tarrant, Alabama Posts: 57	Thanks so much Thanks so much for the advise. Everyone has been so helpful. I just got back from Petco to purchase a harness. Hope this one is easier to put on him. I also picked up some greenies which I had never heard of until I read what everyone was saying. Thanks yall. Last edited by Herks Mom; 04-27-2005 at 10:24 AM. Reason: spelling

04-27-2005, 11:04 AM	#11
TatumsMom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: TX Posts: 2,799	Oh, I definitely have to share my great find with ya'll. I previously had a poodle so knew about the dangers of collars (as it pertains to walking with a leash) so when I got Tatum, I got a harness that was just a pain in the butt to put on. It had to slip over her head and then get one foot through the straps and then buckle. It was such a mess. Then I saw this one in the Petedge catalog: http://www.petedge.com/shopping/prod...ctID=1270&AS=1 Got it and it works fabulous! SO much easier to get her into. In fact, we're in obedience class right not and I told the teacher last night that I'm going to work on clicker training Tatum to step into it herself just to see if I can do it. She had been telling us that animal trainers have clicker trained even very large animals to step into boxes and stuff so I'm going to see if I can do it. Even if she doesn't do it herself, it is so much easier to deal with. As far as the harness in general goes, it's definitely better to walk them with one. I've even had to literally pick her up by the leash/harness from a short distance once when another dog at the ballpark was playing a little too rough with her. You can't do THAT with a collar! Like "Yorkieagility" says though, my trainer makes us use a Martingale collar when training. I'm not crazy about it just because the dangers of collars have been drilled into me but she said it's okay for just the training sessions. Check out that harness link though. We love it! __________________ ~ Angie

04-27-2005, 11:19 AM	#12
myguyalex YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 435 Blog Entries: 1	I used to have a kitten collar when Alex was a baby. Then when he got older I used a collar and the vet yeld at me. Yorkies can easily get esophagus (sp?) collapse. Plus, he would pull and cough. So now I use a harness. I don't leave it on him for long periods of time. He starts scratching at it after awhile. His harness is real simple. It slips on like a collar and clips around his rib cage. It works great! Idea about the puppy squiggles: Alex is great about putting harness, tops and bows on. But if you have a problem this is what I would recommend... l would put the harness on and take it off repeatedly throughout the day (if you can), leaving it on for various amounts of time. I assume he associates it with going away or on a walk or something fun for him. This way after awhile he won't associate it with anything in particular. He may after awhile not get so excite. Just a thought, hope it helps! __________________ My Little Monkey http://apps.facebook.com/dogbook/profile/view/8116694

04-27-2005, 12:34 PM	#13
Duke's mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 175	Duke wears a collar all of the time, but he wears a harness when I take him for walks. His harness is a plaid vest with a D ring on the back that you attach the leash to. I love it because if I have to pick him up quickly I can do so without hurting him. Also, I don't have to worry about hurting his trachea or having him gasp for breath from pulling on a regular leash. __________________ Duke's Mommy

04-27-2005, 12:36 PM	#14
Brutus'mama YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,767	We use a harness. I was afraid of hurting him with the collar. I am going to get a collar with a bell for the house because he's so small I don't want to step on him!