Dog Body Harnesses and Head Halters For Leash Control

If you have a small dog and need a way to control him, there are other tools available besides collars. A dog body harness may be an option. They go over the dogs chest and over the front legs and are held in place with adjustable straps.

They will all have a d-ring to attach a lease to and they come in a wide variety of sizes for your dog’s best comfort. The strap that is on the dogs back is where the leash will attach to the dog body harness. When a dog is trying to pull away, the dog body harness may be a safer way of controlling him.

This device will keep the dog from feeling any tension in his neck and possibly injuring the puppy. Since small puppies naturally jolt about and jerk away, a dog body harness is the safest way to keep him under control but still let him feel a little freedom.

Types of Dog Body Harnesses

They have specific dog body harnesses that can help you stop your dog from constantly pulling away from you. This type has the actual cord part going under the front legs of the dog. This way, if the puppy pulls, the feeling is felt under the arm pit area. The dog will automatically stop pulling when he feels this tension.

One other type is called a ‘no pull’ dog body harness. This aids in keeping the dog from trying to go off on his own way. This kind has a rein part in the center strap with an attached lease. This allows you to control the direction of the puppy’s body and which way he tries to go. This kind of dog body harness will actually shift the puppy’s body in the direction you want it and not where he wants it.

Head Halters

For some, a head halter is preferred over the typical body harness. As with most dog body harnesses, head halters have many styles and types designed to keep your dog from pulling away from you.

These are made with a strap going around the muzzle of the dog with another going around the head. This kind of head halter will deter the dog from yanking on you because it forces the head in the opposite direction of where he wants to go.

There are some things about head halters that some people find undesirable. They can easily be mistaken for muzzles. When some people encounter a dog they assume is muzzled, they think it is mean or will bite. This can invite feelings of fear from strangers who do not even bother to ask if it is a muzzle.

The feeling of a head halter as opposed to a dog body harness is a bit more uncomfortable and can take a while before dogs feel comfortable in one. It can take weeks before the dog relaxes with it on. This can cause the dog to feel anxious or not enjoy the thought of a walk with you. Do not force a head halter on a dog which is reacting badly to it. You want your puppy to always think of walks as a pleasant experience.