Collar and harness are the two most essential accessories for dogs. If you have a Yorkie, you need to be extra careful when you buy some accessories for your Yorkie. Such a dog breed is delicate because of its size. Choosing the wrong one can jeopardize not only the health of your dog but its entire life too.
Choosing between a collar and harness
Taming your dog, especially when going out, involves using a collar and a leash, and a harness. With a collar and a leash, the pressure is on the trachea. Added force is put onto the neck if the dog moves forward far ahead of his owner. More tension is placed on the neck if the Yorkie makes quick movement or jumps to the side. While many dogs can handle it, some just can’t, especially brachycephalic ones like Shih Tzu, French bulldog, and pug. The same thing goes for breeds with little muscle support around the neck, such s Maltese, Chihuahua, and Yorkie terrier.
If too much pressure is placed on the neck, it could lead to neck issues and neurological problems. It can lead to a collapse of the trachea, which can be extremely painful and may take a long time to heal. For severe cases, surgery is needed. Signs that your dog has problems in the neck caused by too much pressure from the collar include coughing, wheezing noise, trouble eating, and exercise intolerance.
What is the best thing to do?
If you are used to using the collar, the best thing to do is switch to the harness. Just like the collar, you can easily collect the leash to the harness. A harness fits around the upper back, chest, and shoulders of the dog. These areas have bones and muscles, and so they can handle pressure and tension.
