collar or harness - YorkieTalk.com Forums

dinek · 02-14-2006, 05:56 AM

I'm hoping to adopt a special guy sometime very soon. In the past my Yorkies (both passed away within the last 2 years) were always in the house. This time I'm committed to taking the new guy outside to do his "business." I used to take another Yorkie I had (more than 17 years ago) outside and used a collar and leash. It wasn't any problem for him. At that time I never saw anyone using the harness on a little dog.

What is the opinion on harness vs. collar? I have no intention of letting him run loose so need something that will be the safest and comfortable for him whenever we take our walks.

Also, since it is cold where I live, he will wear a sweater when going outside. Wouldn't the harness be a problem for that?

Thanks for your help with this.

amspoelstra · 02-14-2006, 06:06 AM

I prefer a harness, because I've heard collars can increase trachea problems these little guys already are prone to. But I used a collar for obedience and will take her out on collar once in a while to work on obedience.

Trixie wears a sweater or coat outside, and I put the harness OVER the clothes. Because usually the whole in the sweater or coat is on the 'height' for a collar. It works fine!

icy · 02-14-2006, 07:25 AM

I use a harness on all my little ones because I have found they seem to produce a hacking sound when they pull on the leash...I think it's uncomfortable as well.....

chachi · 02-14-2006, 07:26 AM

I like the step in harnesses. I had one that went around the neck and Jewels would hack with it on.

Yorkie guy · 02-14-2006, 07:31 AM

When our little ones come home (still with the breeder) we will for the most part try the harness's made of cloth with velcro fastener's that we heard about here on YT.

scrapbetter · 02-14-2006, 07:37 AM

Thank you! I had the same question...
Bren

lovelilly · 02-14-2006, 08:05 AM

I am getting my new puppy on March 4th and just about everybody I asked told me to go with a harness.

I think when she is older I will have a collar on her for identification purposes...but I will always walk her with a harness.

To me it looks like you would have more control and they would be more comfortable. Just my thoughts!

yorkiepip · 02-14-2006, 10:01 AM

Harness for my Pippa too!

MeganJ · 02-14-2006, 10:46 AM

I also use a harness on my little ones when we walk. I also have a collar on both for identification, which only comes off when they are in their crates. To answer your question regarding the sweater, put the harness on first & they make sweaters & coats with a hole in the back for the leash to go through which is attached to the harness.

woodturningcrea · 02-14-2006, 11:08 AM

We've only used a harness as the breeder send her home with one. At first I thought it was time consuming and I was always getting it twisted up. After a week or so I was an old pro and it was second nature to me and to Punkin.

We tried a collar for ID purposes but Punkin flat out refused to accept it. I was also worried she could get caught up on something while we are at work. We had her microchipped at the Vet instead. I was shocked at how inexpensive it was ($23 Can.).

Tiger's Mom · 02-14-2006, 11:28 AM

Because Yorkie's are tiny and they can easily have "trachea"(sp?) problems, it is best that they wear a harness, especially if you are attaching a leash.

forgetful · 02-14-2006, 02:53 PM

I just got a harness this week, and what a difference with the pulling. He cant pull or stand up on the back legs no more. It stopped that behavior just like that. I love it, also I can harness him into the car seat I just got him at petsmart for 19.00 dollars. The best investment yet.

klogan · 02-14-2006, 03:27 PM

Stomper wears a small collar in the house. Any time I walk him outside (which is daily) I put on a harness. I do this because if I don't, he makes weird noises like I am strangling him!

dinek · 02-14-2006, 05:51 PM

Special thanks to everyone for giving me your opinions. I'm definitely going to use the harness when walking my Yorkies.

02-14-2006, 05:56 AM	#1
dinek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY Posts: 208	collar or harness I'm hoping to adopt a special guy sometime very soon. In the past my Yorkies (both passed away within the last 2 years) were always in the house. This time I'm committed to taking the new guy outside to do his "business." I used to take another Yorkie I had (more than 17 years ago) outside and used a collar and leash. It wasn't any problem for him. At that time I never saw anyone using the harness on a little dog. What is the opinion on harness vs. collar? I have no intention of letting him run loose so need something that will be the safest and comfortable for him whenever we take our walks. Also, since it is cold where I live, he will wear a sweater when going outside. Wouldn't the harness be a problem for that? Thanks for your help with this.

02-14-2006, 06:06 AM	#2
amspoelstra Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: US Posts: 955	I prefer a harness, because I've heard collars can increase trachea problems these little guys already are prone to. But I used a collar for obedience and will take her out on collar once in a while to work on obedience. Trixie wears a sweater or coat outside, and I put the harness OVER the clothes. Because usually the whole in the sweater or coat is on the 'height' for a collar. It works fine! __________________ Trixie

02-14-2006, 07:25 AM	#3
icy YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 473	I use a harness on all my little ones because I have found they seem to produce a hacking sound when they pull on the leash...I think it's uncomfortable as well..... __________________ Yorkies, Yorkies and more Yorkies

02-14-2006, 07:26 AM	#4
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I like the step in harnesses. I had one that went around the neck and Jewels would hack with it on. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

02-14-2006, 07:31 AM	#5
Yorkie guy YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 341 Blog Entries: 1	When our little ones come home (still with the breeder) we will for the most part try the harness's made of cloth with velcro fastener's that we heard about here on YT. __________________ If Yorkies can't go to heaven,then when I die I want to go where they went!

02-14-2006, 07:37 AM	#6
scrapbetter Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 192	Thank you! I had the same question... Bren __________________ Two kids, two dogs, a cat and a fish and that's IT!

02-14-2006, 08:05 AM	#7
lovelilly Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Henderson CO Posts: 640	I am getting my new puppy on March 4th and just about everybody I asked told me to go with a harness. I think when she is older I will have a collar on her for identification purposes...but I will always walk her with a harness. To me it looks like you would have more control and they would be more comfortable. Just my thoughts! __________________ We our yorkie family Tucker, Lilly & Scout! More info on me and my family http://www.myspace.com/99824468

02-14-2006, 10:01 AM	#8
yorkiepip Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brittany France Posts: 2,420	Harness for my Pippa too! __________________ Anne, Pippa, Jake Woody

02-14-2006, 10:46 AM	#9
MeganJ Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 378	I also use a harness on my little ones when we walk. I also have a collar on both for identification, which only comes off when they are in their crates. To answer your question regarding the sweater, put the harness on first & they make sweaters & coats with a hole in the back for the leash to go through which is attached to the harness. __________________ Megan, Mommy to.....Carly ,& Cindy Yorkies are Angels with Paws!

02-14-2006, 11:08 AM	#10
woodturningcrea YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Halifax, NS Posts: 260	We've only used a harness as the breeder send her home with one. At first I thought it was time consuming and I was always getting it twisted up. After a week or so I was an old pro and it was second nature to me and to Punkin. We tried a collar for ID purposes but Punkin flat out refused to accept it. I was also worried she could get caught up on something while we are at work. We had her microchipped at the Vet instead. I was shocked at how inexpensive it was ($23 Can.).

02-14-2006, 11:28 AM	#11
Tiger's Mom Donating YT 8000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,339	Because Yorkie's are tiny and they can easily have "trachea"(sp?) problems, it is best that they wear a harness, especially if you are attaching a leash.

02-14-2006, 02:53 PM	#12
forgetful Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 68	I just got a harness this week, and what a difference with the pulling. He cant pull or stand up on the back legs no more. It stopped that behavior just like that. I love it, also I can harness him into the car seat I just got him at petsmart for 19.00 dollars. The best investment yet.

02-14-2006, 03:27 PM	#13
klogan YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 661	Stomper wears a small collar in the house. Any time I walk him outside (which is daily) I put on a harness. I do this because if I don't, he makes weird noises like I am strangling him! __________________ Kimberly & Stomper

02-14-2006, 05:51 PM	#14
dinek Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY Posts: 208	Special thanks to everyone for giving me your opinions. I'm definitely going to use the harness when walking my Yorkies.