Collar, harness, prong collar: a 2024 study actually measures the pulling force of each type
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Flat collar, harness, prong collar: every camp defends its own equipment, often without precise data behind it. A study published in 2024 in PeerJ by Anamarie Johnson and Clive Wynne, of Arizona State University, set out to measure the actual force dogs exert depending on the equipment worn (see the study). Our comparisons are gathered in the dog accessories section.
Contents · 4 sections
A strain gauge on the leash of 23 dogs
Each dog was walked for 5 minutes with each of four pieces of equipment: a martingale collar (used as the comparison baseline), a front-clip harness, a Starmark-style polymer prong collar, and a standard metal prong collar. A strain-gauge dynamometer, fitted between the leash and the equipment, continuously recorded the force exerted during the walk. The statistical analysis reveals significant differences in pulling impulse between the martingale collar and each of the other three pieces of equipment.
What this study does not show
The study measures pulling force over short 5-minute walks, not over time or long-term training toward a loose-leash walk. It does not directly compare welfare impact for each piece of equipment — beyond the measured force, the authors discuss potential welfare impacts without quantifying them the same way. A sample of 23 dogs, with varied profiles, also limits how far the findings generalise to a specific breed or body size.
What it changes when choosing equipment
- The force measured on the leash depends heavily on the type of equipment, a solid argument for trying several options before settling on one, alongside our article on the actual force measured on a leash during a walk.
- A front-clip harness redirects the dog back toward the walker with no leverage on the trachea, an option increasingly recommended as a first choice, covered in our guide to the no-pull front-clip harness.
- The prong collar remains a contested tool, whose use raises welfare questions independent of its measured effectiveness at reducing pulling, a point covered in our article on the prong collar and training methods.
Frequently asked questions
Which equipment reduces pulling the most according to this study?
The study finds significant differences between the baseline martingale collar and the three other pieces of equipment tested, without naming one universal winner suited to every dog and every situation.
Does a harness encourage pulling, as some claim?
Nothing in this study backs up that common belief: the force measured depends on the specific type of harness (front or back clip) and the dog's training, not on simply wearing a harness.
Should I combine several pieces of equipment?
Some owners pair a harness and a long line for walks with a head halter for busy, stimulating outings in town; the right choice mostly depends on the individual dog and the context of the outing. Find all our guides on the dog hub.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Rear support harness for dogs, with handle (€25.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.