Swapping a dog over to a harness?

KingIsabella

Just got a harness on the cheap (meant for a car harness but a little fix and its grand!). I put it on her and she jumped around the kitchen like a puppy possessed for about 5 minutes, so i took her out and she spent ten minutes trying to bite it and little to no prgress was made on the walk!

On the regular lead she pulls and pulls and pulls until she stops to cough after choking herself. I have slack on the chain about 30% of the time but the other 70% shes pulling like mad. Ive tried randomly spot walking and saying STOP sternly but she still goes like mad.

I dont want to put it on her and leave her get used to it that way, has anyone tried anything different that worked??

Any help is appreciated!

tk123

Saw this the other day on FB -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU6PovniaQA

Just as an FYI while the harness will stop her choking herself it's not going to stop her pulling and will probably give her more pulling power(!)

KingIsabella

tk123 wrote: »

Saw this the other day on FB -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU6PovniaQA

Just as an FYI while the harness will stop her choking herself it's not going to stop her pulling and will probably give her more pulling power(!)

Cheers for the reply! At the moment I keep her on a very short lead, trying to keep her at my side, I'd be trying to keep her there with the harness too, sometimes she gets it, sometimes not so much!

tk123

You could try a clicker and treats - click and reward when she's in the right place. You'll start off clicking every few steps but once she starts getting the hang of it you space out the clicks/rewards. The state of that harness in the video lol - I'm used to big boy blue/green/black stuff

ABajaninCork

Try a non-pull harness. I have a Sporn which wasn't too expensive and it's padded as well so it's comfy for the dog.

kylith

Neither of mine had any problem with the harness, but yours is obviously stressed. Try introducing it slowly: let her sniff it and give her a treat, build it up slowly by putting it over her head and treating her, putting it on and treating, walking with it on but with the lead on the collar, and so on. She'll soon associate it with good things and love to have it on.

KingIsabella

Progress! Got up early this mornin before work to try it again. Brought it over to her and let her sniff it, gave her a treat, stopped her from biting it (she loves nothing more than tug o war!), treat, put her leg through it, treat, walked around the house after me, treat, this time she wasnt dancing around in it, but a few times tried to find something on it she could pull at while wearing it. Walked her to the front of the estate and back without her trying to bite it or dance around! After work ill try see how far i can get her!

Cheers for the help!!

Melion

What breed is she? I cannot recommend the Halti harness enough, amazing results from the first walk.

TooManyDogs

Regular harnesses are designed for pulling so will likely make the problem worse unless you train her to walk properly, I've had so many people say the petshop recommended a harness to stop pulling that it makes me want to go in and rattle petshop staff! There are a few anti-pull harnesses so if you want a harness I'd suggest you buy one of them

KingIsabella

She's a boxer/collie X, 10 months old.



I always have her on a short lead so she can't get more than about a foot in front of me. Every week shes getting more and more used to walking by my side and giving me a bit of slack in the lead so i think shes getting there (we'll see in a few months!) but the harness is really just to stop her frm choking herself to the point where she stops to cough her lungs up!

tk123

Well done OP you have some progress at least and sound proud of yourself - any why not lol!

KingIsabella

Took her for her usual straight after work walk earlier and she was much better!!

....or too distracted to care?
















Sometimes alright she'd give herself a good shake or try top bit a strap but a quick clio! and she'd stop!

Melion

Try the Halti. Worked wonders on a boxer