CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: jakieboy on April 11, 2003, 10:46:32 AM
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Just posted something about these on another site and it was suggested by pammy to post on here as well.
I bought one of these for Ebbie a couple of weeks ago now - it's the only bit of training i have never been able to stop ebbie from doing - pulling on the lead - i've tried everything, read about these in one of the dog magazines and thought for £7.00 it's worth a try. (I did try a halti a few yrs back and she was so stressed on it - i couldn't put her through it, rather have her pulling). Also thought that now i have finn - i just wouldn't be able to cope with 2 dogs pulling me round the park lol (and yes finn is already taking after his mum on this one ::) he'll end up with one as well once he is fully grown - although still plenty of time to try and train him out of it).
And my god - what a difference - i'm not saying it's all roses - especially when i first put it on, she still does her mental bit and struggles to the door, but once outside - she's a different dog, as soon as she feels the pressure on her chest - she goes slower. It doesn't seem to get caught up in featherings (although i do make sure i trim her armpits so to speak). One word of advice though - go for the small, i bought medium and it's far too big (follow the instructions to cut down), it's still a little bit loose - which doesn't matter when they are on the lead, but they go really loose when off (finn's fav game is trying to catch hold of ebbie's lead).
So for anyone out there - who has problems - try one - not saying it's the answer for everyone but who knows - it worked for me ;D
Nikki x
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Several of my grooming "clients" have Lupis - they are also meant to be v good for dogs with back problems apparently. The only drawback I can see with them is that being a harness, they do tend to matt up the coat underneath so probably would be no good for those Cockers with heavy coats and/or show dogs. Worth a try though for those who can't get on with Haltis etc :)
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The only drawback I can see with them is that being a harness, they do tend to matt up the coat underneath so probably would be no good for those Cockers with heavy coats and/or show dogs.
This is my fear with harnesses Jane but Nicki seems to be having a good result with this one. Do any other members have a harness? If so what type and do they find it matt's the fur at all?
I'd love to find one that is suitable for Cockers as I'd use it on Jasper so I could take them both out together by myself! But I don't want it to matt the coat. Jasper loathed the kumfi head collar - was unbearable with it - and we did persevere so I wanted a harness. Might give the lupi a go.
Thanks Nicki ;D
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I would guess you'd be ok with a Lupi as your boys are regularly groomed so you'd catch any little tangles before they became big matts ;) I don't think the Lupi gets tangled up in the feathering so much as the straps cause a bit of friction rubbing against the hair which can cause matts, but then the dogs I see that use them are not ones which are brushed out every day which must make a difference ;D
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Mum used a harness similar to the Lupi ones on her terrier and it rubbed her 'arm pits' and made them sore. She's a lot less hairy than a spaniel though. I use a Canac harness on Amber ::)
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Hi,
I put William in a Lupi and it worked well until he became VERY sore under his leg (only on one side)... i took him to the vet last week and he said it was rope burn from the Lupi so came away with cream to rub in the sore...clearing up now but won't go back to it. Again i have tried everything to stop Will's from pulling and so far nothing seems to help :-
Viv
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Hi,
I put William in a Lupi and it worked well until he became VERY sore under his leg (only on one side)... i took him to the vet last week and he said it was rope burn from the Lupi so came away with cream to rub in the sore...clearing up now but won't go back to it. Again i have tried everything to stop Will's from pulling and so far nothing seems to help :-
Viv
The Lupi harnesses rub because they're not 'fixed' and as the ropes tighten and loosen, they rub. Mum tried a Canac harness next and because these are fixed (you alter them to fit the dog's body) they don't rub. I don't know whether harnesses stop dogs pulling, but they do save dogs from damaging their throats. :)
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Excuse my thickness ::) whats a lupi harness???? We bought a harness for jasper that is metal with black rubber pads that goes round his chest and under his legs. Is this the same thing?
::) ::) ::)useless me again (I am blonde though)
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Hi christine - it's something similar - lupi is just the brand name.
As for the soreness - doesn't seem to be affecting ebbie at all - maybe cos her fur is so thick, or maybe it's because it's slightly too big so loosens as soon as she doesn't pull.
And the matting - ebbie gets groomed regularly as well so if it did tangle it a little bit - it would be brushed out every day.
I did look for the one with the rubber padding - but my local pet store only stocked the lupi, but now that i now a harness like this works - if i do find that ebbie gets sore - i can look for one that has padding - there are some - just can't find the mag to tell you all. After my experience with a halti - i didn't want to spend loads of money only to find it made no difference. The harness makes such a difference to me - that i would now spend more - if i can find a suitable one.
Nikki xx
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I use a harness on Jimmy....not sure of the brand but it is made of 3/4 inch strapping......and yes, it does cause matting under the armpits. Unfortunately I haven't had the success that Jakieboy has had re the pulling.
Jimmy is mostly ok on the lead but in certain circumstances is the worst puller imaginable. From the car to the park he is a nightmare.....a couple of times pulling so badly he's walking on his hind legs. The harness worked fine at first..... until he found a new way of pulling was required...using the shoulders rather than the neck. When I tried going back to a normal collar and lead he fell on his head, he'd got so used to pulling using his shoulders for power with the harness ! As Jo says, I'm primarily using the harness now to prevent neck injury as it doesn't stop the pulling.
I had one disastrous attempt at using a halti.....might try again though soon as he seems to be getting worse rather than better. I've had other cocker owners telling me I'm wasting my time even attempting to try and curb pulling cos that's what cockers do....... but surely it's worth persisting with ? I've tried all the usual things: stopping and making him sit, turning back to the car (even putting him back in it) and also walking in a figure 8 .....he does as I say but as soon as we head towards the park again his desperation to get there takes over and after a few paces of walking to heel he's off again ! I'm considering getting a trainer to help me soon as I feel I've exhausted every avenue now.
If anyone can reccomend a harness that doesn't cause matting or burning I'd be very grateful !
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Colin
You should persevere. I think from what you have said you have a really good tool available to you. As soon as Jimmy starts pulling towards the park - go straight in the other direction, even if it means he never makes it to the park. You should gradually be able to get closer and closer without him pulling. He sees the park as his reward and excitement and pulling is getting him what he wants.
My problem is the two together - Jasper pulls and Buddy follows. Alone they are much better :-
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I tried the lupi with vegas but didn't like it at all. the protective bits kept slipping forward leaving the rope to rub against him. I have another harness, mikki one i think which is marginally better but the fight we have to get it on just isn't worth it. Absolutely loved the halti but they don't do a size that fits him well. I have also tried the walking backwards, figure of 8 etc but it doesn't really make any difference and when he pulls, he practically crawls along the ground making a horrible throaty noise
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Thanks, Pammy...........he is so good in many ways but this pulling is really starting to bug me ! >:(
The other day I parked directly opposite the park gate, every time we went to cross the road he'd start pulling so I'd turn back, make him sit on the kerb again for a bit then try again. I did this for 10 minutes.....god knows how many times we did it. Even after all this he was no better.....with time ticking away on my pay and display ticket I gave in. Up until a few weeks ago he would have started to walk to heel after a couple of times (albeit with a rather strange waddle ! ;D)......I can't understand why he's suddenly got so bad.
He's at his worst when he needs a poo in the mornings ( I haven't got a garden, so can almost understand this ) but it still happens when he doesn't. I think I will dig out the halti and if that fails get the trainer in. Maybe I should clip the lead to his top knot.....am sure that would work ! ;D
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Oh, yes......anyone thinking of using an extendable lead on a puppy.....DONT DO IT.......I'm sure this is what has caused Jimmy to be so bad now. His instinct is now to pull thinking the lead will extend when he does it.....the biggest mistake I made with him !
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Oh, yes......anyone thinking of using an extendable lead on a puppy.....DONT DO IT.......I'm sure this is what has caused Jimmy to be so bad now. His instinct is now to pull thinking the lead will extend when he does it.....the biggest mistake I made with him !
Absolutely right Colin. Flexi leads are only any good when they understand recall and not pulling out of control in the first place ;D
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have never used a lupi or a halti or anything else 'arness' wise... I use a half check collar as that is what I was advised by the trainer to get, although it set to never tighten on her neck I wouldn't allow that. It doesn't tighten any tighter than a normal collar and that was ok with he trainer,
but now I am thinking halto or lupi might be the way to go...although a recent trip to pet shop showed me that the ones they stock are about £30...is that right?? cos Nicki's seemed really cheap in comparison, now I am not tight with money but if that fails and she doesn't get on with it, I have wasted £30...and I would rather not...catch me drift??..well anyway I would love to know of some decent stockists, mind you I spose its best to shop where I can try it on Jessie as you all know shes a tad lardy (well I think so) and she is probably in x x large size ::) maybe a trip to another larger store is in order... *tapping foot waiting for hubby to come home*
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Hi,
Colin i have the same problem with William... he pulls no matter what i do...i spent a week getting no where except 3 doors down the road either way because every time he pulled i turned the other way where upon he pulled in that direction :-
He is at the moment on a normal collar but the noise coming from his throat is scary, i have tried the halti...he pulled...the lupi...it rubbed...sitting on the ground and crying ;) that didn't work so i am going back to a normal harness...it doesn't help the pulling but won't harm his neck.
Viv
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but now I am thinking halto or lupi might be the way to go...although a recent trip to pet shop showed me that the ones they stock are about £30...is that right??
Canine Chemists have Lupi harnesses for sale for under £6 & Haltis for something like £7, so it's probably worth you doing a search online Lynsey :) Canine Chemists have a site at http://www.hyperdrug.com/store/ (http://www.hyperdrug.com/store/) though you might want to send for their brochure which is packed full of doggy items at good prices.
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Boy are you right Colin ;D
The extending lead seems like the perfect option when you have a young pup and aren't ready to let them off lead in public, but I made a rod for my own back :(. When I first got Morgan I used it quite a lot but then we ended up with pulling problems. I bought a halti and put it on - couldn't even bring myself to attach the lead - he went MENTAL :o - I couldn't bare to see him so distressed and took it off straight away. If anyone wants to try it, it's brand new and free to good home!! ;)
Puppy classes have made a difference. Talking to him all the time keeps his attention, not to mention a pocket full of gravy bones, and a half-check collar ;D. He now only pulls for the first couple of minutes of the walk - till the excitement wears off - he starts to concentrate on the important business of sniffing. :)
P.S My vet advised against a harness as he said it would just let him pull in comfort and he'd never learn to walk on a loose lead :-. Mind you they do seem to work for some people. :)
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but now I am thinking halto or lupi might be the way to go...although a recent trip to pet shop showed me that the ones they stock are about £30...is that right??
Canine Chemists have Lupi harnesses for sale for under £6 & Haltis for something like £7, so it's probably worth you doing a search online Lynsey :) Canine Chemists have a site at http://www.hyperdrug.com/store/ (http://www.hyperdrug.com/store/) though you might want to send for their brochure which is packed full of doggy items at good prices.
thanks jane, although I did buy a Mikki walk rite harness on saturday, but now I am not sure of it, it looks all fiddly to put on, I looked at the cannac harnesses but was steered away from them cos they tol me they wereot training harness just walking harnesses, but now I am thinkin I want to take this back... it looks like it cant be nice for her to wear :'(
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Phoebe doesn't pull but she does still creep forward and comes back to heel when reminded. We have had to really reallt reinforce this. We keep her on a very short lead so she can't walk in front. If she does we walk the other way.
Its still very frustrating!!!!!!!
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well I took the silly harness cafangled thingy back to the shop, it was all my effort to get the silly thing on Jessie.
bought a halti to try, although the size 2 recommended on the packet was far too big for her and so got the size 1... anyone else had good results with the halti?? please say you did.. ;D
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I'm currently trying the halti out on my springer, Lynsey.
She doesnt like it very much! But it stops her pulling, so I do ;D I also dont find it the easiest thing to put on - but you get used to it, as much as your dog will. I got the number 2 size as my springer's a little larger than the cocker. As we're walking along, she does try to scrape the collar off with her paw, but i'm not going to give in just yet - I'll give it a few more months to see how she adapts. If in the end she doesnt get used to it, I'll probably try some other collars/harnesses. To be honest though, I think the key is about persevering - your dog will resist, and you may feel bad about her seeming to dislike it so much, but you have to be firm and give it some time for the dog to get used to it (or not). Some people dont like collars such as the halti, because their dogs seem to dislike them so much - you'll have to try it, assess how Jessie reacts and see what you are comfortable with.
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The only problem I have with Inca is pulling on the lead. It isn't constant, sometimes he walks beautifully, but more often than not he pulls at some point on the walk. I too have tried walking in the opposite direction to the one he is pulling.........result.... I KEEP GOING DIZZY ::) ::) I do lead pratice in the garden..............result...........he waks beautifully to heel.
Try the same thing outside...NO CHANCE :'( :
If anyone finds the solution let me know Pleeeeease ;D
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thanks Mike, I will persevere ;D I have put the haltio on at times to get her used to it and she was ok with it after a while, mind you the pigs ears helped somewhat ;)