Harness Vs. Collar - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Alexi · 12-24-2008, 04:44 AM

Ok, so I have a collar on her all the time with her name tag and rabies and a bell so no one steps on her

but what about a harness? Can you leave that on all the time like a collar or is that not a good idea? I would have never thought about leaving it on all the time but a neighbor has 2 dogs both with harnesses and their tags are on the harness. What do you use and does it work well? She is never out of my sight (potty training) but I was worried about her getting snagged on things with a harness so I haven't left it on her. Thanks in advance for any advice! And hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!!

bildio · 12-24-2008, 04:59 AM

I use the Guardian Gear two step harness on both of my guys. Leave it on all the time.

Lovetodream88 · 12-24-2008, 05:10 AM

My mom left harness on her dogs all the time and one of them had no hair under his arms where it rubed him raw so she just stuck with collars after that unless they where going out. I do the same with Callie she wears her collar all the time except bath time and only wears a harness when we are going out plus since its cold Callie has clothes on all the time and I just dont think a harness would be comfy all the time.

Dara311 · 12-24-2008, 05:21 AM

I have both for Fiona as well. I will usually leave her collar on at all times, however if I put her in her crate, I'll take it off. When we go for walks, or long rides, or to a friends house, she will wear a harness, but I typically won't keep that on her all the time. I got her harness at wal-mart, and its got extra padding for under her armpits, and its real nice! On her harness I have a name tag and her rabies tag, and on her regular collars ( she has like 3 or 4, cuz i like to change them up! ) she just has a name tag!

yasminv1 · 12-24-2008, 05:43 AM

When Biggie was a tiny pup I used a harness on him and he wore nothing while in the house. After he stabalized in weight, 8 pounds at 1 year old, I bought him a cute Coach Collar to wear all the time instead of the harness. He did better on walks and quit pulling when we started using the collar. We only take the collar off when he is at daycare and when he takes a bath.

Alexi · 12-24-2008, 07:32 AM

Thanks for all the good info! And that guardian two step harness looks WAY easier to put on that the one I got! She just finished shots and got her rabies so I haven't had her out of the backyard and house. We will be starting walks soon, if she can handle the cold! She HATES going outside right now! I was worried about the collar on her neck so I got the harness, but it does seem like a lot for her to wear all the time, I have been putting it on her now and then to get her used to it before we venture to the side walks, maybe she will stop trying to chew on it once she realizes it means we are going for a walk!

shawnzeppi · 12-24-2008, 04:57 PM

Harnesses are so much better than collars to attach the lead in my experience. I used to choke my first yorkie before he got the collapsing trachea issue by pulling so hard against the collar, so you are doing the right thing with the harness! I have the tags on the harnesses, but would never leave them on when they are inside. I just dont think they are as comfortable with the harness on, and if its too loose they can chew it apart if they can get their little jaws under it. If its too tight, it would hurt them, so why leave it on if you don't have too?

PrincessDiana · 12-25-2008, 07:50 AM

You should never, EVER walk a Yorkie with a collar. Yorkies are prone to collapsing tracheas. A harness the only thing that is acceptable to use.

Franklin and Maggie have collars with their tags on. I put them on when we are out and about (like the dog park where it's required). I used to put them on when we were home just in case they slipped out the door or something but I've been lazy lately so they hardly wear them.

Always take harnesses/collars off when you cannot supervise your dog. They can get caught on things and they will choke.

Diego · 12-25-2008, 07:53 AM

I have harnesses from Chattiesmom .

wenkebach99 · 12-26-2008, 06:39 AM

I agree harnesses are much better unless you are working with your show pu ppy. Getting them u se to a collar so they won't pull when they are being shown with a show lead. Harness are the best way to go otherwise.
Melinda

Alexi · 12-26-2008, 09:46 AM

I NEVER put a leash on the collar, its more for looks and to hold the tags. If I do the harness its when we walk. Thanks for all the input and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Moses · 12-26-2008, 11:19 AM

I used to use a collar but stopped. I don't want him to get caught on anything when I am not home. I always use a harness for walks. These small dogs love to pull and since they have problems with their trachea they should never be walked using a collar. I do take the harness off. My boy has long hair and if youleave it on all the time it can get tangled and their is a possibilty the harness could get cought on something as well.
Good Luch!!

Moses · 12-26-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bildio

I use the Guardian Gear two step harness on both of my guys. Leave it on all the time.

What size 2step harness do you use for your Yorkie. I see small 9-15' but I think that is a little big. Do they have one for the toy breed?

Julie1760 · 12-26-2008, 11:27 AM

I used to keep collars on my dogs all the time, but one time I went down the basement and Myah had her collar on with her bell on it...I came upstairs after about 5 min. and she was going ballistic as the collar had gotten over her bottom jaw. I had to get hubby to hold her while I cut if off....no more collars on them for any reason!!! Plus I feel they cause matting on the neck.

I do have the harnesses from Chattiesmom too. I love them. We use them when walking and traveling.

Bella Mia · 12-27-2008, 06:33 PM

Bella has a collar with all her tags on it (she has like 6 or 7) that jingle together. I call it her necklace and if I hold it out she'll run over to me and sit until I snap it on. If I'm lazy I'll grab her retractable leash and clip it to the collar for quick trips. But I usually use one of her 4 different harnesses. One is a leash/harness combo that I got at Petsmart. It has served very well. I recently got a harness that resembles the two step harness and she seems to like that one ALOT. My mom bought her a vest that has a loop and that one is great because it has really wide bands and doesn't rub, but if her hair is getting long, it looks a little funny, so I typically only use that one after a hair cut

And finally, she had a cat harness that was recommended with we first got her and none of the dog harnesses would fit. That one is difficult to get on and it has very thin straps that knot her hair together if I leave it on for very long. She wears the collar all the time (minus baths or when it's dirty and needs to be washed), but I only put a harness on if we are going on a walk or a car ride (we use the harnesses in her car seat). Once we get to the destination, she usually tries to take her harness off herself.

12-24-2008, 04:44 AM	#1
Alexi Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 72	Harness Vs. Collar Ok, so I have a collar on her all the time with her name tag and rabies and a bell so no one steps on her but what about a harness? Can you leave that on all the time like a collar or is that not a good idea? I would have never thought about leaving it on all the time but a neighbor has 2 dogs both with harnesses and their tags are on the harness. What do you use and does it work well? She is never out of my sight (potty training) but I was worried about her getting snagged on things with a harness so I haven't left it on her. Thanks in advance for any advice! And hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!! __________________ Alexi Sophie Zoe Lily Bowser FreeFromDairy.com

12-24-2008, 04:59 AM	#2
bildio Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD Posts: 1,536	I use the Guardian Gear two step harness on both of my guys. Leave it on all the time. __________________ *Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs)* *Squirt (17 yrs - RIP)*

12-24-2008, 05:10 AM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,248	My mom left harness on her dogs all the time and one of them had no hair under his arms where it rubed him raw so she just stuck with collars after that unless they where going out. I do the same with Callie she wears her collar all the time except bath time and only wears a harness when we are going out plus since its cold Callie has clothes on all the time and I just dont think a harness would be comfy all the time. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

12-24-2008, 05:21 AM	#4
Dara311 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,515	I have both for Fiona as well. I will usually leave her collar on at all times, however if I put her in her crate, I'll take it off. When we go for walks, or long rides, or to a friends house, she will wear a harness, but I typically won't keep that on her all the time. I got her harness at wal-mart, and its got extra padding for under her armpits, and its real nice! On her harness I have a name tag and her rabies tag, and on her regular collars ( she has like 3 or 4, cuz i like to change them up! ) she just has a name tag! __________________ Mom to Fiona Marie

12-24-2008, 07:32 AM	#6
Alexi Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 72	Thanks for all the good info! And that guardian two step harness looks WAY easier to put on that the one I got! She just finished shots and got her rabies so I haven't had her out of the backyard and house. We will be starting walks soon, if she can handle the cold! She HATES going outside right now! I was worried about the collar on her neck so I got the harness, but it does seem like a lot for her to wear all the time, I have been putting it on her now and then to get her used to it before we venture to the side walks, maybe she will stop trying to chew on it once she realizes it means we are going for a walk! __________________ Alexi Sophie Zoe Lily Bowser FreeFromDairy.com

12-24-2008, 05:43 AM	#5
yasminv1 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lewis Center, Ohio Posts: 245	When Biggie was a tiny pup I used a harness on him and he wore nothing while in the house. After he stabalized in weight, 8 pounds at 1 year old, I bought him a cute Coach Collar to wear all the time instead of the harness. He did better on walks and quit pulling when we started using the collar. We only take the collar off when he is at daycare and when he takes a bath.

12-24-2008, 04:57 PM	#7
shawnzeppi YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Springfield, va Posts: 457	if your house is secure, I would not leave it on. Harnesses are so much better than collars to attach the lead in my experience. I used to choke my first yorkie before he got the collapsing trachea issue by pulling so hard against the collar, so you are doing the right thing with the harness! I have the tags on the harnesses, but would never leave them on when they are inside. I just dont think they are as comfortable with the harness on, and if its too loose they can chew it apart if they can get their little jaws under it. If its too tight, it would hurt them, so why leave it on if you don't have too? Last edited by shawnzeppi; 12-24-2008 at 04:58 PM.

12-25-2008, 07:50 AM	#8
PrincessDiana I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,068	You should never, EVER walk a Yorkie with a collar. Yorkies are prone to collapsing tracheas. A harness the only thing that is acceptable to use. Franklin and Maggie have collars with their tags on. I put them on when we are out and about (like the dog park where it's required). I used to put them on when we were home just in case they slipped out the door or something but I've been lazy lately so they hardly wear them. Always take harnesses/collars off when you cannot supervise your dog. They can get caught on things and they will choke. __________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper

12-25-2008, 07:53 AM	#9
Diego Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 3,617	I have harnesses from Chattiesmom .

12-26-2008, 06:39 AM	#10
wenkebach99 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Troutman, NC Posts: 335	harness I agree harnesses are much better unless you are working with your show pu ppy. Getting them u se to a collar so they won't pull when they are being shown with a show lead. Harness are the best way to go otherwise. Melinda

12-26-2008, 09:46 AM	#11
Alexi Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 72	I NEVER put a leash on the collar, its more for looks and to hold the tags. If I do the harness its when we walk. Thanks for all the input and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!! __________________ Alexi Sophie Zoe Lily Bowser FreeFromDairy.com

12-26-2008, 11:19 AM	#12
Moses Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Morrisville, NC Posts: 1,184 Blog Entries: 1	I used to use a collar but stopped. I don't want him to get caught on anything when I am not home. I always use a harness for walks. These small dogs love to pull and since they have problems with their trachea they should never be walked using a collar. I do take the harness off. My boy has long hair and if youleave it on all the time it can get tangled and their is a possibilty the harness could get cought on something as well. Good Luch!! __________________ Nikki Moses Moses' Page Mommy lubs you very much!!

12-26-2008, 11:27 AM	#14
Julie1760 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Packer Country!!! Posts: 666	I used to keep collars on my dogs all the time, but one time I went down the basement and Myah had her collar on with her bell on it...I came upstairs after about 5 min. and she was going ballistic as the collar had gotten over her bottom jaw. I had to get hubby to hold her while I cut if off....no more collars on them for any reason!!! Plus I feel they cause matting on the neck. I do have the harnesses from Chattiesmom too. I love them. We use them when walking and traveling. __________________ •·.·´¯`·.·•Julie •·.·´¯`·.·• Chloé & Myah

12-27-2008, 06:33 PM	#15
Bella Mia Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 21	Bella has a collar with all her tags on it (she has like 6 or 7) that jingle together. I call it her necklace and if I hold it out she'll run over to me and sit until I snap it on. If I'm lazy I'll grab her retractable leash and clip it to the collar for quick trips. But I usually use one of her 4 different harnesses. One is a leash/harness combo that I got at Petsmart. It has served very well. I recently got a harness that resembles the two step harness and she seems to like that one ALOT. My mom bought her a vest that has a loop and that one is great because it has really wide bands and doesn't rub, but if her hair is getting long, it looks a little funny, so I typically only use that one after a hair cut And finally, she had a cat harness that was recommended with we first got her and none of the dog harnesses would fit. That one is difficult to get on and it has very thin straps that knot her hair together if I leave it on for very long. She wears the collar all the time (minus baths or when it's dirty and needs to be washed), but I only put a harness on if we are going on a walk or a car ride (we use the harnesses in her car seat). Once we get to the destination, she usually tries to take her harness off herself.