Why a Pug should never walk on a collar
That flat face is the whole story. Pugs are brachycephalic: narrow nostrils, a long soft palate and a small airway, the combination vets call BOAS. A collar that tightens with every pull squeezes a throat that is already working hard, and it adds pressure behind those big, prominent eyes, which are easily hurt. A harness moves all of it onto that broad little chest instead.
Ours is step-in, which suits a Pug perfectly. You lay it flat, they step in, and the neck and chest clip closed, so nothing gets dragged over that big round head or past their face and eyes. Both adjust, so it sits snug on a cobby little body and stays put mid-walk.
For walking, put the lead on the harness. It clips at the back, so nothing pulls on the neck. On warm days, walk early in the morning or after sunset, because Pugs overheat fast. The collar is for their tag and their name.
Want the full story on the breed that snores like a grown man? Read A Pupstyler's Guide to the Pug.
