Which harness?

[Nicola]

I can't remember what size I ordered for Alfie... is there a medium one, it was probably that... king charles size would never fit him!

[mentalcat]

Hello all,

Just thought i'd add y two pennies worth re DB training.
Before i say anything i would like to say that there are lots of ways of training dogs, so good, some bad - as good dog handlers, its up to us to make an informed decision which way we choose to try

Now, back to Dog Borstal......The whole idea of the 'get to the end of the lead' exercise is that you don't 'yank' your dog. All the action should be is you dropping the loop as you turn and walking away, not giving the dog a pull so it goes off its feet or strangles it. Thats NOT the idea. All it should be is the momentum of the dog against the momentum of the handler. I agree that if you yank the dog while shouting 'HEEL' at him, all you'll get is a tug of war (which is not too bad with a cocker, but trying to do that with a Rottie or a big GSD is a no-go!!)

Just a thought.....
Ali  

[Shelley]

I used a fleece backed harness which you can buy in lots of different colours, it fits so much better than the one Tia used to have, and she looks so cute in it to. Here is a link to the site I bought it from http://www.dog-games.co.uk/newshop/Harness+-+Fleece+Lined/

As for teaching a dog to walk at heal... Or close by you if you don't want them walking like a Crufts obedience champion! When my dogs pull I stop dead and either call them back to me and don't move until they are next to me, or I stop but then walk backwards for 5-6 steps and so the dog has to come back. You don't get very far at first, but it does work!!

[DennyK]

I tried the Gentle Leader head harness (anyone who wants it is welcome to have it - just PM me your address and I'll post it).  It certainly works and I used it for the "I really don't have time to "stop-start" walks" - e.g. going to the corner store for a pinta, under a time constraint.  Paddy didn't learn to walk properly using it - it was just physically impossible for him to pull, as any forward pressure turns the head sideways.  No harm done but he hated it - started hiding when it was brought out!

However, while I concentrated on the proper training, since I've got RSI in my right arm and was also worried about Paddy's neck, I decided to get him a chest harness.  It's a lightweight "Canac" one (I think they make the "Gentle Leader" head harness) and he's perfectly happy with it.  Oddly - he now walks well on the lead for me most of the time, but is an absolute sod for pulling with my OH.  Then again: he gets away with it, 100% of the time, with OH so not odd at all!

Denise