One of the worst problems I have with JR and using the harness or even leash for that matter.... is he gets so HYPER!!!!!!! He goes NUTS because he knows he is going somewhere. :lol: I don't care... I still love him.:--heart:
We use an "easy pull" harness because he used to like to pull and it's hard on their trachea. Now, however, he can use either a collar, harness or off lead. But, he was taught on a harness
Jack is pretty good with just a collar and leash for the most part. He will only tug if something really interests him but in general, if he feels he is starting to tug he will slow it up.
I don't like harnesses. I don't know why but I just stick with the nylon clip collars. They're inexpensive, they come in different designs and colors, and they're durable.
I use a harness when we go out for our every day walks, usually with a flexi-lead (or a normal lead when out in busy places like town). I use his collar and a normal lead when training (obedience/heelwork to music/agility). This way, when he's wearing his harness, he knows he can go exploring, sniff around, etc, but when we are using just his collar, he knows we are training and he has to concetrate (or tries to, anyway!)!
This is an old thread and I have no clue if I posted earlier; however, in 2011 things changed for us and a harness is what we will use in the future for all our dogs for walking (not training--will train with flat collar). Our Toby underwent double cataract surgery a year ago and his ophthalmologist strongly recommends eye patients wear halters, since pulling on a collar can increase eye pressures. In addition, if a dog pulls a lot during walks, a collar pressing on the laryngeal area can cause serious permanent damage.
Flexi leads--BAD news! I've seen too many owners drop them when the dog decides to go after something, like a squirrel or another dog, and I've also seen them break when the dog takes off.
I use a harness. Avery has slipped out of his collar before, so I feel it is much safer. Also, I feel like it gives me a better handle on him when he spots a bird, rabbit, etc and wants to chase after it. If your dog is not a puller I don't see why a collar wouldn't work. I have heard horror stories where dogs had continuously pulled over the years and collars had done damage to their throats. I can't stand the thought of hurting Avery even if on accident. I would do anything to prevent that. Hope this helps!
I use choke collars on mine if we walk on a leash. I'm very particular about training my dogs not to pull even slightly, ever, so there is no choking involved. I use the sound of the choke collar as a tool for correcting while walking. If the dog starts to get focused on something other than me/walking correctly, I yank it just enough to make sound and regain focus.
This was also the method used at the guide dog academy. I have no clue if it's socially acceptable? Never had anyone comment on it.
Edit: ok, I just found the training collar thread and realized this post should have been there. Oh well.
We tried a number of standard collars and a Halti.
Billy couldn't adjust to the Halti at all and was choking himself in normal collars. Since we tried a harness (we use two types) he's like a different dog.
He no longer pulls like he did when wearing a collar and is generally more relaxed (and so am I!) when he's walking in his harness.
I'm just reviving this thread as I could do with some advice please pup will be 13 weeks on Tuesday. This was th first weekend we were able to take him walking and he did amazingly well. In true golden style, he had to say hello to anyone walking past! In order to get to people, he would really pull resulting in his choking himself and sometimes coughing like he was about to be sick. In cases where we know there will be a lot of people, are we better off using a harness? Iv tried to avoid these as iv read they can cause dogs to pull, but I'd hate to be doing more damage to his throat by using a collar and lead. Where no one is around and when we are practicing in the garden, he walks loose lead really well.
Any advice please ?
Pic attached was Saturday at the beach after he fell into the sea!
We started using the Easy Walk harness with Bailey at the recommendation of our trainer. She will walk around the backyard all day on a regular collar like she has some sense, but you take her out to the street and that tail goes about as fast as she does. The leash attaches to the front and also has a martingale type loop on the chest so it tightens rather than pulls. Instant control. This way I can walk her for exercise with control, the more she is exercised, the better she does with training. The goal eventually is loose leash walking on regular collar and off leash walking as well. But for now, with a near 6 month old with a lot of energy, this is what works for us.
Parker pulled a lot on his collar that we had to look for other options. It got really bad that I started to dread walking him. Went looking for a harness in petsmart and an associate there recommended the Easy Walk harness that has a front buckle instead of on the back. The leash would clip in the front and when you tug on the leash he would turn to the side instead of the back and look up at me. This worked great and put an end to his pulling from day 1. Now we don't do walks without a harness. Parker is 6 months and easily excited by every little thing/person/dog buddy he encounters. Since using a harness i feel so much more in control of him! At some point we'd like him to be able to walk with just a collar but probably not until he's atleast 1 and calmer.
The harness was designed for pulling and is way too easy for a dog to back out of. A well fitted buckle collar works fine for me and much easier to put on.
I use a Halti harness and as a safety backup, it is attached to her collar. We had tried several other harnesses as Luna pulls like crazy but they had leads which, either hung from her muzzle or chest & she would chew it.
I found a leash (Patento Pet) which is anti chew (chili taste) which hooks to the ring on her back & one on her chest. Within 10 minutes of using the harness, she pulled less.
Our neighbouring city has recently introduced a bylaw that requires all dogs over 40 lbs. to wear either a halti-type head halter or a harness when out in public. There have been three very serious pit-bull attacks in the last year (one woman killed, two children disfigured), and the harness requirement is part of the fallout from that.
We occasionally go into the city for agility trials and have to comply with this requirement when taking the dog to and from the car. In any case it's probably going to be included in forthcoming provincial legislation to address the problem of dangerous dogs. Don't get me started on the wisdom (or lack of it) behind this particular measure. The fact is that it's the law and we have to comply. Duster simply doesn't tolerate a head halter - he goes ballistic if we put one on him. So we bought a harness. Surprisingly, not only is it effective at preventing pulling, but he also tolerates it really well - seems to like it, in fact. Who knew.
Glad that's working for you- but really- does the city imagine that a halter will change the stupid people who are not controlling their dogs in public?
those attacks are tragic, absolutely, but the city has some pretty big blinders on....
We use a harness with Nessa (5mo) because she is still learning how to walk properly...she pulls. Once she has that down and is walking to my satisfaction then we will transition to a collar only.
I recently started using an easy walk harness and our walks are so much more enjoyable. My 7 month old is a puller and although I'm working with her every single walk I needed a bit of help and the harness does the trick. I'm advised not to use it however because they apparently don't allow full stride and can cause misalignment of the spine. I'm going to try to do away with it and go with a collar only as soon as she's not pulling so much. I worry more about damaging her trachea at this point
I have 4 dogs (one is just a baby). They all wear a collar on walks. The dogs range in size from 20-50 pounds. That doesn't include the baby of course.
My 8 yo. jack russell at 20lbs and 1 yo. Luna at 70lbs are both pullers. I was having to take them on separate walks every day. First I took Luna for her walk, come home, ensure someone was around to watch her, then out with the jack russell & bil's toy poodle. Its great for my waistline but not for my time & other stuff I had to do.
I found the Halti harness after trying other ones gentle leader, etc. Harnesses that have the muzzle & hanging piece were no good as Luna would try to chew her way out of them. I returned 2-3 different ones before find the Halti online. I use it in conjunction with a chili infused leash. It was amazing, within a few minutes, she settled in and walked, not pulled.
I loved it so much, I bought one for my jack russell
I have been using the harnesses along with a newly acquired double leash and have been walking them together for the past few weeks. I hope to get to the point, we can add my bil's toy poodle.
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