One of the major concerns of dog owners when putting their pet on a leash is their tendency to pull on it.  It can make the dog uncomfortable and it can be a major nuisance for the dog walker. It can be upsetting for both the dog and their owner and prove difficult to stop them. A traditional dog collar isn’t the best dog collar for pulling, as all the restraint is around the dog’s neck.

There are newer designs that redistribute the restraint to other parts of the dog’s body, such as the head (a head collar) or between its shoulder blades (a front clip harness). These designs don’t interfere with the dogs breathing or their ability to eat or drink all while helping the dog not to pull.

Often the best dog collar for pulling is a head collar or a front clip harness but your dog may need some training to get used to these.

Best Dog Collar for Pulling – Must Haves

There are many head collar and front clip harnesses available to help manage your dog’s pulling, but the best dog collar for pulling will have the following characteristics.

• No restraint around the neck where it can interfere with breathing and restrict the dog’s throat when it pulls.

• No muzzle which doesn’t allow the dog to pant, eat or drink water.

• Comfortable design that doesn’t chafe the dog or restrict movement.

• Close fitting so it isn’t easy for the dog to wriggle free from.

Best Dog Collar for Pulling

Halti Optifit Head Halter

Head halters can be great for controlling dogs that pull frequently and especially if your dog can be aggressive.

The size of the head and the length of the nose can affect your pooch’s comfort, and the Halti Optifit offers two sizes: large and small. The adjustable strap enables the halter to be sized perfectly for your pup and the design is also suited for short and long nosed breeds.

The design of the Optifit offers a comfortable fit, with little chafing for the animal. It has a padded strap around the noseband, reflective material on the side straps for better visibility in darkness and it attaches to the dog’s collar for extra security when the dog is on the leash.

The Halti Optifit make the list for best dog collar for pulling because:

• It’s designed for comfort of the dog so reduces chafing

• It’s fully adjustable to suit all sizes and breeds, including long nosed and short nosed breeds.

• The restraint on the dog is around the head, rather than around the neck, so it doesn’t restrict the dogs breathing.

Canny Collar

This lead comes in 7 different sizes for necks between 9 inches to 23 inches. The design is unique as it clips behind the head, rather than below the neck and this, the manufacturer says, is why it’s effective at reducing pulling when your pup is on the leash.

The collar is intended to train your dog to stop pulling. It has a strap which fits over the nose and the owner is advised to keep the leash taut when walking the dog to retain the restraint over the head. There is no adjustment mechanism for the straps, so make sure you buy the correct size for your dog. It should fit snuggly over his nose and should never ride up into his eyes.

Pet owners report a great deal of success with the Canny Collar, however small dogs seem to be able to writhe out of the nose harness, so they are recommended for medium and large dogs only.

The Canny Collar has many of the attributes to be a best dog collar for pulling and really help reduce walk time stress.  The many size options make it so the collar can fit your dog snugly, without chafing.

The restraint is felt around the dog’s head, not its neck, so it doesn’t interfere with its breathing and there is no muzzle so the dog can breathe, eat and drink with the collar on.

Freedom No-Pull Harness

The Freedom Harness harness has straps which fix between the dogs shoulder blades and around its belly. The dog feels the restraint in the harness across the shoulders and so it doesn’t interfere with its breathing at all.

There are eight sizes and it’s possible to further adjust the size on the harness to fit your dog perfectly. You will need to measure your dog’s chest and neck, and also weigh them to find the correct size. There is a loop on the back of the harness which the leash can attach to and this helps to prevent pulling also.

It is made from strong nylon, and has a velvet lined belly strap to prevent chafing. It’s available in a wide variety of colors and it comes with a training leash which can be attached to the front and the back of the harness for better control.

The harness is a best dog collar for pulling because:

• It is available in a variety of sizes/colors and can be adjusted to fit your dog perfectly.

• It is made from strong material and has a soft belly strap for the comfort of your dog.

• It transfers the restraint to your dog’s shoulders, so doesn’t affect his breathing or interfere with his ability to eat or drink whilst wearing the harness.

• You can connect the leash to the front and back of the harness, giving you better control over their dog’s pulling.

Importance of Dog Collars for Dealing with Pulling

Traditional dog collars can severely restrict a dog’s breathing when it pulls on its leash. The pulling behavior is rarely prevented by this restriction and it is a health hazard for your dog and make your walking time a nightmare.

The best dog collar for pulling is a head collar or front clip harness as these are more comfortable for your dog if they’re pullers. These types of collar or harness can also be used to help train the dog to stop pulling altogether.

Head collars and harnesses focus the restraint on other parts of the body which don’t interfere with their breathing and also makes it easier for the owner to manage restraining their dog when it’s on a leash.

We hope you got some great information on some collars that will help both you and your pup learn to walk (and breathe) a little easier!