agitation collar vs. harness

[clearcreekranch]

Just curious, what are the benefits of using one over the other.

I have been using a wide leather agitation collar(my dog is not choking with it on) but was wondering if there are any benefits of using a harness than I may be missing out on.

[LukasGSD]

I think that the only real difference it makes is to prevent certain dogs from choking out on the collar. Helps them bark better as well.

Jaxon moves better with it on.

[JKlatsky]

I like agitation collars for puppies or dogs working on grip getting a lot of back pressure. It can free the dog up for better barking and also allow better breathing. However, several helpers I know prefer working on a agitation collar because there is better control on the head of the dog. Dogs in harnesses seem to always seem to be able to stretch out an extra inch or so. All my dogs now work in agitation collars.

[wolfstraum]

I like harnesses for youngsters....they learn to pull into them, they dont get choked and they don't get pressure on young necks! If you are really good, ie coordinated!, you have a line on the regular collar to run them in a circle, and a long line to post them with on a harness....you can put back pressure on a harness just fine!

Lee

[onyx'girl]

I agree with Lee, harness is better for a young pup. Back-tying w/ a harness is better, IMO than using an agitation collar. Running two lines is the best way when using a harness.

[Josie/Zeus]

Koda uses harness, I thought about using an agitation collar, but decided to stay with the harness. I don't like the feeling of choking my dog.

[clearcreekranch]

Originally Posted by JKlatsky

I like agitation collars for puppies or dogs working on grip getting a lot of back pressure. It can free the dog up for better barking and also allow better breathing. However, several helpers I know prefer working on a agitation collar because there is better control on the head of the dog. Dogs in harnesses seem to always seem to be able to stretch out an extra inch or so. All my dogs now work in agitation collars.

Did you mean you like collars/harnesses because you get better breathing/barking. I have noticed that my dog doesn't open his mouth as wide to bark with the collar on.

[FG167]

If your dog will bark with a collar, I prefer that. I want my dog to learn how to pull/bark on a collar from the get-go so he doesn't pull too hard (aka choke himself, hurt himself) when he switches from a harness to a collar. This was recommended to me by multiple TD's and this is what I now follow.

[Liesje]

I use collars (wider leather collar, Fursaver, prong, you name it) and harness, just depends on what we're doing that session. Nikon's 3 years old and will probably come out on a harness this weekend. Pan has only worn a harness twice and has never had trouble on collars. I like my harness because it has a big handle and often we're working with me in close to the dog so I just hold the handle. I like collars because they give a lot more control. I don't think it's a bad idea to have both in case one or the other is called for. My normal gear for both dogs right now is a prong collar and long line but we switch it up some times.

[clearcreekranch]

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing things the right way. It just occurred to me that I may be hindering him in some way. He will bark just fine in the collar. The only thing that I have noticed in the way he works versus the other dogs which are on harnesses is that they tend to jump a lot (of course, they are a lot younger than him). He tends to hunker down(kind of a half crouch) getting reading to lunge forward when he is released.