Choosing The Right Collar, Lead & Harness For Your Dog

Having the correct accessories for your dog is essential for a happy dog and owner on your daily walks, the correct tools provide you with added security and optimum comfort for you and your canine friend. You can let their personality shine through with different styles and variations.

Our team at Buy4PetsOnline have put together our top tips for choosing the right type of accessories for your dog;

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Choosing A Collar: Dog collars need to be functional before fashionable, things you can consider when choosing your dog’s collar are material, security, style and most importantly sizing! Leather collars can be easily wiped down and kept clean but nylon and polyester collars are soft and work well on puppies to get them used to wearing a collar.

Material – You want your dog to be comfortable in their collar and if they’re a mucky pup – one that won’t get dirty too easily. Most dog collars are made from nylon, polyester or leather.

Security – Some of our canine friends are top escape artists! If you find your dog is easily able to slip out of its collar, consider resizing or investing in a no-pull one. No-Pull collars are designed to tighten when your dog pulls, they can be useful in teaching loose leash walking or simply to stop a squirmy pooch from escaping.

Style – This is where you can let your dog’s personality shine! From premium brown leathers, funky patterns, diamonte fashions and bright colours, you have plenty of options when choosing a cute style.

Sizing – Choosing the correct size is vital when purchasing a new collar, follow our simple guide below!

 

 

Choosing A Harness: Harnesses are a great tool for optimum comfort and security when walking. They give you more control over your dog than a collar and help to spare discomfort and damage to their neck when they pull. Here are some factors you should consider when buying a harness;

Material – Comfort is key when choosing a harness your dog can walk comfortably on regular walks, you can opt for padded harnesses, light mesh harnesses or a sturdy water resistant type. Consider your dog’s fur type, will long fur become matted under a heavy padded harness? The size of your dog – smaller dogs suit light mesh type harnesses whereas you may have more control with a Julius k9 on a larger breed. Senior dogs may need extra padding to lessen pressure while walking whereas lighter harnesses suit puppies.

Use & Design – The type of harness your dog needs depends on their activity levels, what kind of exercise they do and how often they’ll be using the harness. Whether your dog is a puller, an adventurer or a princess, there is a harness to suit their needs! Shop our No-Pull section for help on loose leash walking, if your dog likes to accompany you on long walks or hikes try out a sturdy Extreme Harness. Or if they just need something bright and light – check out our Ancol Mesh Harnesses. 

Sizing – The girth of your dog’s chest is the main rule to follow when sizing your dog for a harness, check out our easy step-by-step below.

 

 

Choosing A Lead: Choosing a suitable lead for your dog is extremely important for many reasons, they ensure you have control of your dog while out and about and can provide them with enough freedom and flexibility to play! You should consider the following when choosing a lead for your canine pal.

Age Appropriate – You want to make sure you’re choosing a lead that’s suitable for training your puppy, or one that is more suitable for an older dog. Their needs varie massively and both the weight of the lead and the flexibility it allows comes into play. Puppies require a light lead that won’t weigh them down, but one that doesn’t allow too much flexibility for a mischievous pup to get into trouble! Puppies can also chew through leads very quickly as they grow, so you want one that you don’t mind losing or one that will withstand those tiny teeth like a chain one. Whilst training your puppy to walk politely, you should always have a bit of slack as you want them to understand how important it is to heel and walk alongside you, so we recommend leaving retractable ones until they’re older or only in the garden.

Aesthetics – Once you’ve mastered polite walking, you can work on having a comfortable and stylish lead. There are an abundance of options here and you can go as bright or as modest as you like. Have fun by matching collars and lead styles together, or mix it up with some playful patterns.

Durability – Durability will ensure you get the best value out of your new lead, different materials will last longer but may weigh more. Consider if your lead will be getting wet regularly, if your dog likes to chew it or how strong it needs to be to hold your larger dog.

Flexibility – Figuring out whether your dog needs a short lead or more flexibility keeps you and your dog safe while out and about. You can find options if they enjoy accompanying you on a jog or cycle or simply need extra length for training. If you like to keep your dog nearer to you, try out a shorter lead that gives you more control. It’s always helpful to have a long lead for certain situations, and a shorter one who everyday walks.

Other Add-Ons You Should Consider: A collar, harness and lead are the main items you need for everyday walking, but there are additional accessories that will help to keep your dog safe and prove to be helpful while you’re on tour. Items such as ID Tags may help to keep your dog safe if they got loose, flashers and high visibility vests and accessories keep you lit up on those darker nights. Waste bag dispensers ensure you’re never stuck for poo bags, and a coupler attachment will let you walk two dogs at once! Why not add a snack bag so you can reward good behaviour wherever you go.