Collar or Harness? How to Choose the Right One for Your Dog

Collar or harness? It's one of the first questions new dog owners ask, and the answer has less to do with trends than with your dog's behaviour and your routine. Here's how to decide, and then how to get the size right first time.

Two tools, two jobs

Collars and harnesses aren't rivals: they do different jobs. A collar is light, discreet and handy for carrying an ID tag every day, including at home. A harness spreads any pulling force across the chest and shoulders, which makes it the better choice as soon as your dog pulls, runs or joins you on hikes.

Before you buy, ask yourself three simple questions:

1. Does my dog pull on the leash?
2. What do we mostly do: town walks, hikes, running?
3. Do they need to wear ID at all times?

When to choose a collar

A collar is perfect for a dog who already walks nicely on the leash. It also works as their ID holder: many owners keep a comfortable collar on all the time, with an engraved tag, and only add a harness for walks.

To choose well:

• Width should match your dog's size: 1.5 to 2 cm for small dogs, 2.5 cm for medium dogs, 3 cm or more for large breeds.
• Material matters: lined PU stays supple, wipes clean in seconds and keeps its shape in the rain.
• Hardware needs to be solid: a metal buckle or reinforced clip, and a D-ring strong enough to take the leash.

Our personalised PU collar, for example, comes in 4 sizes from XS to L and carries your dog's name and your phone number directly on the collar.

When to choose a harness

A harness is the way to go in several situations:

• your dog pulls hard or lunges when they spot a cat;
• they do something sporty: canicross, hiking, cycling;
• you use a long training leash or a hands-free leash, which create more sudden jolts;
• you want to be able to hold them back quickly using a back handle.

For a dog who pulls, go for a no-pull harness with a ring on the chest. When your dog pulls, the leash gently swings them round towards you, so charging ahead stops paying off. That's how our reflective no-pull harness works, with neoprene padding and reflective strips added for walks at dusk.

How to measure your dog

Grab a soft tape measure and take the measurements while your dog is standing squarely on all four legs.

For a collar

Measure around the base of the neck, where a collar naturally sits. Then add two fingers of slack: you should be able to slide two flat fingers between the collar and the neck, no more, no less.

For a harness

Measure the chest girth at the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs. If your dog falls between two sizes, choose the larger one and tighten the straps.

The most common mistakes

• Going by weight alone: two 15 kg dogs can have very different builds. Always trust the measurements.
• Forgetting that puppies grow: re-measure every two to three weeks and adjust the collar to match.
• Too tight or too loose: too tight and the collar rubs; too loose and your dog can back out of it.
• Skipping ID: even with a harness, keep an engraved tag on the collar or on the harness ring.

Our advice for getting kitted out

The most versatile combination is a comfortable collar with an engraved tag for everyday wear, plus a no-pull harness for walks. You get the best of both, with no compromise. For sizing, measure your dog and compare with the chart on each product page.