Leashes, Collars and Harnesses
Harnesses have exploded in popularity over the past decade. They come in every design imaginable—from padded, reflective outdoor models to fashion-forward versions meant for daily walks. While they’re marketed as a safer or more comfortable alternative to collars, harnesses are not always the best choice for a dog that has not yet been obedience trained. In fact, for a dog still learning how to walk politely, a harness can unintentionally encourage the very behavior you're trying to eliminate: pulling.
Below are the key reasons why harnesses are best introduced after a dog has mastered calm, steady leash walking at your side.
We also DO NOT recommend the use of a prong collar. They are cruel and can do much more damage than a regular obedience chain link collar.
1. Harnesses Engage a Dog’s Natural Pulling Reflex
A harness distributes force across a dog’s chest, shoulders, and back—the strongest parts of their body. While this design prevents strain on the neck, it also gives the dog a solid platform to lean into the leash with their full body weight.
Dogs instinctively want to move forward to explore. When wearing a harness, they quickly learn that leaning, digging in with their shoulders, and pushing forward works. This can reinforce:
Pulling
Lunging
Dragging the handler
Competing for forward momentum
For a dog still forming leash habits, this becomes the default behavior—often within a single walk.
2. Harnesses Can Make Training Loose-Leash Walking More Difficult
Obedience training begins with teaching a dog that the handler sets the pace, direction, and rhythm of the walk. A flat collar or slip lead allows a dog to feel gentle pressure and release, creating clear communication between handler and dog.
A harness, on the other hand, minimizes this feedback. The dog feels:
Less consequence for pulling
Less guidance from the handler
More freedom to shift weight and drive forward
More ability to ignore subtle cues
As a result, early training requires more correction, more time, and more repetition—because the tool itself is working against the goal.
3. Harnesses Reward Forward Motion—Even When You Don’t Want Them To
When a dog pulls in a harness and successfully moves forward, the dog is being rewarded by the environment. Every step forward becomes a reinforcement loop:
Dog pulls.
The harness supports the pulling.
The dog reaches the thing they wanted to investigate.
Pulling is strengthened.
This makes it harder to teach the dog that walking at your side is the correct behavior. In contrast, walking in a collar helps the dog learn that staying close means the walk continues smoothly, with no tension or struggle.
4. The Foundation of Good Leash Behavior Is Obedience, Not Equipment
Before introducing a harness, a dog should already know:
Heel or a basic “walk with me” cue
How to maintain a position at your side
How to follow directional changes
How to respond to light leash pressure
How to remain calm and attentive during distractions
Once the dog is reliable in these skills, a harness can be introduced without undoing training, because the dog’s habits are already fixed.
5. When Harnesses Are Useful—After Training Is Complete
Harnesses have legitimate uses once a dog is trained:
Long-distance hiking
Running or jogging with a dog
Pulling sports (sledding, canicross, bikejoring)
Dogs with medical conditions
Situations where a collar is not appropriate
A well-trained dog wearing a harness won’t revert to pulling because the dog already understands proper walking structure.
Conclusion: Train First, Harness Later
Harnesses are comfortable and safe—but only when used with a dog that already knows how to walk calmly, steadily, and attentively at your side. When used too early, they can teach a dog to rely on their full body strength to pull, creating habits that are hard to undo.
A well-trained dog is a joy to walk, whether in a collar or a harness—but good leash behavior comes from training, not from equipment. Focus on building strong obedience foundations first. After your dog consistently walks beside you without tension, a harness can be introduced without sabotaging your progress.