I use a harness for Takara as advised by Patch. I did try Eddy on a harness as he does snort a lot and has to be kept on a retractable lead.

Usually I would advise people to only use retractable leads with a harness but having had Eddy who stops every two seconds to scratch at the harness, I have become a bit more open minded!

Eddy would be far better on a harness as his collar has to be tight due to him having a little head and he's slipped it before but he hates the harness.

Takara's pulling improved big time with a harness and yes, I still had to train her but using a collar became a vicious circle: dog pulls a little bit, collar is very uncomfortable so dog pulls more to get away from it.
With a harness if they pull a little bit, it's not as uncomfortable for them so they don't need to pull away from anything.

She has a normal trail style harness for areas she's used to walking in and a walkezee for if we go to new places.

Due to me being disabled, she didn't get taken many places as a youngster and so she's totally daft when we go to a new place.

At the moment I'm making a point of taking her as many places as possible but during this period of socialisation I'm not worrying about stopping her pulling, just getting her used to going places so I put her on a walkezee so she can't pull and therefore doesn't get reinforced for it!

If Eddy had been on a harness when younger I'm sure he'd be fine but he was 11.5 when I got him so he's just used to a collar.

Personally can't see the need for restriction using a collar tbh T wears a collar for her ID tag but I don't walk her on it. I always think it seems like we haven't come very far from the first time a dog was leashed by tying a rope around the easiest part to get hold of - their neck!

I certainly don't use a harness as an accessory any more than I choose a nice colour collar!

Edit to add: Takara also started to get very funny with dogs when on the lead. Because the harness allows more natural movement than a collar she seemed to be able to communicate better whilst on a harness and therefore her attitude towards other dogs improved a lot.

I have to mention... Eddy isn't good with other dogs (never has been) and I have better control of his head using a collar so if you have a dog with a problem with other dogs or a habit of scavenging on walks, collars can be better than harnesses for controlling the head!

I know some people who have a halti/gentle leader on the dog whilst walking on a harness, then if the need arises to keep control of the head, you have it.

That's really interesting. Bryan isn't too good with other dogs on the lead - he's desperate to get to them, but not be aggressive, just because he wants to be friends. But his behaviour on the lead looks like aggression when really it's excitement and frustration (so the behviourist at DT told us).

So, I'm interested to see if this also improves when I use a harness wth him.

Yeah, he may look less aggressive on a harness because the harness doesn't lift their head up or make them strain their neck to get to the other dog.

As a result, you may be less likely to get other dogs taking offence!

You have learned well, I am velly ploud of you glasshopper

I don't know where on Earth that comes from or indeed whether I am supposed to understand the humour but I still found it 'velly' funny!

although I do feel a bit like a Patch Minion now!

That makes a LOT of sense Lottie. The other dogs DO take offence at his posture and I see now it's the collar and lead that give him that posture.

It's all clear now

Yay! Let's hope the harness helps with things - it may help to get Patch's advice on what style of harness... she helped me pick Takara's.

Takara has a rogz one if that helps at all and she also has a fleecy one from Snuggle Pets which is softer as she has a very thin coat but I must admit I prefer the rogz one (which also has a snazzy lock so unless he chews it like Takara did, it locks so as to prevent accidentally unclipping!).

Please do let me know how you get on with the harness - I'd be interested to know!

I bet Shona wished all her students listened like yours does,xxxxx

Its from an old TV series called Kung Fu starring David Carradine - the teacher refers to Carradine`s character, [ when appearing in flash backs as a student ], as `Grasshopper` but always pronounced it Glasshopper