{"id":351,"date":"2019-07-27T14:09:44","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T14:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/?p=351"},"modified":"2023-02-23T18:58:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T23:58:19","slug":"should-you-use-a-harness-or-a-leash-when-taking-your-french-bulldog-for-a-walk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyfrenchbulldog.com\/should-you-use-a-harness-or-a-leash-when-taking-your-french-bulldog-for-a-walk\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Use A Harness Or A Leash When Walking Your French Bulldog?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The use of a harness instead of a collar and leash has become very popular in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why is a harness the best option when it comes to walking and training your French Bulldog?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you use a harness?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which potential health problems of the French Bulldog make using a harness safer for your dog than using a traditional collar and leash?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will answer all these questions and more.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have also discussed some of the best-selling dog harnesses for the French Bulldog breed that are available on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let’s see why people turn to harnesses instead of using the traditional collar and leash for walking their dog.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Best<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Why use a French Bulldog harness?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although they are relatively small in size, French Bulldogs are lively creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That can mean that your puppy pulls and jumps when he takes a walk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A French Bulldog harness is an excellent training tool, giving you much more control over your dog and allowing you to teach him to walk obediently close to you without hurting or tormenting him.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs that pull while wearing a collar and leash can suffer a painful neck injury and other health problems due to the immense pressure that can be exerted by the collar on their windpipe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, a harness puts very little pressure on the dog’s neck, significantly reducing the risk of injury.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can a collar injure the neck of your French Bulldog?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you understand why putting on his collar can be so dangerous for your French Bulldog, you need to know more about how his neck works.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The windpipe of the dog is at the front of his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It leads to the dog’s lungs so that he can breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trachea is supported by cartilage rings, a soft, flexible substance that holds the trachea open and prevents it from collapsing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just behind the windpipe is the esophagus, the tube that brings food into the stomach of the dog.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

French Bulldog harness or collar?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So you can see that if your dog presses very hard against the collar, the pressure exerted on his neck causes his trachea to be crushed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this situation, the trachea may collapse, which may prevent the dog from breathing or at least cause unpleasant coughing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracheal injuries caused by crushing are very painful for your Frenchie, and some can even lead to surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For comparison: a French Bulldog harness is made to fit precisely around the dog’s shoulders, upper back, and chest.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These areas are bony and muscular and easily release all tension from the dog’s neck if he pulls or jumps while walking.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the potential for tracheal collapse, French Bulldogs are susceptible to breathing problems<\/a> because of the way their nose is shaped.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breathing Problems with French Bulldogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

French Bulldogs are one of a number of breeds that are classified as brachycephalic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brachycephalic varieties often suffer from compromised breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These breeds have characteristic flat faces that can disrupt the dog’s ability to absorb oxygen in three ways:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n