Dog Collars: The Ultimate Guide to Collars and Harnesses
Why making the right choice is so important for your dog?
Key Takeaways
For optimal dog welfare, animal experts recommend a chest harness over a collar. While collars are acceptable for well-trained dogs who do not pull, they pose significant risks to a dog's neck anatomy, including the thyroid, trachea, and larynx.
- Best everyday choice for most dogs: a well-fitted chest harness.
- Collars can be okay for calm leash-walkers and for holding ID tags—if fitted correctly.
- Never use collars designed to cause pain, choking, or fear (e.g., choke, prong, electric/shock collars).
- Head collars/head halters can help in specific training situations, but only with correct handling and gradual conditioning.
Why Harnesses are Safer Than Collars
Dog collars can be useful, but they should be used with caution. This is because when a dog pulls on a leash attached to a collar—or when a leash is suddenly tightened—force is concentrated on a small area of the neck. Important structures are located there, including the trachea, larynx, thyroid gland, and major blood vessels. Too much pressure (especially sudden or repeated pressure) can contribute to injury or distress. Research and veterinary behaviour guidance also raise welfare concerns about devices that work through pain or fear.
This doesn’t mean every collar causes harm every time. The risk increases when:
- a dog pulls frequently or lunges suddenly
- an owner uses leash jerks or “corrections”
- the collar is poorly fitted
- the dog is small, brachycephalic (flat-faced), or has airway/neck issues
For many dogs, a well-fitted chest harness is the safer everyday option. If your dog is prone to pulling or lunging, switch to a chest harness to distribute pressure across the ribcage and chest.
Types of Cruel Dog Collars to Avoid
These collars are harmful to dogs. FOUR PAWS advocates for these collars to be banned:
- Choke collars
These collars can be dangerous to dogs, causing both physical harm and behavioural problems, including: bruising of the trachea, injuries to the thyroid gland with thyroid-related consequences, suffocation, whiplash, neck sprains, protruding eyeballs due to increased intraocular pressure, and fear and aggression due to feelings of suffocation.
- Prong collars
These can cause: pain, injuries to the skin and neck, scar tissue, fear of pain, increased aggression due to pain and a breakdown in the relationship between you and your dog.
- Electric collars
With electric collars, dogs only 'learn' through fear instead of developing real obedience by forming a bond with the owner. What is more, the use of electric collars can harm dogs in several ways, including: irritation due to tingling, painful shocks, burns and longer-lasting irritation due to inflammation of the neck.
- Training harnesses that chafe under the armpits
When pulled, the girth straps of training harnesses could cause your dog discomfort or even pain.
Special Case: The Head Collar (Head Halter)
A head collar (resembling a horse's harness) is a specialised tool for dogs who are physically stronger than their owners. It has:
- one leash connected to the head collar under the muzzle or at the neck, and a second leash attached to the chest harness/collar
- or a double-ended leash, with one end fastened to the head collar and the other end fastened to the chest harness/collar.
It can be helpful in specific training situations—especially when a dog is strong and difficult to control—but it must be used correctly.
Rules for Safe Use:
- Use it only as a training aid, not as a replacement for a harness.
- Always use a second safety leash or double-ended leash attached to both the head collar and a chest harness.
- Introduce it gradually so the dog feels comfortable. Dogs should be conditioned to wearing it and remain relaxed
- No jerking: Incorrect handling or sudden leash jerks can cause serious spinal injuries.
- Training required: Only owners who have undergone professional guidance should use this tool.
- Proper Fit: It must not be too tight to prevent painful chafing; the dog must be able to open their mouth comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
People also ask these questions about dog collars:
Is a harness always better than a collar?
For many dogs, a well-fitted chest harness is safer for everyday walking—especially if the dog pulls. If pulling is the issue, switching equipment is only part of the solution. The goal is to teach leash skills using reward-based training and to avoid methods that rely on pain or fear. Read our guide to Dog Training Basics and Positive Dog Training.
How tight should a dog collar be?
A collar should be snug but comfortable:
- you should be able to fit one finger between the collar and your dog’s neck (depending on size/coat)
- check fit regularly—especially for growing dogs or thick-coated breeds.
Are prong collars cruel and inhumane?
Yes. FOUR PAWS and other animal welfare groups discourage prong and shock collars because they rely on pain and fear, which can cause long-term physical injury (skin and tracheal damage) and behavioural aggression. It'll also lead to a breakdown in your relationship with your dog.
