Review of Collars, Harnesses, and Head Collars for Walking Dogs

Area of Science:

• Canine behavior and welfare
• Animal biomechanics
• Veterinary science

Background:

• Dog guardians face choices for leash restraint devices.
• Guidance on selecting among collars, harnesses, and head collars is unclear.
• Aversive collars are discouraged due to welfare concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effects of common dog restraint devices.
• To provide practical guidance for dog guardians.
• To identify research gaps in restraint device efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 21 full-text articles and 2 abstracts.
• Analysis of device impact on walking kinematics.
• Evaluation of pressure distribution and behavioral stress indicators.

Main Results:

• No single restraint device is universally suitable.
• Non-tightening front-clip harnesses balance reduced pulling and discomfort.
• Tightening harnesses, martingale collars, and head collars may cause discomfort.
• Back-clip and flat collars are suitable for specific needs, like non-pulling dogs or brachycephalic breeds.

Conclusions:

• Dog restraint device selection should be individualized.
• Non-tightening front-clip harnesses are recommended for pulling dogs.
• Caution is advised with tightening harnesses, martingale collars, and head collars.
• Back-clip and flat collars serve specific use cases effectively.