Hi, I have a 6 month old lab and very rare on walks is she well behaved. I’ve been trying to work with her, and she’s good when i have treats, but even then she has problems. She is either pulling too hard on the leash, or she just stands and sniffs, and since i’m on a time crunch either before or after school i want to make sure she gets enough exercise. So my question is what do you think of harnesses to help me control her? I feel like it’s giving in to her bad behavior, or is it a great tool and eventually i should be able to wean her off of it? Thanks!
i don’t use choke collars and do not really believe in them. Also with the pulling the fact that it’s choking her a bit doesn’t seem to stop her sometimes.
what about when she just stands still and sniffs?
what do you think of dog harnesses?
Posted September 9th, 2010 by admin
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
A harness is not going to solve your problem. If the dog is pulling while being choked by a training collar, you are not using it properly. If there is one nearby, take her to a dog obedience class. They will teach you how to use different training collars and how to work with your dog.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
harnesses make them pull more since it doesnt choke them
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
Harnesses work for some dogs but I prefer the Gentle Leader or Halti head halters better personally. I have had good success using them both as a training tool and for one dog that occasionally startles and pulls suddenly while on walks.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
Use a halti, it specifically helps with dogs who pull. It goes around the muzzle of the dog but it is NOT a muzzle. Your dog can still open it’s mouth, eat, drink, bite, ect…. it’s safe and effective. But it may take a bit for your dog to get used to it being on her face. Before even walking with her, put it on her and let her just get used to it.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I think that harness are stupid on big dogs…get a pron collar or something
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I use them on my Poms. For toy dogs they are a must since they have fragile trachea’s.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I don’t like harnesses only because the dog gets the sensation of "pulling" and that only encourages this unwanted behavior. Just work on it and be patient. Demand that she walk in a heel position next to or behind you. If in the beginning, she keeps pulling..STOP. Let her know that if she pulls, You stop.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
An Easy Walk harness is what you need- it helps you train her to walk on a loose leash by turning her toward you everytime you pull.
The problem with the regular harness is that they actually trigger the opposition relfex in a dog- the same thing that makes a husky pull a sled. The force of something pulling against a dog makes them want to pull in the opposite direction. This will even work for you (have someone pull your arm, you will automatically lean in the opposite direction)- it is a quesiton of balance, the dog is trying to keep from "falling" in one direction, so it pulls in the other.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I love my harness for my dog…I bought him a sled dog harness (he’s a husky) and he loves it…but it doesn’t curb the pulling. Check out "At the end of my leash" training methods for pulling it really helped with my husky…he only pulls on harness now. Slip collars are much better than choke chains too!
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
Unless it is a anti pull harness, a harness is useless in training. a harness (again unless if it is a anti pull one) is MADE FOR PULLING. I use a harness on my dog while hiking, that way he can pull me up cliffs and hills. But to walk him normally I wouldnt use one.
try training classes if you can not teach her on your own
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
Harnesses to me are better so you can restrain them from doing unwanted things without choking her. though vets say that after a while the dog will get serious arthritis in the shoulders because the harness will pull on them and strain them. they say to use the dog halter because it will pull their head away from the distraction and eventually teach them not to do the things you don’t want her to do.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
It depends on the harness you use. Don’t use the black thick strap car harnesses for walks as the thickness encourages pulling. Use a thin strap training harness. They are really good at controlling pulling dogs and I use them all the time. They cost about $25 and are very worth while. My dogs go to training and the trainer recommended the ROC harness and they are great.
Good Luck
I strongly disagree with tankstar because there are different types of harness and you use a Training harness in training
In my experience ( i walked my neighbours lab ) halters DONT work, and the poor dog kept getting irritations around her head and face. The harness won’t cause arthritis, my 12 year old hasn’t got arthritis and he has used it his entire life
You won’t need to wean her of the harness They use them for life. Carry a treat bag when walking and to make her walk beside you, hold the treat in front of her nose and say " walk by me " If she starts to pull, turn in the other direction. You may need to start this off when you have a bit of time. It may take a few times to train but its very worth while. I have a 16 week old Rough Collie and so far he is a fantastic walker and so will your lab
Sniffing for a dog is a reward because they can smell other dogs scents. Don’t let your dog sniff at any post! Only when she is being good, you may let her sniff.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
First, there are functional differences between harnesses (for pulling things) and halters (for leading animals)
So unless you are setting up for some dog sled races a harness isn’t a very good idea.
Some people like halters.
I don’t like halters because they are "self correcting" instead of the handler making the correction. This gives the handler the illusion that they are very gentle on the dog because they didn’t have to do anything. In reality the correction a halter makes is quite harsh, that is why they work so well.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
A harness will just give her more leverage to pull. Using a chain collar properly and attending a training class or 2 to make sure you use it as a correction and not a full time choking mode will be the fastest way to train the dog. The trick with using a choke collar is to have it up high enough under the dogs chin not low down at the top of the shoulder. You need to walk with some slack in the lead and only correct with a heel command (correct means to give a sharp jerk with an immediate release). To get your dog the hang of it faster – find a big space and start off in one direction, after a few steps move in a different direction and then again and again – the dog eventually figures out it needs to watch where you are going.
I’t harder to explain than to do and any competant training center can help you.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I wouldn’t get a regular harness– they just give her more room and strength in pulling. I would buy either a head halter or pulling harness (anti-pulling that is!).
Head halters look almost like a bridle on a horse. They attach behind the ears and go over the muzzle. They work because when the dog tries to pull, it literally pulls itself in a circle. Also, the head halter makes it so that wherever you direct the head, is where it will go. It gives a great deal more control to you.
As for anti-pulling harnesses, there are several kinds. The type I liked and worked the best for me, was one that when the dog pulled on the leash, it would pull its legs from under it. I bought it online about a year back, but I’m sure if you search "no pull harness" you will find one.
Other options for you to consider is obedience classes. Trainers know what they are doing!
EDIT:
When she stands and sniffs just keep walking. YOU are leading the walk, and it is her responsibility to keep up to you.
September 9th, 2010 - 6:25 am
I think harnesses are great for small dogs, but for large dogs, it’s not too effective. Even with a harness, your dog can still pull. I would recommend a Halti/Gentle Leader. This gives you better control of her head, which allows you to correct and direct her attention back to you. However, Gentle Leaders don’t work for all dogs. Find what works best for you and your dog.
Labs are very intelligent, and she’s still a baby, so give her some time. Encourage her to walk next to you using treats and when she walks beside you, give her the "heel" command. Just be patient and consistent. Good luck!