Two things in this world that have crept up on me undetected until recently:
Dog harnesses - every other person in Chichester this week seemed to have a dog - mainly small - and every other dog had a fancy, complex harness - why?
The shops these days are full of “protein this” and “protein that” - why? (I thought we already got more protein than we needed.)
The weird coincidence here is that half of my dog harnesses were bought in Pets at Home in Chichester, perhaps unbeknownst to me the staff there are so good at selling they not only sold several to me, but to the entire population of Chi 
Our dogs are small and have fancy harnesses. One is an escape artist and she got out of every cheap harness we tried, until we finally had to pay big money for a Ruffwear one. We bought our other dog the same one just in case. They’re bulldogs so they’re strong.
Much prefer the harness over a collar it puts any strain on her shoulders and trunk rather than just the neck, especially when she is in the car and heaven forbid an emergency stop or worse.
Yes marketing has taken over common sense so everything must be protein, although real food doesn’t need any advertising.
I’ve been obsessively watching dog house and they all have a collar plus harness. It seems to me a much nicer way to have a dog on a lead.
This is the first dog we’ve had where we’ve used a harness. He is strong and not yet fully trained so will take off when something interesting appears. The harness is more comfortable for him. He also learnt very quickly how to get out of a collar. But plain green not fancy.
But like bras they have to fit correctly so don’t rub his armpits.
My Shiba Inu had to wear a harness as like all husky dogs with the shape of that head, it was so easy for him to slip a collar and escape. It was also more comfortable as we did not like pulling on his neck and throat area. He started off with the nylon washable straps and then as he aged I got him a padded one that covered his back and belly, helped keep him clean too.
Since my first husky as a child I’ve always used collar and harness with a lead on both, purely so that, as you say, if they slip one there’s always a second as a backup which will hopefully give you enough time should you need it to regain control before they’re halfway to the next town over at breakneck speed. Im sure most people look at it and think it’s ridiculous overkill but it’s peace of mind for me.
May I recommend a Tre Ponti from Italy? Our medium size dog loves it, and no longer pulls because it is so comfortable and doesn’t choke her. We have a Primo. Easy to get on, with a single clip, it’s absolutely brilliant!
My lovely boy died four years ago now but thank you for your response. I would love another dog but not practical now nor fair to the family when I am travelling.
The point of harnesses is that they are kinder with pressure but they have to be perfectly fitted, I have had athletic dogs wriggle out of them before. One little dog disappeared dragging an 8 metre line attached to a harness but turned up, completely naked, later in the day at the gate. The next day out walking I found the line, still attached to the harness in the woods.
When Hades arrived he had a harness, but it didn’t closely fit him so I swapped it for a collar but am very careful not to jump on the line if he disappears at speed.
No idea about protein but both mine get a tin of sardines and 2 heaped ladles of croquettes each day. 
Fair enough, the training with the can opener was a bit stressful, but they eventually managed it. 
We bought Hurtta harnesses for our dogs as pups, upsizing once as they grew.
Always seemed kinder than pulling them by their necks. They only wear the harness for going out but have separate collars with name & telephone medals on always. Also useful when using a tandem lead for the two dogs together.
I agree, but the aim is to train so that they aren’t pulled by the neck. Hades still trails the 20 metre in the wild but that is only because it is easier for me to see a black dog in a forest by this bright blue line (Jules’ 33 metre is bright red). And I prefer for him to disappear rather than jump on the line if it starts moving fast. Even if he does go he returns instantly to the whistle. As far as walking out in public is concerned he is rapidly learning walking to my thigh, so again, no strain on the neck.
In the car I use a harness which is then attached into a seat belt clip for long journeys. Short journeys she goes in the front footwell.
I have to weigh in here. Everybody seems to be talking about fixed length collars, many of which can be slipped out of. Harnesses are less easy to slip out of, but I have seen it done.
When training a dog in the early months/years you should be using a choke collar. But it’s cruel to be constantly choking the dog you all cry. That’s not the point of a choke collar!
When you are out and about your dog should be walking to heel and not be allowed to be distracted by other dogs or what’s going on around him/her. When a dog pulls ahead, you use the choke collar to bring them back to heel. and then the collar loosens. You should not allow your dog to be pulling ahead all the time and thus constantly being choked.
When training to walk to heel, as soon as the dog pulls ahead, apply the choke collar and walk in the other direction. The dog will eventually learn that you are going where you want to go and not where it wants. Once it can walk to heel on command you can switch to a fixed length collar or harness should you feel the need.
Preeecisely. 
I hope this doesn’t come across snarky because that’s not my intention at all, but you’re weighing in here with statements that read as if they’re factual rather than opinion so perhaps you could tell us what you’re basing this on. Is this what you do as a profession? Are you notable in the field? Are you just a dog owner like the rest of us who has found this method to work for you? A bit more background would be helpful.
Hello Kirstea,
Just a former dog owner for whom these methods have worked. With the caveat that I learned them from a professional gun dog trainer.
