From Puppy to Adult Dog: How Walking Gear Needs Change Over Time

A dog’s needs change drastically as they grow from a tiny puppy into an adult. It’s not just about size, either. Puppies are still learning what’s expected of them, and their frequent bursts of energy can make walks tricky. Adult dogs are often better trained on a leash, but they still need training sessions and the right gear for best success.

If you’re struggling to decide which walking gear to use for your dog, don’t panic. Every dog is different and the ideal gear can change as a dog grows and matures. Let’s look at the basics to help you determine the best walking gear for your dog.

Early Walking Gear Needs for Puppies

Puppies are more sensitive than adult dogs, so some training tools can be dangerous. Bulky leads can hold your puppy back while anything that tightens or tugs too much could hurt them.

For puppies under 6 months, the most important part of walking is getting your dog comfortable on a leash. Start introducing walks in short bursts. You don’t need any specific training gear just yet. Instead, stick with small, adjustable, and lightweight versions of the basics.

Your puppy should have:

• Collar with ID Tag: Helps your puppy return to you if they get lost.

• Adjustable Harness: Lightweight harnesses are ideal for walking puppies so pressure isn’t applied to their neck.

• Lightweight Lead: 4 to 6 feet is an ideal length for keeping your puppy close while still allowing some space to explore.

Puppies grow quickly, so you’ll likely need to replace their collar and harness or adjust them significantly as they grow. Always make sure they fit snug while still having space for you to fit two fingers between your dog and the collar/harness.

Walking Gear Adjustments for Adolescent and Adult Dogs

After 6 months old, your puppy will be stronger, fully vaccinated, and comfortable on a leash. At that point, you can add training to your walks, such as discouraging pulling and encouraging check ins.

You can keep using regular collars, harnesses, and leads, as long as they fit properly. However, you should also consider adding training tools to help them learn better.

Here are some walking gear recommendations for adolescent and adult dogs:

• Slip Leads: Slip leads loop around your dog’s neck and tighten when they pull. Teach your dog that when the leash tightens, they should stop and check in with you.

• Martingale Collars: Martingale collars tighten around your dog’s neck like a slip lead, but they only tighten to a certain point to prevent choking. Like slip leads, you can use the tightening as a cue to tell your dog to slow down.

• Front Clip Harnesses: These harnesses have a clip on the front, causing your dog to turn and face you when they pull. This can help teach your dog to turn to look at you instead of pulling.

• Head Collars: Head collars go around your dog’s snout, causing their head to turn toward you when they pull. Like front clip harnesses, they’re a great tool to teach your dog to check in with you rather than pull.

All these walking tools only work well when paired with gradual training. You can’t put them on your dog and expect them to instantly understand the purpose. Instead, focus on teaching them what the tightening and pulling feelings of this gear means.

As dogs get older, they may get more sensitive. When that happens, consider switching back to lightweight harnesses like you would with puppies to protect their necks.

How Do Different Factors Affect Gear Choices?

Age isn’t the only aspect to consider when choosing walking gear. Consider the following factors too.

Body Shape

Certain gear might not fit a dog right depending on their physical build. For example, if a dog has a small head that’s not much wider than their neck, a collar could easily slide off. A martingale collar or harness could prevent them from escaping. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs) have sensitive necks, so they need a harness that doesn’t apply any pressure to their necks for all life stages.

Experience

Think about where your dog is at in the training process. If they don’t have any leash manners, rushing to use a slip lead on walks could be unsafe. Instead, you’ll want to limit training tools like that to the comfort of your home until your dog starts to understand what they mean. Then, as your dog learns the basics, you can use those tools on walks. A dog with great leash manners can usually walk well with all types of gear.

Behaviour

Some dogs constantly yank on the lead during walks while others walk slowly behind you. For dogs that rapidly jolt in different directions, a front clip harness is safer than a slip lead because the tightening can be unsafe if a dog pulls too quickly. For calm walkers, a slip lead would only provide a gradual tightening when they pull, making it safer and easier in that situation.

When Common Walking Gear Makes the Most Sense

Training tools can make it easier to teach leash manners, but sometimes, traditional walking gear is best. Below are some situations where a collar, harness, or slip lead works well.

Collars

Collars are great for everyday use because they can hold ID tags. While you can attach a leash to a collar, it’s often better to stick with a harness or training tool because collars can apply pressure to a dog’s neck without being beneficial for training. Walking a dog on a collar is best for short walks outside but not for situations where you need a lot of control over your dog (such as crowded areas).

Harnesses

Harnesses are great for most walks because they provide control while protecting your dog’s neck. However, they can encourage dogs to pull since they don’t provide as much pulling discomfort as other options. So, if you use a harness, make sure you also work on leash training to discourage pulling. A front clip harness is great for this.

Slip Leads

Slip leads should be used for training. They can be unsafe if they tighten too quickly, so always start by training in a quiet place with no distractions. Once your dog understands that the tightening means to stop pulling, you can use the slip lead on short walks for training. Slip leads are also great for quickly getting a leash on a dog in an emergency.

Changing Gear Isn’t Failure, It’s Adjustment

If certain walking gear doesn’t work for your dog, that’s okay. Every dog has unique needs, and those needs can change as they get older. Just because the walking gear you’re using isn’t working doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means that a different method might be better for your pup at this point in time. Keep trying different walking gear options and training methods to find ones that are suitable for your pup’s needs.