“What you me wear what? Why? Ok. It better function well!”
Safety First
Being knowledgable about walking accessories will highly improve your dog walking experiences. Collars, harnesses, and leashes are available in different materials and styles. We’ve included what to put on ID tags, our favorite collars and harnesses, and a review of each different type of leash in the doggy market.
Left: Amazon, Right: East Coast Creations
Clasps: East Coast Creations
Identification (ID) Tags
ID Tags should be one of the first things you get for your dog! We recommend including only your dogs name and your telephone number. Any additional information is not necessary, especially if your dog is microchipped. Plus, it can be a security concern to have your full name, address, and phone number.
Once your dog gets the rabies vaccination, you may be required to including the Rabies ID tag, depending on state laws.
If you have a few collars, it is useful to purchase a small clasp (shown in picture) so you can easily move an ID tag one collar to another! Our clasps and Hexagon ID tag are from East Coast Creations.
LED Night Light
While a collar, harness, or leash might have reflective strips, sometimes it is not enough. Adding a light to your dog’s walking gear is important for early morning or late night walks - anytime it is dark outside. We keep it on Brioche’s harness at all times so we never forget to reattach it at night.
The light:
Provides visibility to cars, pedestrians, and other dogs/dog walkers
Acts as a flashlight when it’s dark to pick up poop
Collars
We primarily use collars just for having an ID tag - for puppies and dogs that pull, attaching a leash can increase chances of neck injury. This isn’t something we want to risk, so we always use a harness for walking.
You want your dog’s collar to be comfortable and secure. For growing puppies, we also highly recommend adjustable collars so you don’t have to constantly buy new ones.
The type of collar worn depends on the adventure you and your dog are going on. Prior to purchasing a collar, always measure your dog’s neck for sizing with a sewing tape measure. If you do not have one, you can always use string or a shoelace to measure the neck, and then use a utility tape measure.
Sizing: You should be able to fit 2 fingers between the collar and neck . This way, the dog should not be able to slip out, and it will not be too tight around the neck.
Soft Fabric
Recommended Use: Walking around the block, going to the park
Pros: Easy to clasp on, stylish options
Note: Not waterproof - long time to dry, would not use for going to the beach, lake, or for rainy days
Polyester
Recommended Use: Hiking, trail walking, going to the beach/park, rainy days
Pros: Easy to clasp on, stylish options
Note: Sometimes the rings are made of cheap plastic, so be sure to get a durable one!
Soft Leather
Recommended Use: Walking around the block, going to the park, incredibly soft leather
Pros: Easy to clean, two D-rings (one for ID tag, one for leash - nice if you don’t use a harness)
Note: Not waterproof - may stain leather
Harnesses
We believe harnesses are a must have for walking and hiking. The only time we might take them off outside is for play time with other dogs. Always measure your dog’s neck and body prior to purchasing a harness to get the right sizing. Use a string and measuring tape if you don’t have a sewing tape measure.
Why Harness?
Reduces strain on neck and back since pressure if applied across more of the body
Discourages pulling for pups and dogs that want to guide the way
Prevents tangling with the leash
More control of pup or dog when walking
Two types of harnesses, described with how you put it on below. Be sure to measure your pup
Step-In: We loved this for Brioche when he was a puppy. Easy Peasy - plop, buckle, and voila!
Over-the-Head: If your dog sits still, this is very easy to put on. Brioche has developed opinions, and now prefers this type over step-in.
Harnesses should be adjustable as they grow, preferably with front and back D-rings (so you have the option to attach the leash either by the chest or on the back).
Voyager
Great for puppies or dogs new to harnesses.
Pros: Soft mesh, breathable, secure with buckle and D-rings, easy to put on, very low cost
Cons: No front D-ring, not waterproof - takes a while to dry
Wolfgang
Upgrade when dog is used to step-in harness
Pros: Secure buckles, front and back D-ring, cute patterns, lifetime warranty, dries quickly (less surface area)
Cons: Can get tangled easy, hard to tell right side up sometimes, more expensive than mesh harnesses
Kurgo
Best over-the-head harness
Pros: Crash tested, reflective strips, front and back D-ring, comes with seatbelt attachment, lifetime warranty
Cons: Expensive (when not on sale)
Note: New Kurgo model have buckles we found harder to use, but equally effective. Older model in button below.
Leashes
Every leash feels different when you walk the dog. We have included our experiences, and general pros/cons of the different types of leashes on the market.
Leashes typically come in a few lengths.
4 feet - typically used in cities where there is traffic and less room to walk
6 feet - standard length allowing dog to explore while still maintaining good control
15 feet or more - typically used when you are in a park and want to provide freedom, but recall is not quite there yet
Personally, after trying all the types below - we prefer rope (climbing and cotton) and biothane leashes.
Note:
All trainers in puppy classes and reputable sources online say dog owners should not retractable/flexi leashes or slip leashes. See below for why.
Climbing Rope
Our Experience: Feels the best in our hands - it is our go to leash
Pros: Great grip, don’t feel the pull as much as other leashes
Cons: Made of cotton so can get dirty easily, weighs a little more than other leashes
Marine Rope
Our Experience: Good grip (a little less grippy than climbing rope, but more than polyester), weighs less than climbing rope, more than polyester
Pros: Good grip, don’t feel the pull as much as other leashes
Cons: May not need for very small dogs
Furlou Mocha Leash
Cotton Rope
Our Experience: Super soft ones feel great on the hands
Pros: Soft, Light, Machine Washable
Cons: May not survive if your dog is a chewer and gets its teeth on the leash, water absorbent (not resistant!)
Biothane
Our Experience: Feels great on the hand and skin
Pros: Completely water resistant, easy to clean, does not get moldy or have mildew after getting wet
Cons: Can be slippery when wet
Polyester
Our Experience: Useful for hiking or when it is rainy - easy to clean
Pros: Comes in stylish patterns and colors, light
Cons: Feel the pull a bit more with this, less comfortable on the hand
Leather
Our Experience: A bit heavy, great for larger breeds, not so much smaller
Pros: Durable, strong, this one has padded leather
Cons: Heavy, not water resistant
Remington Slip Rope Leash
Slip (don’t recommend)
Our Experience: Incredibly easy to put on, worried about it being too tight - we’ve used before, but don’t recommend
Pros: Generally safe and escape proof, continuously tightens around your dog’s neck so dog doesn’t escape
Cons: Not great for dogs that pull a lot - seems like it might be too much pressure on the neck, dog can slip out of leash if not adjusted correctly
Retractable / Flexi (don’t recommend)
Our Experience: Have yet to try and most likely won’t.
Pros: Can extend far in a compact device
Cons: Can wrap around the dog’s body and expose them and other dogs/people/bikers to injuries, much less control when the leash is long, requires more effort to use.
If you use retractable, use with great care and be aware of your surroundings!