Lead walking on a harness rather than collar

Lead walking on a harness rather than collar

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scrwright

Original Poster:

2,602 posts

189 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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Meg has always been walked on a lead and collar and unless you remided her she was always be at the lead length and then some encouraging you along, and if excited could sometimes get herself breathless. LPS chap said try a harness, must admit I was very dubious putting a harness on a Husky X expecting her to pull like hell, but no. Got it this morning, had 2 walks so far and see goes to the lead length and doesn't pull at all, arm has been down rather than horizontal. Checked the harness wasn't tight or pinching anywhere but it fitting fine. Most suprised smile


Bit of a Unit

6,661 posts

196 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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Wait until she sees a squirrel and realises that her new harness doesn't choke like a collar.

Our samoyed can get three foot in the air when the harness braces and she's forgotten it's on!

scrwright

Original Poster:

2,602 posts

189 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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She didn't react to her nemisis (next doors cat) like she usually does just now, although I may give her more lead if a grey squirrel crosses our path

westberks

925 posts

134 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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I use one that pulls under the front legs to give a bit more control. my Weimeraner is great in training but a git out walking and this gives me control without strangling him on a conventional collar.

tried all the repetitive stopping and going back and making him sit, but the penny never drops on the regular collar; a really well behaved and trained dog otherwise, but just too damn exitable for his walks on the lead.

chadders74

104 posts

154 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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westberks said:
I use one that pulls under the front legs to give a bit more control. my Weimeraner is great in training but a git out walking and this gives me control without strangling him on a conventional collar.

tried all the repetitive stopping and going back and making him sit, but the penny never drops on the regular collar; a really well behaved and trained dog otherwise, but just too damn exitable for his walks on the lead.
Nice to know it's not just my Weimeraner that's like that!

Walks OK with me on lead, but is in fact tons better off lead walking to heel; I think she does it on purpose.

Oddly walks beautifully for my 5 year old son, but everyone else needs to use the Halti.

ADP68

528 posts

170 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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westberks- what make of harness is that? My Eurasier pulls like mad when she sees a squirrel, to the extent that the kids (12 and 10) aren't allowed to walk her in case she pulls them over or they let go of the lead. The Halti think that goes over her face makes her look like Hannibal Lecter and people think she's dangerous, especially when we're in France for some reason.

rosie11

196 posts

137 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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It looks like either a ancol or rosewood harness.

scrwright

Original Poster:

2,602 posts

189 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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LPS owner has them made up by a Husky racer friend, £10.99, bit of a bargain

chadders74

104 posts

154 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Ceser Milan has those double-high collar things, so effectively the collar and lead are connected right behind the head. I've noticed if you walk the dog with the collar higher up there's a heck of a lot of control (like the Halti), able to turn the head and cut off a lunge.

Obviously the collar always slips down, hence why he's probably done that double-collar thing.

Collar

westberks

925 posts

134 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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ADP68 said:
westberks- what make of harness is that? My Eurasier pulls like mad when she sees a squirrel, to the extent that the kids (12 and 10) aren't allowed to walk her in case she pulls them over or they let go of the lead. The Halti think that goes over her face makes her look like Hannibal Lecter and people think she's dangerous, especially when we're in France for some reason.
one of these

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/dog/dog-col...

very effective.

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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chadders74 said:
Nice to know it's not just my Weimeraner that's like that!

Walks OK with me on lead, but is in fact tons better off lead walking to heel; I think she does it on purpose.

Oddly walks beautifully for my 5 year old son, but everyone else needs to use the Halti.
...and mine. Halti worked for about ten mins untill he worked out that if he got the lead in his mouth he could pull as hard as he liked. I don'tlike to think about the hours I've wasted on the stoping and turning around techniques.

chadders74

104 posts

154 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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You know, on certain walks we look at each other, I give her my end of the lead and she walks fine with it in her mouth (a bit forward) as if to say "Give it here I'll do it myself". Funniest dog I've ever had.

HTP99

22,441 posts

139 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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AdiT said:
chadders74 said:
Nice to know it's not just my Weimeraner that's like that!

Walks OK with me on lead, but is in fact tons better off lead walking to heel; I think she does it on purpose.

Oddly walks beautifully for my 5 year old son, but everyone else needs to use the Halti.
...and mine. Halti worked for about ten mins untill he worked out that if he got the lead in his mouth he could pull as hard as he liked. I don'tlike to think about the hours I've wasted on the stoping and turning around techniques.
Nothing like a Weimeraner however our late Pug was a complete and utter bd on a lead; with either a collar or harness, off the lead he was as good as gold, walked with me, came back when called etc, I could walk along the road on a path and he would just trot along behind.

I think being on a lead acts as some kind of security blanket for dogs, they know that there is someone holding on to them so they can get all billy big bks and if it goes tits up then you are there directly behind them to help out.

Our two year old Frenchie; who was one when we got her and totally untrained, she was an absolute nightmare on the lead with a harness, she couldn't be walked using the collar as she just pulled too much, we tried all the techniques and for months too and just couldn't get her to walk without pulling, after about 9 months I decided to buy a waterpistol and it has worked wonders, if she pulls she gets a squirt, I am now walking her using her collar, it took only a week to get her to walk properly.

chadders74

104 posts

154 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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That made me smile, you try everything, all the methods and advice but eventually it comes down to finding what works best for you and your dog. Can picture your dog's dirty look after a squirt from the gun though!

HTP99

22,441 posts

139 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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chadders74 said:
That made me smile, you try everything, all the methods and advice but eventually it comes down to finding what works best for you and your dog. Can picture your dog's dirty look after a squirt from the gun though!
I used to hate walking her as she just made it such hard work, a quick blast round the block for 20 minutes was all I could manage before I got really pissed off, now I can go out for an hour or so, headphones on and I really enjoy it and I'm sure she does too, she still needs the odd reminder though!!

I tried:

  • the stopping technique where you just stop until the lead goes slack and then carry on until it goes tight again and the process is repeated.
  • stopping when the lead goes tight, walking slowly backwards and encouraging her to walk to my heel then dropping a treat at my heel, again repeat when the line tightens.
  • instant change of direction as soon as she starts pulling
I did each one for at least a month and none worked.

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 9th January 13:20

scrwright

Original Poster:

2,602 posts

189 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Still working, took her through the village high street, used to try to pull me into the bakery & pet shops but she was good as gold this time (maybe there were out of sausage rolls at the bakers today)

Chocmonster

918 posts

210 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Have been using an Ezydog Chest Harness on my Terrier for a couple of years now.

I like it as it moulds to their contours so is a great fit and I don't worry about it moving as she runs around. Has had at least twice daily use and still looks in great condition!

http://www.ezydog.co.uk/chest-plate-harness

chadders74

104 posts

154 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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That looks good as well, basically anything around the lower neck/shoulders, or those shoulder/back harnesses is just connecting at the strongest point of a dog?! Can't be good for shoulders long term?

edit: I mean obviously if it's *not* working and it's used blindly with them still pulling, if it works then great! Weird isn't it, just connecting lead in a different place has worked, funny buggers sometimes dogs eh.

Edited by chadders74 on Friday 9th January 21:15

RB Will

9,662 posts

239 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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I use a sensible harness when walking mine
http://www.softouchconcepts.com/index.php/product-...

Again you clip on to the front of the harness so when the dog pulls it turns itself around.
I tried all the stop start turn around stuff too and 4 years later still no good but within 10 mins of turning herself around every 5 secs she realised it's better to walk with me

kakariki

1 posts

108 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
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You can get something very similar here if you're interested...

http://www.4-legs-good.co.uk/shop/training/the-sen...