Dog anti pull harness

[markys]

We have a 12 month old pointer, he pulls like a train. Our puppy trainer has suggested using a anti pull harness to get him into check and then train. We have used a Halti harness which did work for a while but he still pulls which makes the adjustments loose, we have also tried a Mekuti one but he's worked out how to escape from it in the wet. He's around 30 Kgs now.

[sherman]

Buy a slip lead. You will get one from most country/shooting type shops. He will soon learn to stop pulling with a bit of positive reinforcement and the lead.

[moorx]

I would avoid a slip lead - they can potentially damage a dog's neck if they are a serious puller. I think your trainer is right, but you obviously need to find the right harness. My whippets were able to escape from the first harnesses we bought them, but they now have Ruffwear harnesses, which they have not been able to get out of (yet!) I have to say, these are not harnesses specifically designed to address pulling, so they may not suit your needs.

It might be worth posting here http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showfo... as there are some very experienced owners/trainers.

[sherman]

A whippet and a 30kg dog have slightly diffrent neck muscles. I have used a slip lead with my last 3 dogs (black labs) and none of them have neck problems.

[pikeyboy]

sherman said:

Buy a slip lead. You will get one from most country/shooting type shops. He will soon learn to stop pulling with a bit of positive reinforcement and the lead.

All my dogs are trained to walk to heel on a slip lead, none of them have a damaged neck.

The idea isn't to choke them into submission by yanking on the lead. You just apply gentle pressure and you stop walking when they start pulling and then when they relax you start walking again. They soon learn that going forwards means don't pull.

In my opinion harness make it easier to handle a dog thats poorly schooled rather than teaching it any manners.

[moorx]

I was simply trying to offer advice based on the trainer's recommendation to use a harness.

My whippets may not weigh 30kg, but I wouldn't use a slip lead on my 30kg or 35kg dogs either. Others may - we all have our own opinions based on experience and personal preferences

[TOPTON]

Our cocker Sonny, was a prolific puller. We got him at 10 months old with zero walking practice, zero socialisation skills and zero training. He wants (wanted) to be everyone's friend when he spied them. Anyone, dog, cat, adult, child, cyclist, jogger, anything. Squeaks and whimpers of delight, whole body wag, not just the tail. Treats of any description were of no interest, he just went wild with delight. Tried everything, walking the other way-he would spin backwards. Stop walking-he would bounce around like on a spring.
We eventually and only recently tried the Canny Dog Collar. Brilliant. It is really 2 collars in 1. A normal collar around the neck with another strap attached to it that goes over the nose. Unlike the Halti collar which attaches to the lead under the chin, pulling the head to one side, the canny fastens behind the head like a normal collar/lead.

10 minutes practice was almost like having a different dog (almost)

[spants]

Great Dane owner here.... I recommend DogMatic harnesses - they come in all sorts of sizes so that they fit properly,
Very highly recommended to use by fellow owners and Hugo has been fantastic with it.
Now he has learnt how to behave on a walk, we sometimes just use a normal collar. He is 6 months old and 50kgs....

[Jasandjules]

We use a normal collar and the stop/start method of training whilst they are young. It takes a LOT of time and patience but thus far it is the most effective thing we've done.

[parakitaMol.]

Jasandjules said:

We use a normal collar and the stop/start method of training whilst they are young. It takes a LOT of time and patience but thus far it is the most effective thing we've done.

I have a 'puller' too... both our vet and trainer have said the same... my vet said not to ever use a slip lead (for serious pullers) as it can collapse the windpipe! You would be surprised at how powerful a small Dachshund is! It is more of a problem for my boy as he had spine surgery this year so I worry about the strain on his back = trying the stop/start but its very hard when you have two and one walks well on a slack lead to heel and the other is charging!

[Pesty]

My dogs a puller. Tried everything. Stop start, turn around. He's just so excited to get out.

So smart picked up every other but if training like a champ. Call him. Put him on a lead. Take food off him like a champ.

I too was advised not to use a slip collar. On this particular dog, extremely stubborn, crazy strong and just ignors pain I'm pretty sure he'd hurt himself.

We will keep persevering with the stop start method but we have a battle this dog does not know defeat

[Jasandjules]

parakitaMol. said:

trying the stop/start but its very hard when you have two and one walks well on a slack lead to heel and the other is charging!

Yes, we do separate walks when training though, so that the dog under training is the only dog being controlled by one person.

It is a pain for the other person/dogs waiting mind!

BUT it is the one method that generally seems to work regardless of the personality of the dog at least IME.

[Never you mind]

You can use a slip lead like a haltie which works really well. Just do a figure of 8 thing with the loopy bit. I've had good results using it this way. Personally, I'm not a fan of harnesses especially if you let your dog off the lead as they can get caught on branches, brambles and stuff.