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Peggy08
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Peggy08 is offline  
Location: Essex, UK
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17-05-2013, 04:46 PM

In your opinion, what is the best dog harness to use on walks?

My family and I have recently re-homed Nina, a 2 year old Shepherd x Akita (we think!).

When indoors she is as good as gold, but when we take her for walks it's like she is a different dog! We take her for 2 half hour walks, when dropping and picking my little brother up from school and then another in the evening.

We have had her for nearly 3 weeks and go on the same walks every day, but she seems to be getting worse! We have had a GSD before so had an idea she would be strong on the lead, but this literally feels as though she will pull us over for the entire walk.

I'm hoping that a harness of some sort will improve our walks so it can be enjoyed by all of us, not just Nina!

I would really appreciate some recommendations on what harnesses would be best to look into.

Thank you
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muddymoodymoo
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17-05-2013, 05:03 PM
Personally I would spend my money on a training class. Harnesses don't necessarily make a puller walk better. Usually it is the opposite.
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Peggy08
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17-05-2013, 05:13 PM
Whoops! Sorry I forgot to mention that she will be starting her training classes next month, and yes we are hoping that will help.

The only reason I ask is because I will be alone with her at the end of the month, as the rest of my family are going on holiday (which is why she will be starting her classes when they get back). I was hoping that a harness may help me to walk her instead of her pulling me haha.

Thank you for replying
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muddymoodymoo
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17-05-2013, 05:16 PM
I would look for a headcollar instead, harnesses often make pulling easier. Can you ask your trainer which headcollar is, in his/her experience, a good one for your type of dog. Good luck with training.
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Baxter8
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17-05-2013, 07:23 PM
Hi Peggy

I use a harness for my dog and wouldn't go back to a collar now. In my experience he pulls significantly less with a harness than a collar.

Petsathome do a gentle leader - they don't look great but they do the job - it's got catch on the back and at the front and I use a double ended lead so I've got control of him across his chest and his back. He trots along quite nicely next to me. Worth a try.

If your dog is 2 years old and hasn't yet learnt to walk nicely on the lead then you may have a while before he learns- of course I could be wrong.

I've got my eye on this one:-

http://dog-games-shop.co.uk/ - again the one that has a ring at the front of the chest and along the back.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Peggy08 View Post
My family and I have recently re-homed Nina, a 2 year old Shepherd x Akita (we think!).

When indoors she is as good as gold, but when we take her for walks it's like she is a different dog! We take her for 2 half hour walks, when dropping and picking my little brother up from school and then another in the evening.

We have had her for nearly 3 weeks and go on the same walks every day, but she seems to be getting worse! We have had a GSD before so had an idea she would be strong on the lead, but this literally feels as though she will pull us over for the entire walk.

I'm hoping that a harness of some sort will improve our walks so it can be enjoyed by all of us, not just Nina!

I would really appreciate some recommendations on what harnesses would be best to look into.

Thank you
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JoedeeUK
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17-05-2013, 09:59 PM
Harnesses do not stop a dog pulling & they mean that you have no control at all over the dog's head & they can cause damage to the dogs shoulders & elbows

A good fitting head collar like a Dogmatic gives you control over the dogs head & should always be used with the dog wearing an ordinary collar & lead

You need to train your dog for loose lead walking

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Clarey83
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19-05-2013, 11:40 PM
Originally Posted by Baxter8 View Post
Hi Peggy

I use a harness for my dog and wouldn't go back to a collar now. In my experience he pulls significantly less with a harness than a collar.

Petsathome do a gentle leader - they don't look great but they do the job - it's got catch on the back and at the front and I use a double ended lead so I've got control of him across his chest and his back. He trots along quite nicely next to me. Worth a try.

If your dog is 2 years old and hasn't yet learnt to walk nicely on the lead then you may have a while before he learns- of course I could be wrong.

I've got my eye on this one:-

http://dog-games-shop.co.uk/ - again the one that has a ring at the front of the chest and along the back.

Good luck
I have a perfect fit harness from dog games, fab harness!

However, I havent got a clue if it will work with your dogs pulling. I agree you would want to use the D ring at the front of harness, ideally on double ended lead so you attach it to back and front.

Also, I don't know if it's of any significance as i'm not a trainer or anything, but those walks seem a bit short to me. I would have thought a dog of that type would need one of it's walks in the day to last at least one hour, half an hour would go pretty quickly for an active energetic dog. She may be pulling so much as she is so eager for exercise....
BUT, this is just my opinion. I am no professional. Just trying to help.

Training will obviously be great for you all, for bonding together as well as easier dog walks!!!

Hope all goes well xx
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Baxter8
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Location: Somerset UK
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20-05-2013, 06:02 AM
I wondered too if she needs some off-lead time? To get some of the energy out?

My one always get at least 40 mins per day off lead and I think it definitely helps with his state of mind.

Originally Posted by Clarey83 View Post
I have a perfect fit harness from dog games, fab harness!

However, I havent got a clue if it will work with your dogs pulling. I agree you would want to use the D ring at the front of harness, ideally on double ended lead so you attach it to back and front.

Also, I don't know if it's of any significance as i'm not a trainer or anything, but those walks seem a bit short to me. I would have thought a dog of that type would need one of it's walks in the day to last at least one hour, half an hour would go pretty quickly for an active energetic dog. She may be pulling so much as she is so eager for exercise....
BUT, this is just my opinion. I am no professional. Just trying to help.

Training will obviously be great for you all, for bonding together as well as easier dog walks!!!

Hope all goes well xx
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Alex-Sandie
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Location: Ohio, USA
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28-05-2013, 06:59 PM
Any research I have done has indicated that repetitive long walks are the key to success...also turning around and walking in the opposite direction when the dog pulls is one trick I have used...there were times I walked one step then kept turning in the opposite direction and barely advanced 3 feet....I must have been the entertainment of the neighborhood on more than one occasion....my lab was a very happy lunging pulling energetic walker....or I should say she walked me for quite awhile before we mastered the simple tricks....good luck!
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BeethovenBootCamp
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25-03-2017, 07:13 PM
The gentle leader has been a lifesaver for me. My stubborn piper is very reactive to other dogs, especially a little chihuahua that we have to walk by on our walks. The gentle leader dramatically helped to reduce her pulling in these situations. I have linked my write up that I posted on my blog. My biggest tip is to make sure you do have it properly adjusted. My owners that say that their dog does not like the gentle leader, real just have it adjusted improperly!
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