Are harnesses better than collars for dachshunds? Many dachshund owners struggle with this question.

Here's the truth. It depends on your dachshund and how trained she is. Either one can work for you but you have to ask yourself a few questions to get the answer that's best for you and your dachshund.

Does Your Dachshund Pull?

Does your dachshund pull you down the street when you are out walking? If your dog pulls a lot when on leash a collar might not be the best choice for you.

Dogs that pull hard on a leash can end up getting something called tracheal collapse. Any dog can get tracheal collapse if he or she pulls too hard on a leash, but small dogs like dachshunds are more likely to get it.

Some signs of tracheal collapse are if your dachshund starts coughing in a dry way. It's a cough that sounds kind of like a horn or "goose honk" as some people call it.

If your doxie pulls hard when on leash then you should only use a collar for fashion and not for control when walking.

Do Vets Recommend Collars or Harnesses?

Not all vets agree on this. Your vet may tell you one thing and your friend's vet might tell them something else.

Always ask your vet what he or she thinks before trying new dog harnesses or collars if you aren't sure what to do.

If your dog has any throat or neck problems then you might want to stay away from a collar.

Dachshund Harness Vs. Dog Collars - Pro's & Con's of Each

There's no perfect collar or harness for any dog. Every dog is different and has different needs. It's up to you to figure out where your dog is on the spectrum of walking, behavior and health so you can figure out if a collar or harness is best for him or her.

Dachshund harness pro's:

• A harness might be a more comfortable choice for your doxie because it wont' put pressure on your dog's neck.

• A harness can keep your dog from wiggling out of it

• Can be used as a training aid for your dachshund puppy to teach him how to go walking

• Can help avoid injuries like tracheal collapse

• Can be good for a dog with back issues or spinal issues

Dachshund harness con's

• Some harnesses are hard to put on and take off

• Your dog may be able to wiggle out of a harness if it is not the right fit

• Some harnesses are heavy and can make your dog hot in warm weather

• Some harnesses encourage pulling and can make it worse

• Harnesses should not be left on when you are not walking

Dachshund collar pro's

• Collars are easy to find

• Collars are easy to put on and take off and can be left on

• Dog trainers usually recommend using a dog collar instead of a harness for training

• A dog collar is usually inexpensive to buy

• Collars can give you more control over your dachshund

Dachshund collar con's

• Your dog can wiggle out of a collar if it's too loose

• Your dog can be injured if the collar is too tight

• Your dog can be hurt if he pulls too much and hurts his throat

• Collars can lead to spinal issues for some dogs

• Collars can be uncomfortable for some dog's skin if too tight

What Types Of Collar Can You Get For A Dachshund?

If you are going to use a dog collar for your dachshund there's a few different kinds that might work for you.

Flat Collars:

A flat collar is just the normal type of collar you have seen before. You can get them in leather, nylon, or other soft type material. They call them a flat collar because they sit flat against your dachshund's neck.

If your dachshund doesn't pull on leash then a regular flat collar should work fine for you and your little buddy.

Martingale collar:

A martingale collar is more of a training dog collar than one that is meant to be worn all the time. If your dachshund pulls when out for a walk a martingale collar may help her stop pulling so much.

The collar has a slip piece in it that tightens when your dog pulls on the leash. But it stays loose when she is relaxed. In other words it only becomes uncomfortable for your dog when he or she starts pulling too much.

A martingale collar should not be left on all the time because it could become too tight if your dog gets it twisted and could damage her neck or throat.

Prong Collar

Prong collars are not a popular subject for many a dachshund owner.

But a prong collar can be a great training aid for a dachshund pup that is hard to walk with as long as they are not used as punishment.

A prong collar is custom fit for your dachshund, but you can do this yourself.

A good prong collar will come with extra links that can be added or taken off to make sure it is fitting exactly as it should.

The prongs are not sharp and are not meant to hurt your dachshund puppy at all. The reason for the prongs is to mimic what a mother dog will do when correcting her puppies.

Prong collars aren't for everyone but if your dachshund pup is not well behaved on walks it may be something that could help.

How to Choose a Harness for Your Dachshund

There are lots of different types of harnesses for dachshunds that you can get for your favorite little buddy.

Because a dachshund's body can sometimes be shaped weird you want to make sure the harness that you pick for him or her is a good fit.

If your dachshund's chest is a "barrel" type chest then some types of harness might not fit like it should. If you like to go on long walks with your dachshunds and the harness doesn't fit her like it's supposed to then you will have an unhappy dachshund.

Get an Adjustable Harness

Most types of harness that you can buy are adjustable, but some are not. Dogs gain and lose weight so having an adjustable harness is the best option, no matter what style of harness you go with.

Make sure it's safe and secure

No matter what style of harness you end up choosing for your doxie you want to make sure she is safe and secure when you are out for a walk.

A good harness should have reflective material that can easily be seen at night when a car headlight shines on it. If you normally walk when it's dark out a reflective harness is a must have for safety.

Support harness

A dachshund's back issues can be common for the long and short breed. So you don't have to use special harnesses that provide back support, but you don't want a harness that will contribute to back injury.

A harness that encourages pulling can put extra pressure on the back and can lead to injury if your dachshund pulls a lot on the leash.

If your doxie does have a bad back or spinal issues it may be a good idea to look into a custom or special harness that is specific for back support.

No Pull Harness - Discourages Pulling..Or Does It?

No pull harnesses are popular, but a lot of folks don't understand them. Even though there are harnesses that say they are "no pull", many just aren't that at all.

The truth is, if your doxie pulls on the leash a special harness may work or it might not. Active dachshunds are full of gusto and want to sniff everything in sight.

Most dachshunds also do not care if you put them in a "no pull" harness or not. If she wants to sniff something she's gonna pull on that leash to get it.

So a no pull harness might work great for you or it might not work at all. It really is gonna be up to your doxie and how well behaved he or she is.

Dog Harness Material - What to Look For

There's a few different materials you can get in a harness, and mostly it's up to your tastes. The most common harness material is nylon and is usually an inexpensive choice.

There's also leather harnesses that are popular. Usually a leather harness is used for a larger breed because of their strength and size.

At the end of the day, a good harness is one that is comfortable for your dog to wear and one that works if worn for long periods. An uncomfortable dog doesn't like to go on walks, so comfort and safety are the most important things to look for.

For this reason, something simple like nylon is usually a great choice for a small breed like a dachshund.