Choosing the right walking gear for your dog

Dogs come in so many different shapes and sizes, and they also have different walking styles on lead. So how do you know what to look for when buying walking gear for your dog?

Welcome to our guide to purchasing the perfect walking gear for your dog. Covering everything from different types of collars, harnesses, head halters, and leads, to different types of materials and hardware. 

Walkies are certainly one of my dogs’ favourite activities. But if you have an overexcited pup that drags you down the street, you might find walk time a bit stressful or overwhelming. Having rescued a Great Dane that didn’t know how to walk on lead, and now training a very confident and excitable Great Dane puppy, I know exactly what it can be like.

Finding the right walking gear can make all the difference to ensuring you and your dog enjoy your daily walks, as well as keeping your dog safe and secure. The last thing you want is an accident as the result of your walk wear failing, which is why it’s so important to ensure you have the right gear.

But there are pros and cons to all styles of walk wear, and with so many different options available, how do you know what kind of walk wear you should buy for your dog?

To help you find the perfect walk gear for your fur-friend, here’s a few things you should think about (which we’ll dive into more detail on below):

• Style - does it suit my dogs walking style?
• Size - is it the right size for my dog?
• Safety – is it strong enough for my dog?
• Comfort – does my dog like wearing it?
• Craftsmanship - is it made to last with durable materials?
• Hygiene - and last but not least, is it easy to keep clean?

 What Style of walk gear suits your dog?

The first thing you need to think about is what style of walk wear suits your dog. There are many options to choose from including flat collars, martingale collars, slip collars, different types of harnesses and head halters, some of which are great training tools if you have a dog that pulls on lead.

However, if you do have a dog that pulls on lead, I recommend engaging a professional trainer to teach you and your dog loose lead walking skills. They can also show you how to properly use different walk gear as training tools and set you and your dog up for the future.

Flat collars are great if you have a dog that walks next to you and doesn’t pull on the lead. They are also great everyday collars to use for attaching name tags. We have a range of luxury buckle collars available in different widths to suit dogs of all sizes. However, if your dog pulls on lead or tries to slip their collar off, flat collars may not provide the control you need.

    

Martingale collars are a great option for hounds/ dogs with small heads or dogs that try to slip their collar off. Think of a martingale collar as a limited slip collar, as they have an extra loop which tightens when they pull on the lead. This provides extra security knowing your dog will not be able to slip out of their collar, and with training can also be used to teach your dog not to pull on lead. We have a range of luxurious soft velvet martingale collars and stylish webbing martingale collars which are all handmade and available in custom sizes made specially to suit your dog.

    

Slip collars are similar to martingale collars in that they will tighten when your dog pulls on the lead. However, unlike a martingale/ limited slip collar which can only tighten as far as the extra loop, a slip collar will continue to tighten if your dog continues pulling (the same as a check/ choker chain). Like martingale collars, they can be a good training tool to teach your dog not to pull on lead. However, if you’re thinking about training your dog using a slip collar, I recommend engaging a professional trainer to show you how to properly use it.

There are many different types of harnesses available on the market. When looking at harnesses, make sure they are easy to put on and off as some harnesses can be quite cumbersome. If you live somewhere warm, make sure the harness is not going to make your dog too hot. Also check that it fits your dog correctly, does not impede movement in any way, and is not rubbing or likely to cause chaffing or discomfort.

    

Harnesses with rear lead attachment points are great if your dog doesn’t pull on lead. They can be a good alternative to a collar as they do not put pressure on the dog’s neck. However, if your dog pulls, they can put all their weight into a rear attachment harness and actually make the pulling worse! Constant pulling in a rear attachment harness can also put pressure on your dogs shoulder joints and change their gait, regardless of the style of harness (yes, this includes Y-front harnesses too!).

Front attachment harnesses can be a better option if your dog pulls on lead, as when they pull they are redirected towards you. You can also get harnesses with front and rear attachment points. Used with a double ended lead attached to both points they can also be a good training tool.

   

Our luxury harnesses  are super easy to put on and off, just slip them over your dogs head and secure the buckle around their belly. They have both rear and front lead attachment points, and our webbing harnesses also have a martingale style chest strap, which is designed to tighten if your dog pulls when attached to the front D-ring. The chest strap on our harnesses is designed to sit high, just below the dogs neck, to ensure they do not impede shoulder movement. Both the front chest strap and belly straps are adjustable to ensure the correct fit, and we can make custom sizes to specially suit your dog!

Head Halters
Just like collars and harnesses, there are many different styles of head halters. Head halters are designed so that the lead attaches to the strap that goes around your dogs muzzle. When your dog pulls on the lead it puts pressure on the muzzle strap. With some head halters the lead attaches behind the head, others the lead attaches under the muzzle. I find this is a personal preference, however both types work the same way in that they apply pressure to the muzzle when your dog pulls. 

     

Head halters can provide better control if you have a large or strong dog, as they can’t put their body weight into a head halter like they can with a harness or even collar.

However, some head halter can cause damage to your dogs neck if used incorrectly. Therefore, if you've never used a head halter before, I recommend engaging a professional trainer who can show you how to use it correctly and teach you and your dog loose lead walking skills. Used correctly, head halters can be great training tools and great for providing better control on walks. 

  

Our head halter attachments slide onto our buckle collars, so they can simply be removed from the collar when not required. This also means you can use the same head halter attachment with different collars. They have velvet nose straps which are soft on the muzzle and won’t leave marks on your dogs face, but still provide the same control as other head halters on the market. I personally use our head halters in conjunction with our luxury collars and leads for walking my Great Dane puppy, Pumpkin. Watch our video demonstration to see how they work:

For those who prefer head halters that attach behind their dogs head instead of under their muzzle, check out our velvet slip halters. They can be used as a head halter, slip collar or limited slip collar, making them super versatile and great for all occasions. And, they come in universal sizing to suit most dogs, as well as two different styles:

1. with a D-ring attachment which can be used with any lead
2. slip halter and lead combo which has an integrated handle 

Watch our video demonstration to see how they work:

Leashes
Having the right lead is also important. You don’t want a lead that is too long or too short for your needs. I personally like a longer lead with a traffic handle for walking my Great Dane. This allows a bit of freedom on walks, but also the option of a second short handle if you need to hold your dog close to you (like when you are crossing the road or standing in a coffee line).

If you are using a harness and want to attach the lead to both the front and rear attachment points, you will need a double ended lead. Double ended leads can also be great if you tether your dog, and some can be used handsfree (like our convertible leads which can be used 5 different ways!)

Size

No matter what style of walk gear you choose, make sure you get the correct sizing for your dog. And if the style of collar, harness, or head halter you want does not fit your dog correctly, consider another style that does. A badly fitted collar, harness or head halter can be worse than using the incorrect style of walk wear all together. 

If you are buying online, check for size guides and measure your dog in accordance with any guides available to ensure you select the correct size.

Tip: We have size guides available for all our walk wear. We also have a custom size option for all our collars, harnesses and head halters. Just include your dogs’ measurements when ordering (as prompted on the product pages), and we will make a size to perfectly fit your dog, with some adjustment of course. You can also reach out to us if you are unsure we will help you select the correct size.

Safety

Safety is always important, but especially when it comes to walk wear. The last thing you want is a runaway dog because your walk wear has failed you!

When choosing walk wear make sure the hardware is load rated. This may not be as important if your dog weighs 2kg, however if you have a 50kg+ dog like me, load rated hardware is essential in keeping your dog safe and secure. This includes leashes too!

All our luxury walk wear is made using quality metal hardware. All our hardware is rated to 200kg-250kg, apart from our medium lead trigger clasps which are rated to 130kg (hence we only recommend them for small- medium dogs).

Also consider where you will be using your walk wear and if the materials are suitable. If you will be using your walk wear at the beach, make sure it has brass or stainless-steel hardware that will not corrode. If you live in a super cold climate, you might need anti-freeze buckles (yes, buckles can freeze and not work!).

Comfort

Walk wear your dog finds uncomfortable or doesn’t like wearing could be stressful for them, and you don’t want to start a walk with a stressed dog.

To keep your dog as comfortable as possible, make sure their walk wear is correctly fitted and not causing any discomfort or chaffing. No matter what type of what wear you use (collar, harness, head halter), it should be adjusted so it is fitted, not too loose but also not so tight it causes discomfort.

If you buy a new style of walk wear, put it on your dog and get them used to it before heading out for a walk. If you’ve been walking your dog on a collar and suddenly put a harness or head halter on them, they might find it uncomfortable at first and it may take them a little while to get used to it.

The Craftsmanship Of Our Luxury Handmade Walk Wear

Dogs can be rough, so you want to make sure their walk wear is durable and made to last. Consider the fabric/ webbing type and hardware materials.

Plastic hardware may seem like a good option for beach goers, but it is generally not as strong as metal hardware and can deteriorate with sun exposure. Instead consider brass or stainless-steel hardware which is much more durable and will not corrode in salt water.

Apart from using load rated metal hardware, our luxury velvet walk wear range is made from commercial upholstery velvet. With its rub tested and hair-resistant short pile it is very practical and durable, not to mention washable and super stylish too. Our luxury webbing collars are made using good quality polyester or nylon webbing, which is great for the beach and easy to wash.

Best of all, our luxury handmade walk wear is made right here in Brisbane by yours truly. I ensure that each one is built to last, and of the highest quality for your best friend.

Hygiene

Last but not least is hygiene. We all want our dogs to feel healthy & happy in their skin. And hygiene is a huge part of that. Which is why we ensure all our walk wear is washable and we use fabrics that do not easily trap pet hair!

As we can see, there are so many walk wear options available for our dogs. So before you buy something, make sure it doesn’t just look good but is also suitable for you and your dog. Just remember, style, size, safety, comfort, craftsmanship and hygiene are all important factors when it comes to walk wear.

If you are looking for luxurious Australian made walk wear, be sure to check out our stylish range – your dog will not only be safe and comfortable, they’ll also look super stylish!

And do reach out if you have any questions, we are all ears.