To use a harness or collar for German Shepherds has been in much debate for a very long time. Some trainers believe that harnesses are better while others see no harm in using collars. Some people believe that collars can cause throat and neck injuries to German Shepherds while others think that if tied loose, it will not cause any injury to your dog.
Another group of people think that harness is a better option as it allows a dog to pull while there are many harnesses available in the market which makes it difficult for dogs to do so. But ultimately, it is the dog owner’s preference whether he wishes to use a harness or a collar for his dog.
Harness or collar for German Shepherds – Which one to use?
Despite the presence of several debates on the topic of which the top is better, it is always comfortable for the dog to walk with a loose leash. In the initial stage, walking with a loose leash can be tough for the owners as dogs are not by birth trained to walk obediently along with their owners. Also, it depends on one dog’s temperament.
Instead of fighting over the two tools, it is better to know if the dog owner feels confident in controlling his dog with a collar or harness. The dog owner should have complete control over his dog when walking outdoors so that he can train his German Shepherd efficiently to walk outdoors.
You should consider few things before purchasing a harness or collar for your German Shepherd:
- Your control over your dog
- Size and weight of your dog
- Medical conditions of the dog
As already mentioned above, deciding between the two can be difficult as both have their pros and cons. Let us focus on situations when the harness is functional and vice-versa.
When should you use a harness for German Shepherds?
If your German Shepherd pulls very hard while walking, then it might accidentally injure its trachea if a collar is used. In such situations, using a harness is a better option. Hence, harnesses are better for those dogs which have neck problems and controlling their back becomes a convenient option.
For German Shepherd, since they are large breed dogs, a harness which is attached in the front would work better as it would give the owner more control as they can easily tighten the pull to stop the dog.
Another option for dog owners who feel they need more control over their dog but do not want to invest in a harness or a collar can purchase a halter which runs along the back of the head and over the nose.
Read: What size collar for your German Shepherd
At times, a harness works great for puppies who are too little to wear a collar. Some no-pull harness also allows having control over your dog and at the same time least chance of causing him any injury to the neck. Also, it would stop an over-excited dog from jumping on your friends and strangers who are terrified of dogs!
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When should you use a collar for German Shepherds?
Most dog owners, when their dogs are in the puppy stage use a collar and a leash to train them to walk outdoors. It depends on the dog owner to choose if he wants to use a collar and can have better control over his dog while walking.
The collar would work best for those dogs who do not have any neck injuries and do not cause nuisance while walking outdoors. If you feel that your German Shepherd can easily slip his head through the collar, then you can opt for a martingale collar.
In case, you decide on buying a collar, try having your dog’s name engraved on it or some kind of information which can help you to find your lost dog. Also, check if the collar has a safety release so that you can easily free your German Shepherd if they are caught around the neck.
Try having a permanent collar on your dog even if you use a harness or other tool for their walk that day. The name or information in that collar helps you find your dog in case he gets lost.
Read: How to train a German Shepherd with a shock collar
Now, that you are aware of some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a harness or a collar, let’s focus on some of its types.
Types of Harnesses for German Shepherds
If you have decided to buy a harness for your dog, you might be confused by seeing the various harnesses available in the market for German Shepherds. To know a little more about harnesses, keep reading!
No-Pull Harness
This type of harness works quite well for dogs which put a lot of strength while pulling, especially German Shepherds. The no-pull harness has a clip in from where the leash can be easily attached. The moment your dog pulls, the clip with make your dog turn toward you.
Also, this harness spreads the pressure over the entire body of the dog because of which there is no particular point only where a lot of thrusts are implied. Hence, this helps the dog from choking and getting injured.
K9 Tactical Vest Harness
German Shepherds are well known for performing police jobs. One tool which are they always have with themselves at the time of their duty is the tactical vest harness. These have been specially designed for such dogs who need to perform their duties without any distraction. These harnesses are quite sturdy and have pockets where some of the accessories for the dog can also be kept.
Car Harness
This type of harness is majorly made of leather, neoprene or nylon. It is quite durable and lost lasting. As the name says, these harnesses are specially designed for times when you need to carry your dog with you in the car. It has a seatbelt attachment part which keeps your German Shepherd safe all the time while driving.
Reflective Harness
These are a great help for people who have poor vision or during a time when it is difficult to find your dog. You can make your German Shepherd wear these reflective harnesses, which have reflective strips, and take him for a walk even at night. You do not have to worry about your dog being hit by any vehicle as the driver can spot these reflective strips from a distance and make his way.
How to choose the right harness for your German Shepherd?
If you have realised that handling your German Shepherd with a harness will be easier for you and you cannot decide as to which harness would be the perfect one for him, keep reading further for more clarification.
There are various things you should consider before buying a harness for your German Shepherd, some of them are mentioned below:
Check if the harness looks durable enough. If possible, invest some extra money and buy a good quality harness which can be used for a longer period instead of purchasing a cheaper one which would not stay intact for long and you will have to end up buying another one soon.
The next thing to be checked is fitness. Take your dog to the pet shop as well if possible and check if the harness is fitting him perfectly or not. If not, your German Shepherd might easily slip away from it. If for some reason, you could not take your dog along with you, take his lower neck and chest measurement beforehand and later try to match it with the harness you are wishing to buy.
Buy a harness which would be comfortable for your dog and would not make him feel suffocated or trapped. This will give him discomfort and an unpleasant experience. Having said that, the harness should ensure safety; it should be able to control your dog when he tries to pull himself.
Read: What size prong collar for a German Shepherd
Best Harnesses for German Shepherds
1. Auroth Large Dog Tactical Harness, Military K9
It has a safety control feature which connects the least and the no-pull clip situated at the front. When the dog pulls itself, it acts as a brake and makes the front legs of the dog off the ground. This limits its movement.
The handle of the harness is quite durable and is sewn well which makes it easier for the owner to grab the handle and control their German Shepherd in a crowd.
There are loops attached to either side of the harness which makes it easier to carry equipment for the dog in case you are going outdoors with him.
This harness is available on Amazon or can be purchased from any offline pet store.
2. Julius-K9 16IDC-DPN-B2 IDC Power Harness
This is smaller in size than the ICEFANG harness. This makes the walking experience with your dog very easy and safe.
This harness is made in Europe and hence is on the pricier side but as per the reviews, every penny spent is worth it.
Made with the best quality materials, which makes it sturdy and long-lasting.
It has reflective strips which makes night walks easier for the owners and the dogs.
It has an adjustable belly and front straps.
The Julius collar is skin-friendly, which is an added advantage for German Shepherds considering their sensitive skin. This is because it has a breathable inner lining.
3. Voyager Step-in Air Dog Harness
This is perfect for small and medium-breed dogs. You can easily use it for your German Shepherd until he becomes fully grown.
This harness is made with soft material and is not very heavy which makes it easier for dogs to carry them without any discomfort.
It has three-layer protection for your dog; the hook and loop, buckle, fastener and the double D rings which ensure the safety of your dog.
This harness is quite popular because of its easy-to-wear feature.
4. Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness
The Rufflewear harness is used for everyday wear and for training purposes. It has reflective strips, is padded and quite durable. Hence, it becomes very useful for a German Shepherd considering the extreme active lifestyle.
There are 28 points where you can attach the leash. It has an aluminum V-ring at the back. You can easily customize it as per your dog’s size and weight. Has an attractive color which is easily visible at all times of the day.
5. BARKBAY Dog Harness
This harness has reflective strips which makes it easier for owners to take their dogs on walks even at night. Because of the front clips, which are attached to the harness, controlling your dog becomes quite easier.
Most dogs feel hot when wearing a harness, but this harness comes with a mesh interior which makes air ventilation possible thus keeping your dog cool. One of the unique features of this harness is that it has a separate ID tag pocket.
Types of Collars for German Shepherds
As there are various types of harnesses available in the market for German Shepherds, there are different types of collars available as well. An owner can choose anything as per his preference for his dog. Having said that, collars are mostly made of nylon, leather, neoprene, cotton and metal and all of them have their own pros and cons.
Standard collars
These are mostly preferred by large-breed dog owners whose dogs do not pull their leashes a lot. These collars do not have any special design and are just made for utilitarian purposes. These collars have buckles attached to them which can easily be opened and closed. People who do not want to or cannot afford expensive tools for their dogs can surely go with these types of collars which are well designed to perform their duties.
Martingale collars
These collars are specially designed for controlling the pulling behavior of a dog. These are quite sturdy and are used while training German Shepherds. This collar becomes tight when your dog pulls itself and automatically loosens when he stops the pulling behavior. It is quite similar to car seat belts.
Spiked collars
These types of collars have studded spikes in the interior. These spikes would poke your dog when he tries to pull himself. Spiked collars are a little hurting if not used with caution and can inflict pain on your dog. This can make your dog irritated and he can soon develop behavioral issues with the owner.
They would further not enjoy walking sessions with you and eventually, it would become a traumatic experience for him. It is recommended to not buy anything for your dog which can cause him pain and injury.
Reflective collars
These are quite similar to the reflective harnesses which we mentioned earlier in the blog. These collars have reflective fabric attached to them which makes walking with your dog at night easier.
Shock collars
Shock collars can also be a little tricky to use while training your German Shepherd. It releases electric shocks when your dog does some behavior which is mostly disliked. Some examples of bad behaviors are digging, barking too much, jumping, etc. The shocks distract the dog and he stops the action he is doing at that time. In this way, he is trained to not perform a particular behavior.
Gentle leader headcollar
This type of collar is a little different from others. Instead of putting pressure on the throat area, it sits on the muzzle of the dog. If your dog pulls, the nose loop makes his move towards you preventing him to put pressure on the windpipe.
How to choose the right collar for your German Shepherd?
Contrarily, if you feel you will be able to control your German Shepherd better in a collar, then purchasing the right one is very important. There are various factors which should be considered before buying a German Shepherd collar. Some of them are mentioned below:
In the busy lifestyle, most owners prefer taking their dogs outside for a walk or exercising at the night after their work. And considering the fact that German Shepherds have an active lifestyle, night walks are mandatory things. Now, for this, if you are using a collar, it should be reflective or should shine in the dark so that you and other vehicles can easily spot your GSD and make their way.
Spotting GSDs becomes difficult also because of their dark color and hence reflective collar becomes an absolute necessity. This will also help them learn to walk without a leash.
Needless to say, the collar you are buying should be tough and sturdy enough. German Shepherds are generally strong and their pull can be a strong one. If you buy a collar which is not very sturdy, your GSD can easily break that off. Investing in a good-quality collar instead of a cheap one is always better as they would last longer.
It is preferable if you buy a collar which is made of heavy-duty nylon, double-stitched, locking belts and buckles.
Another obvious fact about choosing the right collar is that it should be comfortable. It may happen many times that your German Shepherd tends to pull itself a lot at the time of training. Repetitive pulling might injure him if the collar is not comfortable to wear or is not made of comfortable fabric.
It is recommended that you purchase a collar which is made of neoprene lining and has rounded edges so that there are least chances of getting cuts. It should be breathable enough so that your German Shepherd does not suffer from skin irritation, hair fall, etc.
Also, you can go for good martingale collars as it teaches obedience to German Shepherds.
Best Collars for German Shepherds
Now that you are already aware of the facts which should be considered before purchasing a good collar, you might be confused as to which one to choose as there are so many options available in the market. Let us focus on some of the best collars for German Shepherds.
1. Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Color Collection
This collar is ideal for German Shepherd puppies and all other furry puppies as well. If you are in the search for the best collar for your puppy, this can be the one because of its good look and usability.
If compared to shock collars, this belt is a much better choice as it is comfortable and does not cause any trouble to your German Shepherd.
Considering its durability, it is made up of nylon, has chrome coated D rings and has a high-density webbing which prevents it from breaking very easily.
It has eco-friendly plastic buckles which are durable and heavy and fulfil the job of having the flexibility to open and close the collar as and when required. It is available in many colors, you can hence choose from the various shades.
Also, the cleaning process is also easy as it can be easily washed in a washing machine and does not require extra effort.
2. ADITYNA Leather Heavy Duty Dog Collar
This collar claims to have passed the 400lb test successfully. This test proves that the collar is perfect for large breed dogs like German Shepherds. It is made with good quality leather which will last for a very long period.
The ADITYNA Leather collar is designed in such a way that it can hold the weight of the German Shepherd very easily. It has a double buckle system and contains 6 metal hooking caps which can easily resist the damage in the collar which happens mostly because of excessive pulling by your dog. Additionally, it also has a dog tag where you can write or engrave your phone number and dog’s name.
3. Country Brook Petz Premium Nylon Dog Collar
Anyone, who is on a tight budget, and hence wants to buy something affordable that is durable and that would last for a long time, this is the perfect collar for them. It comes in 25 different colors and you can choose the best one for your German Shepherd from among them. It is machine washable and hence you need not worry about it getting dirty every day while training or walking your dog.
4. Tuff Pupper Heavy Duty Dog Collar with Handle
One unique feature of this collar is that it comes with an elastic collar which can be easily held by the owner and he need not catch the collar every time to stop his dog from doing something.
It is made of fray-proof ballistic nylon which is considered quite good for large-breed dogs like German Shepherds.
It has a stainless steel buckle closure that secures a good fit on your German Shepherd.
It has reflective strips which makes it easier for the owner to take his/her dog to walk even at night without the fear of being hit by something.
5. OneTight Military Adjustable Dog Collar
The OneTight Collar is quite broad which spreads the pressure to a larger surface when your dog pulls, instead of a particular area which can choke the dog. For extra safety, the collar has been designed with double straps and a metal D ring which also increases the durability of the dog.
It comes in several shades like black, coyote, black, ranger green and brown. Your dog can look the prettiest in this collar. If you wish to attach a patch with your number or dog’s name, you can simply attach it in the hook-and-loop panel.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this blog might have cleared some doubts if you should use a harness or a collar for your German Shepherd. It entirely depends on you, if you will be able to control your dog with a harness or a collar.
Though, considering the above-mentioned facts, it would be better if you go with a harness as it has the least chance to choke or hurt your German Shepherd in any way, especially when your German Shepherd pulls really very hard. Controlling a large-breed dog like a German Shepherd can be difficult at times, hence think cautiously before making any final decision.