Should Your Chihuahua Use a Collar and Leash?

Leashes and collars for Chihuahuas are usually the last things Chihuahua owners think about. What kind of question could you possibly have about something so basic? You just buy a tiny collar and get a leash to attach to the collar to walk your chi, right? Well, the question stands. Should your Chihuahua use a collar and leash?

It’s a tad bit more complicated than that. Chihuahuas are somewhat different than other dogs in many ways, and this is one of those ways.

Chihuahuas are so tiny and fragile that you can really hurt your dog’s neck by using a dog’s leash attached to their collar when walking them.

You can cause neck pain and joint issues, reverse sneezing, or if your dog has a collapsed trachea, it can make the condition worse.

Collars and Leashes

I am not saying don’t put a collar on your Chihuahua. Collars can contain their dog license, rabies tag,  ID tag, or like the collars I use on my dogs; they can have their name and phone number stitched on the collar itself.

I can count half a dozen times that I have found dogs in my area (yes, I’m the crazy neighborhood dog lady that stops for running loose dogs) that look to be loved and well cared for and even have collars on but there is no identification on them at all. It makes it much harder to get them back to their owners.

There have been a few times though that the dog had some ID on their dog collar, and it made it so simple to contact the owner and let them know I had found their precious fur baby.

Also, collars can be cute and make a fashion statement. So, let’s take a look at what kind of collar and leash your Chihuahua should use and when it is a good idea to use a harness instead of a collar and leash.

Benefits of a Harness

Since Chihuahuas are a toy dog breed, they can be very fragile – even if their personality speaks otherwise. Since they are the smallest dog breed in the world, you need to do what you can as a dog owner to ensure their safety and comfort.

A collapsed trachea is one of the most common injuries a Chihuahua can experience. They have thin bones and cartilage along with a thinner layer of fat and muscle to protect them. A collapsed trachea can make it hard for your Chihuahua to breathe, and it can cause significant pain. This condition can happen when too much pressure or strain is placed on the dog’s neck. When this happens, it can take a long time to recover, and sometimes your dog may never fully recover. For this reason, a harness is a great way to go.

Harnesses are easy to put on and come in a variety of different colors and styles. You can pick a few to keep at home, so you have some choices around for each walk. The harness allows all the pressure to be distributed over the chest area, shoulders, and back rather than the neck, and this will help keep your Chihuahua pup safe and comfortable.

Harnesses are great when it comes time to walk your Chihuahua. But again, don’t completely rule out collars either because they can be helpful, as we have already mentioned. Just make sure the dog’s collar you choose is specifically designed for a small breed dog. It should also be adjustable, so there is plenty of room to grow.

We will go into more detail on how to choose the right collar for your Chihuahua below.

Choosing the Right Collar for Your Chi

I like colorful personalized collars, but that’s my preference. Some of the criteria for picking a collar is just your personal taste and the gender and coloring of your dog.

Some of the things to keep in mind when choosing a collar for your Chihuahua:

• Be sure to measure your dog’s neck and add an inch if you are ordering a collar online.
• The collar should never be the exact same measurement as your dog’s neck, or it will be too tight.
• When trying on collars, you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck.
• If you have a puppy, you might want to get an adjustable collar, so there is room to grow.
• A lightweight collar is best for a small dog.
• You may want to get a breakaway collar if your pup wears their collar all the time, and you are worried about your dog getting caught on something. You can often find this type of collars in the cat section of a pet store.
• If you can’t find a collar small enough to fit your chihuahua, try a ferret collar.

Extra Tips

What you do need to do instead when you want to take your dog on a walk is to get them a comfortable harness to attach to their leash.

Not only will a harness better protect their neck, but it also makes it more difficult for your dog to slip out of his collar and escape.

Things to remember when choosing a harness:

• To measure for the size, place the measuring tape around your dog’s chest, just behind his front legs, and again, placing two fingers between the harness strap and your dog’s body.
• You can get a heavier harness for cold weather (there are even coat harnesses out there) and a lightweight harness for warmer weather.
• Get one with the leash hook on the back of the harness.
• If your dog dislikes her collar, leave it on her a few hours before taking her for a walk to get used to it.
• Cotton and/or nylon are the best choices for material for lightweight harnesses.
• Some harnesses are thin,  with straps. Personally, I don’t like these, as it makes it harder to figure out how to get them on.

Choosing the Right Leash for Your Chi

• Do not use a chain leash unless the chain links are small. Most chain leashes are too heavy.
• Do not use a retractable leash as they can be dangerous and terrifying to your dog. I have personal experience with retractable leashes.
• Also, make sure you have the appropriate leash length for your Chihuahua

My son likes to take the dogs for a walk late at night. One night he called me and told me to come outside and help him look for Lucas as he had runoff.
 
My son had accidentally dropped the retractable leash, and the handle is heavier than a normal leash had hit Lucas and scared him. He ran away, but the poor thing could never get away from the leash. It kept “chasing” him.

It would be funny except for how traumatized he was. I found him hiding under a parked car shaking. We never used that leash again.

• Get a 4 foot or 6-foot long leash
• If you are doing a lot of walking at night, consider getting a reflective leash
• If you have 2 or 3 Chihuahuas, you can get two dogs or three dogs leash

Preparing Your Chi for Wearing a Harness

Now that you know how to pick out the right harness and leash, it is time to learn how to prepare your Chihuahua to wear the new harness. After finding the appropriately sized harness for your Chihuahua, it is time to try it on them.

Put it on loosely at first, and then tighten it slowly to get the ideal fit for your Chihuahua. You should then let your pup wear the harness around the house for a few hours so they can get used to it. It will take a bit of time for them to become acclimated to their new harness.

Once they have had a few hours to familiarize themselves with the harness, it is time to try it out on a walk. If they resist when you go to put the harness on them, it may be time to re-introduce the harness again and make it a more positive experience.

Pet your dog first or play with them before putting on the harness. Your little dog will then associate the experience with other things he already enjoys, and this can make it much easier on both dog and dog owner. Always use positive reinforcement.

Since Chihuahuas are naturally a more nervous dog breed, you need to remember to comfort them and keep them calm when putting the harness on them. Give your pup time to adjust and don’t allow them to become fearful of something that is meant for their safety.

Source: ilovemychi