Dog supplies: Collars & harnesses

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Collars and harnesses are made of the same materials and serve the same purpose--attaching your dog to a leash. But they work in different ways and some dogs will do better with one versus the other.

Use a collar: If your dog has no respiratory or trachea problems and doesn't pull on leash.

Use a harness or head halter: If your dog pulls on leash or has respiratory or trachea problems.

Collars

A collar fits like a necklace, and is generally made of cloth, nylon, or leather. Nylon or cloth provide the best value and color range; leather softens with age and is the most durable. Collars usually have buckle-release or quick-release closures.

There are a few special kinds of collars:

• The head halter is designed for dogs who pull on leash. (See teaching good leash etiquette.) It looks like a muzzle but isn't--one strap goes around the back of the dog's head, and a separate strap goes around the snout. The leash snaps on beneath the chin. When you pull the lead, it pulls the dog's head either down or to the side, and the dog can't pull you.
• The chain slip, or choke chain, gets tight around the neck and chokes the dog when you pull on it. Have a trainer show you the correct way to fit and use it--it's possible to hurt your dog with these. Or, forgo it entirely--there are nicer ways to teach good leash manners. And you should never use a choke collar on puppies; dogs without thick neck fur; dogs with a respiratory problem; or breeds with fragile windpipes, like Chihuahuas.
• Prong or pinch collars dig into the dog's neck and pinch when pulled. Again, these are temporary training tools for heavy pullers, not meant for lifelong use. There are plenty of pain-free ways to teach your dog not to pull on leash.