Does my Dachshund need a harness or collar?

In this blog we answer the question:

Does my Dachshund need a harness or collar?

To the question 'Does my Dachshund need a harness or a collar?' we wholeheartedly say a harness! Why? Because a harness is always better for a dog in general and a Dachshund all the way. Dachshunds are known for their neck and back problems (read: hernias!) due to their special anatomy compared to other dogs. They have an excellent sternum and of course a long back. We will show you the effect of a collar and the pulling force that comes on a Dachshund's body later in this blog. So we are saying: always a harness and not a collar. The caveat here is that this must be a well-fitting harness, of course. Because a harness that is not made for a Dachshund is almost never good. We will tell you which harness your Dachshund needs in our other blog.

It is sometimes quite difficult to find out what is best for your Dachshund. And we all want the best for them, right? Because if my Dachshund needs a harness, why do I see Dachshunds with a collar and why are there collars on the market?

Not a harness but a collar because that's how we've always done it, right?
In the past there were only collars for dogs and the question 'does my Dachshund need a harness or a collar?' was not even asked. A dog needs a collar, period. If possible even a slip chain. The harness market has now grown considerably and people are increasingly realizing that harnesses are much friendlier to a dog's body.

The traditional (and somewhat outdated) way of thinking about harnesses is also still there. Especially among breeders who have been breeding Dachshunds for years. A collar is sufficient and has been used for years. We even sometimes hear noises in the store that a harness teaches your dog to pull harder! And that you only really raise a Dachshund properly with a collar.. ouch!


Dachshund would pull less with a collar than with a harness.

A Dachshund that pulls obviously has nothing to do with a harness or collar, but with upbringing and training (and it's also just part of the character). We are sorry to hear that breeders view harnesses in this way and we hope that this blog will change their perception a bit!

Fortunately, there are more and more harnesses on the market for dogs and it is recognized that a harness is often friendlier to a Dachshund and (dog in general) than a collar. Unfortunately, almost no regular harnesses from general dogbrands fits a Dachshund. Not even the harnesses of the major manufacturers who claim they are made for Dachshunds. You can read here which harness is made for your Dachshund.

In our store and webshop you will find dog collars in addition to harnesses for the Dachshund. We offer Dachshund owners the option to choose a collar in addition to a harness. We recommend using a collar to, for example, confirm the name and address details. After all, a collar is a bit easier to put on than a harness. For walks, we recommend using a harness with your Dachshund instead of a collar.


Why does my Dachshund need a harness and not a collar?

We will now show you why your Dachshund needs a harness and not a collar. Firstly, Dachshunds (and dogs in general) always experience pressure and pulling force during a walk. No matter how well-behaved your Dachshund is and walks with you on a leash, when another dog approaches, traction will arise. Because once a Dachshund, always a Dachshund right? In any case, they hardly ever go in the same direction as you.


Dachshunds do what they want...whether they wear a collar or harness!

The pulling force that arises on the neck with a collar is many times more intense than with a harness. And not just on the neck: the entire spine is involved from neck to tail. If your Dachshund wears a harness instead of a collar, the pulling force is distributed much better on the body. There is no 'pendulum' in the spine when a pulling force is created.

The effect of a collar on a Dachshund's body
Below you can see the effect of a collar on a dog's body.


The body parts that get pinched when wearing a collar

In the neck of your Dachshund are the trachea, nerves, cervical vertebrae, (artery) vein, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. When you pull on the leash attached to the collar, a pull is created on the neck. In the image below you can see that all those parts are located under a collar. These parts in the neck come under pressure when using a collar. But damage to the larynx or trachea and swelling of the glands under the collar can also occur.

So there are a lot! In addition to the collar causing constriction, there is also a movement in the vertebrae. If you were to view the back of a Dachshund from above, a kind of 'sling' is created in the entire spine when the collar is pulled. From neck to tail. We call this the S-movement. You can imagine that this pendulum is not pleasant for your Dachshund with a vulnerable back and this pendulum must be absorbed in the entire body. One of the causes of a hernia.

In addition to the S-movement, your Dachshund's neck gets a blow from a tug on the leash, which can cause neck injuries. Think of bruising of vertebrae and bones, displacement of vertebrae or even whiplash in extremely hard 'rescues'.


The effect of traction in the neck on the rest of the Dachshund's body

The effect of a harness on a Dachshund's body
As you can read in the blog 'Which harness do I need for my Dachshund?', we advise you to choose a Y or H harness for your Dachshund instead of a collar. In the image below you can see where the pressure and pull points of these two types of harnesses are.


The body parts that are under the pulling force of a harness

There is therefore no pulling force on the back, which is why this is not shown. The chest contains the lungs and the heart. A little further down the liver. These organs fall under a Y or H harness and are protected by a thick layer of muscles and tendons. The harness distributes the pulling force over this muscle mass, so you never pull on your Dachshund's neck or other organs. The ring in the middle of the back of a Y or H harness ensures equal pressure distribution and thus ensures that no S-movement occurs in the spine. Please note: all of the above only applies with a well-fitting Y or H harness that is specially made for Dachshunds (not the regular Y or H harnesses!). You can imagine that with a harness that does not fit well, which drops to the side, for example, an S-movement does occur in the spine. In the aforementioned blog, we further discuss the differences between a Y or H harness and which one is suitable for your Dachshund.

Conclusion: a harness is better for a Dachshund than a collar


A harness is better for a Dachshund than a collar

As you are used from us, at Hashteckel you will only find products that we support. So we are also harness-minded. If you are not yet convinced, come and visit our store so that we can show you the difference. And in addition to this blog, also read the blog 'Which harness do I need for my Dachshund?'

We hope we have answered your question about whether a collar or harness is better for a Dachshund. And that we have explained well why this is the case.

Do you have questions and/or comments? Then contact us!