Dog Collar Vs Dog Harness: Which Is Best?

There are a lot of opinions flying around about which is the best method of controlling and training your dog. The dog collar, the dog harness and the halter are just some of the methods debated on. This is not intended to advise against one or the other but to point out a couple of things that should be taken into consideration before deciding.
To begin with, one benefit of the harness over the collar is that it is much harder for a dog to slip out of a harness than it is to slip a collar.
On the subject of walking and training your dog, some people swear by the harness for smaller dogs as they find they have much more control and can even lift the dog off the ground without harming the dogs fragile neck and spine. It should be kept in mind, however, that even though a harness may seem more gentle on a dog as it is not focusing all the stress on the neck, there have been reports of harnesses having a detrimental effect on some dogs, such as widening the chest, bolding the legs, and dislocations on some breeds of dogs, although these reports appear to be in the minority and seem to refer particularly to small dogs that pull. 
Larger dogs, particularly those that tend to pull constantly, can be harder to control with a harness than with a collar, and can end up taking the owner for a walk rather than the other way round, according to some large breed dog handlers. For this reason some long time large breed dog owners prefer to stick with the collar, however, there is the opinion that using a collar on a strong and constant puller can have detrimental effects on the dog's trachea, neck and spine. 
Another alternative is the halter harness. This finds favour with some owners of large pulling dogs, as it controls the head and, just as in leading a horse, controlling the head helps greatly in controlling the whole animal. 
There are other forms of collars, such as the choker, but I feel that you need to be extremely well informed and careful when using one of these. 
Whatever method you choose, your decision should be based on sound advice from professionals who have the welfare of your dog in mind. 
One more thing to bear in mind; whatever conclusion you may arrive at regarding the best way to train and walk your dog, it is hard to argue against using a dog harness when taking your dog in a car. You wear a seat belt to stop you flying through the windscreen in the event of a crash. Your dog will also become a living projectile in the same crash. Doesn't he deserve the same protection you have? 
To sum up: Whether you choose the collar or the harness, it is my opinion that thoughtful, gentle, yet thorough training in the early stages of your dogs life will lead to a happy and well-behaved dog that will not need drastic measures to be taken to control him in later life. 
I personally use a harness because I don't think I would like someone to throw a rope around my neck and yank me here and there.

Rhinestone Dog Collars

These days you can get just about anything you want for your dog. People have even built homes for their dogs, and while that may sound a bit extreme, you may settle instead to simply just get your dog a rhinestone dog collar! Rhinestone dog collars are quickly becoming a classical favourite for pooches, because of their obvious attractive appeal, but also because they can be custom designed to do anything from spell out your dog's name, to having unique and fancy designs on the collar using the rhinestones. If you own special breeds of dogs, or have a pure bred breed, then rhinestone collars are perfect to make your dog look even better, and even if you do not, rhinestone collars add a touch of flare to the everyday use of your dog's collar. Here is what you need to know about rhinestone dog collars....

Safety first - While some may argue that rhinestone dog collars are simply a fashion statement for pooches, these days the collars are manufactured with safety in mind before anything else. The purpose of a collar in the first place, is to provide a place to put the identification and other specifications of your dog, so that if lost, people know whose it is; but also so that they know your dog (for instance) is rabies free, as rabies shots always come with a tag. Thus rhinestone dog collars are always made with precautions which make it difficult for your pet to slip out of the collars. Also, when purchasing, always make sure that your dogs tags can fit onto the collar effectively.

Collars that fit properly - while they look nice, you need the collar to fit properly, so when going for a collar, make sure you know your dogs size before you purchase the collar. Do not buy a collar that is too small for your dog, just because it looks good, because that will make your dog uncomfortable and can cause breathing problems and other health related issues in the long run. Also, on the other hand, you don't want the collar too be too loose, as the dog may try to chew it off, or will try and push it off from their neck. The best thing to do, is to get your dog measured first, or to measure him/her loosely using a flexible measuring tape.