Harnesses are clearly a better option than collars. Collars can cause injuries. Whether it’s a human pulling on a leash to control a dog, or a dog pulling on a leash to go where they want, when either of those things happens while a collar is being worn, there are serious health implications. When a leash pulls back on a collar, there are blood vessels being constricted, pressure on the thyroid gland, potential deforming of the base of the tongue, and possibly even nerve damage. A dog who wants to pull is going to do so whether they’re wearing a collar or a harness. The difference is that harnesses don’t have a high risk of causing injury during pulling. In an ideal world, that pulling action wouldn’t happen. But since it does happen, it’s better that the force is spread over the dog’s body through a harness rather than concentrated entirely on the neck with a collar. Young dog, old dog, tall dog, short dog – when it comes to collar versus harness, all dogs are better off with a harness. For your dog’s health and wellbeing, choose a well-fitting harness – one that does not constrict your dog’s movement and helps your dog to move freely. Whenever you’re planning to walk, hike, or bike with your dog make sure you’re reaching for a harness, not a collar.