Conventionally, dogs wear collars. Why does your Labrador puppy need any other equipment? In this article we are going to look at why your Labrador puppy needs a harness. And how this piece of equipment differs in its use. If you are not sure how to fit a harness on your puppy check out Pippa’s article: how to get your dog into a harness<\/a>. There’s a helpful video with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I first got a dog, I assumed that dog necks must be different to human necks. I figured that must be why dogs could wear collars, but the idea of having something around my own throat sounded so unbearable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, dogs and humans have very similar anatomy in their necks. They have thyroid glands, lymph nodes, the trachea, the oesophagus and of course, the spinal cord – along with a host of other veins and arteries. A collar around your Labrador\u2019s neck, compresses all of that. Just the same as it would, for a human. And there\u2019s no reason to believe it causes your Labrador any less discomfort, than it would cause a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is some research which suggests that eye-pressure increases in dogs wearing collars, when they pull. Dog harnesses avoid this issue, and also avoid pressure on the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n One thing you\u2019ve probably noticed, is that your Labrador puppy struggles to breathe with something tight, around her neck. You might have noticed the collar almost cutting into her throat, as she pulls into it. Dogs\u2019 throats can even look bisected, sometimes! Perhaps your Labrador puppy stands up on her back legs, when she wants to greet another puppy – bearing her full weight on her throat. She might cough afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When puppies used to wear collars to my training classes, I would often see them waiting for class, rearing on their back legs to reach other puppies. You want your Labrador puppy to calm down, perhaps to sit and greet a person, or at least stop pulling. Doing all of that, involves thought, for a dog. And a dog can\u2019t think properly if they are gasping for air. Their brain isn\u2019t getting the oxygen it needs. (If you\u2019d like to try an experiment: Tell a well-trusted family member to choke you whilst asking you basic arithmetic\u2026!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, we need to put your Labrador puppy into a frame of mind where they are able to think about how to earn your rewards. A harness means that your Labrador puppy is restrained, but also able to concentrate and problem-solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA dog\u2019s neck is different, right?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBreathing freely in a Lab puppy harness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n