Essential Dog Walking Gear: Our Top Recommendations for a Safe and Enjoyable Walk

Emma R
Apr 4
5 min read

Walking your dog is more than just a daily chore; it's an opportunity for bonding, exercise, and learning. We believe that using the right gear can completely transform your walks. Keep reading to learn which gear we recommend using for your dog, whether you are walking them yourself or preparing for a dog walker.

At Milo & Co, we believe in a completely force-free and positive reinforcement-based approach, meaning we do not use any aversive gear, such as prong collars, E-collars, or slip leashes/collars. What you do with your dog is your choice; however, we will refuse any dog walking using any aversive gear. We hope that this post contributes to your knowledge and understanding of walking gear. Please reach out to us if you have any additional questions or need assistance transitioning your dog off of aversive gear.

We are big believers that the best gear for your dog is whatever they are comfortable with and do best with. We will be providing pictures and links to some of our favorites, but you don't need the prettiest or most expensive gear to have a good walk with your dog. Use what you have and what you can afford.

Collars

There are an unlimited number of collar designs and styles, which can be overwhelming. Although we do not recommend walking your dog on a collar alone, they are great for ID tags, quickly grabbing your dog, and using as an extra point of attachment, using a safety clip.

Our recommended types of collars are flat collars and martingale (limited slip) collars. Martingale collars are more secure and offer fewer opportunities for your dog to slip out of them; however, the right fit is essential to minimize injury to your dog. You can read about how to fit both types of collars here.

See our favourite collars below.

Flat

Biothane or PVC-coated collars are a great option for dogs who tend to get dirty. This collar is super easy to wipe clean and comes in multiple colors. It is also made by a Canadian company, which we love!

RC Pets Collar — RC Pets Primary Clip Collar - $12

This collar is a great, low-cost choice. It is fairly easy to clean and comes in so many colors! Also, another great Canadian company.

Martingale

We absolutely love our RC Pets martingale collars. This option uses fabric instead of chain, which is a great option for dogs who are more sensitive to noises or the feeling of chain touching them.

A classic martingale collar that we love! The chain is easy to wipe off and comes in many colours.

Harnesses

There are many types of harnesses on the market, each better suited for different body types and sizes. Harnesses are the best way to avoid accidental injury, escape, and aversive pressure for your dog, and contrary to popular belief, they DO NOT cause leash pulling. We require all of our walking clients to have a harness for their dog.

We recommend a couple of different types of harnesses, depending on your dog's needs.

Y-Shaped

Our absolute favourite harness is a Y-shaped harness. These harnesses give your dog more freedom of movement, as the front strap will not limit their front legs from moving in any direction.

Here are some of our favourite y-shaped picks.

This is a great, low-cost option. It is best for smaller dogs and dogs who don't tend to pull on the leash. It is best for dogs with thicker fur, as it may cause chafing.

We absolutely love PetForta! They are dedicated to ensuring the best possible fit for every dog and are designed with your dog's anatomy in mind. They are made using strength-tested materials, and they can be used with dogs up to 200 lbs.

Ruffwear Front Range Dog Harness - $59.95

Ruffwear has many harness options that are great for dogs with shorter fur or who may chafe easily. They do have a front clip, but we recommend using the back clip.

Easy-Walk

For dogs that are extreme leash-pullers, we recommend an easy walk harness. Please keep in mind that these harnesses have the potential for chafing, lessened mobility, and interfering with the dog's natural gait. For those reasons, we only recommend easy walk harnesses for short-term use, in addition to training work with your dog in order to reduce leash pulling. Once your dog's pulling has reduced, we recommend switching to a Y-shaped harness.

Easy Walk harnesses work by gently discouraging pulling, using a martingale loop on the dog's chest, which pulls tight when the dog pulls. They also help direct the dog's attention back to the handler by gently turning them back.

Please note that when using an easy walk harness, the proper fit is essential. See our Gear Fitting Guide to ensure that you get the right fit for your dog.

Find an Easy Walk below.

Easy Walk harnesses come in a range of colors and sizes and are available at most major pet stores.

Gentle Leader (Head Collar)

Gentle leaders are another option for larger dogs who are extreme leash-pullers to the point of potential injury to the handler. Like the easy walk harnesses, gentle leaders should only be used short-term and should be paired with training work.

Gentle leaders can easily become aversive to the dog and should be used as a last resort option. Your dog should be eased into the gentle leader to help reduce the possibility of fear and anxiety. It is important to note that gentle leaders are not an option for some dogs, including dogs with neck or spine conditions, or dogs that experience handling anxiety involving their head.

Find a Gentle Leader below.

PetSafe Easy Walk No Pull Dog Head Collar - $30.99

Gentle leaders are available at most major pet stores.

It is very important for gentle leaders to be fitted properly. Please see our Gear Fitting Guide for more information.

Safety Clips

Safety clips are an excellent resource for dogs who are reactive, fearful, or who tend to slip out of their gear. They work by attaching one end to the dog's collar, and the other end to the dog's leash, providing 2 points of attachment for your walk. We use safety clips whenever possible on all of our walks.

Find one below.

Safety clips are easy to find on Amazon or other online pet stores.

We hope that this post has helped explain different types of dog walk gear and will help you pick gear for your dog. Please reach out to us if you have any additional questions.