Are Martingale collars bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

Most dogs can back out of a harness just as easily as a collar if they want to. I use harnesses on my dogs because they are not escape prone, but some dogs will see a rabbit or a cat or whatever and take off.

But that's the point of a harness - they can't back out of it. If anything could, it would be a cat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

Most dogs can back out of a harness just as easily as a collar if they want to. I use harnesses on my dogs because they are not escape prone, but some dogs will see a rabbit or a cat or whatever and take off.

But that's the point of a harness - they can't back out of it. If anything could, it would be a cat.

I guess you're going to have to take our word for it? Some dogs -- especially those with relatively large chests/small heads (think sighthounds), have absolutely no trouble slipping a harness. They don't even need to try that hard.

I have tried 4 different harnesses, and none will hold my dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

Most dogs can back out of a harness just as easily as a collar if they want to. I use harnesses on my dogs because they are not escape prone, but some dogs will see a rabbit or a cat or whatever and take off.

But that's the point of a harness - they can't back out of it. If anything could, it would be a cat.

My dog literally jumps backwards, throws her legs forward, ducks her head, and backs out of the harness. She definitely can back out of it. And it happens very fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

A harness actually encourages a lot of dogs to pull. A collar gives you control of their front/heads, so you can turn the dog easier. If you change direction with a harness, the clip point is the center of their back so you kind of yank them over. With a collar you are directing them better. Think front wheel drive on a car. One of the best ways IMO to teach loose leash walking is constant directional changes on a collar.

--trainer

So tired of reading anti harness bias from a few trainers. For some reason, trainers like you just can't stand that the harness works for many dog owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

A harness actually encourages a lot of dogs to pull. A collar gives you control of their front/heads, so you can turn the dog easier. If you change direction with a harness, the clip point is the center of their back so you kind of yank them over. With a collar you are directing them better. Think front wheel drive on a car. One of the best ways IMO to teach loose leash walking is constant directional changes on a collar.

--trainer

So tired of reading anti harness bias from a few trainers. For some reason, trainers like you just can't stand that the harness works for many dog owners.

+1

My dog has been in the Freedom Harness for years, and she doesn't pull at all if it is clipped on the front. It doesn't encourage her to pull at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

A harness actually encourages a lot of dogs to pull. A collar gives you control of their front/heads, so you can turn the dog easier. If you change direction with a harness, the clip point is the center of their back so you kind of yank them over. With a collar you are directing them better. Think front wheel drive on a car. One of the best ways IMO to teach loose leash walking is constant directional changes on a collar.

--trainer

So tired of reading anti harness bias from a few trainers. For some reason, trainers like you just can't stand that the harness works for many dog owners.

I’m sorry you feel attacked. I’m not anti harness at all and actually walk my own small dogs in harnesses! I was answering the question why some people like to use a martingale over a harness, because it gives more control over direction.

Obviously this is back clip harnesses, not front clip. Those essentially function like a collar, giving you the ability to control the front of the dog easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat person here, so...why not a harness?

A harness actually encourages a lot of dogs to pull. A collar gives you control of their front/heads, so you can turn the dog easier. If you change direction with a harness, the clip point is the center of their back so you kind of yank them over. With a collar you are directing them better. Think front wheel drive on a car. One of the best ways IMO to teach loose leash walking is constant directional changes on a collar.

--trainer

So tired of reading anti harness bias from a few trainers. For some reason, trainers like you just can't stand that the harness works for many dog owners.

+1

My dog has been in the Freedom Harness for years, and she doesn't pull at all if it is clipped on the front. It doesn't encourage her to pull at all.

The freedom harness is front clip, so not relevant to my comment at all. It’s a fabulous tool! I’m sorry I was unclear, I was trying to answer why someone would use a martingale over a traditional harness.

[Anonymous]

Some harnesses also have martingale too

[Anonymous]

This thread has me thinking about trying a martingale for our large breed leash puller. Amazon has styles with and without buckles and some with a chain front. Is one style preferred over another?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some harnesses also have martingale too

I use a martingale harness for my boxer. Works great, but he still pulls like an idiot. No amount of training seems to work, but the harness helps.