dee lee Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Righto, back again! I hope you havent all lost patience with me. I'm still working hard on my dog's lead pulling a year on and I feel like giving up. Yes I am practising NILIF and TOT at home- last night I left her waiting for her bowl of fresh roast chicken for 5 minutes- No problem! But walking at my side is NOT something that seems to sink in, its two steps forward, two steps back. The big problem she is still overly focused on other dogs and cats. Sooo, until the behaviourist appointment becomes a reality (one day) I have reached the point that I need a tool to help me walk her. She is strong and very quick to lunge so I am not going to risk a head halter but I thought that a training harness would be a good option. I have seen the sporn ones- are they ok? Evie is a staffyx so Im worried they look a little flimsy. Any other suggestions? Thanks again guys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Yes it works. Someone I know has a huge dobie that pulls like hell and he just bought one of those and it seems to work. He can actually take the dog for a walk now. However a bit of warning - it seems that it is wearing some of the fur out in the underarms of the dog. Edited July 22, 2008 by Monelite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyB Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I got a Sporn Training Harness for Gypsy and it worked quiet well, I would definitely recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Oh great!!! I hope I'm not getting my hopes up too much, but it would be SUCH a relief to be able to just walk for a whole walk. I feel like I've been stopping and starting forever... StaceyB- do you still use it? I found a patent-pending listing on Ebay for something called an " Easy Walk No-Pull Harness"- sounds pretty interesting, anyone heard of it? Edited July 22, 2008 by deelee2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwm Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Hi, I have a 'harmony harness' which is pretty good - they are made by Jenny Ireland http://www.k9events.com/Harmony_Harness.htm which can be ordered via her website here Jenny Ireland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 Hi,I have a 'harmony harness' which is pretty good - they are made by Jenny Ireland http://www.k9events.com/Harmony_Harness.htm which can be ordered via her website here Jenny Ireland They look great- I cant seem to find where to buy them? Do you just email her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanna Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I've used a couple of the no pull harnesses (including both the sporn and gentle leader easy-walk harness) and haven't been really impressed with either. While the sporn harness does help to some degree, when our girl is focused on something (or freaked out) she can still lunge with quite a bit of power (the pressure under her front legs doesn't seem to bother her too much). As Monelite mentioned, I also found that it did wear the hair away a bit (both under the legs and it actually caused a small scab on her back where the collar piece fastens), and I had to adjust the sherpa sleeves a couple of times on each walk as they slid out of place. I didn't really like the gentle leader harness at all. It seems to have little effect on her pulling (but I may not have had it fitted correctly), and I found that she seemed to twist to compensate for the tightening of the harness. The most effective tool I've found has been just a standard harness (we use the Rogz beach bum straight jacket), but to clip the lead to the O-ring at the front (on her chest) rather to the ring on the back. You can also clip the lead to both the front ring on the harness and to the normal flat collar to give a bit more control. This hasn't been a magic solution, but I've found that when combined with the stop-start method, we've slowly been making some progress. The Rogz harness fits snugly and is nice and secure, so I'm not worried about equipment failure should she suddenly pull. Unfortunately, I think that sometimes you need to try a couple of things before you find a solution that works well for both you and your dog. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I used the Sporn harness for a while with Benson and found it to be very effective. The most effective tool was a head halter (Sporn Pack Leader) but Benson was never a lunger, just a puller so not in any danger of hurting himself. The harness worked though. He did pull a bit but not hard and it was quite easy to have him by my side and praise him for being there. I feel for you, I really do. It's awful when your dog pulls so hard that you dread taking them for a walk. And you get people saying "Don't let him pull!" and "He should be walking by your side!" but it's like the dog is supposed to magically appear there so you can praise him, but when he pulls so damn hard your arm feels like it's being wrenched from the shoulder, it's a bit hard to be praising the little bastard for anything. Benson is good now, a combo of tools, training, patience and perseverance and various techniques (turn abruptly every time he pulled and walk the other way; stop and not move til the lead was slack etc) fixed him up eventually but some days I thought we were never going to get there. Now, he will move forward and I can say "Benson, don't pull" and straight away the tension goes from the lead and he's back by my side. I don't use any no-pull tools now, just a limited slip collar, which isn't for corrections but for ease of getting over his head. I don't have flat collar son my dogs for safety reasons so the limited slip collar stays attached to the lead and as soon as he sees me with it, he sticks his head forward for me to slip on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILuvAmstaffs Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Diesel has the harmony harness as well. It's been an invaluable training tool for us. We bought ours through an instructor we were doing a course with. If you email her, I am pretty sure she is hppy to supply the harnesses. Contact details Edited to add that we have had no problems with chaffing as the harness is quite soft I was told that if the harness fits correctly (snug) it will not chaff & so far that has been true for us. Diesel in his harness: Edited July 22, 2008 by ILuvAmstaffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 but when he pulls so damn hard your arm feels like it's being wrenched from the shoulder, it's a bit hard to be praising the little bastard for anything. Aint that the truth!!! Still confused. Harmony or Sporn? Maybe toss a coin. And Nanna- now you've got me worried nothing will help. Just like EVERYTHING its beginning to sound like there is no magic solution. Why oh why???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Paws Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Hi,I have a 'harmony harness' which is pretty good - they are made by Jenny Ireland http://www.k9events.com/Harmony_Harness.htm which can be ordered via her website here Jenny Ireland Is that the one that the wild one wears to training cwm? Do you know roughly what the price was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusky Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 sporn works well for your needs right now and you can just go out and buy it, around $40. Takes 20kgs off the lunge. Is a great harness to use while you train not to pull thus saving arms, necks and shoulders while you work with loose leash training. Dogs being dogs can work through it so it isn't something you can rely on permanently, you still need to train your dog. In your situation I would be at the shop buying one right now. If you lived here I would loan you one...can anyone do a loan close by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess and Ty Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) I was put onto the Sporn Halter by my vet 3 days ago. And I swear by it. I've tried everything and have all sorts of halters / harnesses sitting in my cupboard that just arent effective. It hasnt stopped the pulling completely, but I can walk my little man now without my arm been ripped out. Unfortunately Im not sure how it will go if he see's another dog as we are yet to have an encounter whilst using the Sporn but Im confident I'll have a little more control over him then I previously did. I was also a bit worried about how flimsy it looked, but so far so good. I definately feel its worth trying and would recommend it to anyone Edited July 22, 2008 by Jess and Ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 There was someone on here who showed a 2 lead arrangement which stopped pulling dogs, it looked so simple it couldnt work, but one day down at the shops I thought I would try it, and Ed walked perfectly (he's not hard to walk but he was annoying me that day) I will try to find it, it may help some people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Paws Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) There was someone on here who showed a 2 lead arrangement which stopped pulling dogs, it looked so simple it couldnt work, but one day down at the shops I thought I would try it, and Ed walked perfectly (he's not hard to walk but he was annoying me that day)I will try to find it, it may help some people was it this thread shoemonster? http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...illusion+collar Edited July 22, 2008 by 4 Paws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Paws Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Diesel has the harmony harness as well. It's been an invaluable training tool for us. We bought ours through an instructor we were doing a course with. If you email her, I am pretty sure she is hppy to supply the harnesses. Contact details Edited to add that we have had no problems with chaffing as the harness is quite soft I was told that if the harness fits correctly (snug) it will not chaff & so far that has been true for us. Diesel in his harness: is that the lead that you can buy with it as well or a different one?Noticed there was an optional lead that you could purchase for an extra $10 on that website you posted Edited July 22, 2008 by 4 Paws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Yeah thats it! I couldnt find it! I did find this one as well, which is about anti pulling devices as well http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&hl=pulling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 If you were tossing up between harmony and easy walk I would go the harmony...the fit is better and the cotton weave is less slippery. I have fitted a lot of easy walks. Mel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILuvAmstaffs Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 is that the lead that you can buy with it as well or a different one?Noticed there was an optional lead that you could purchase for an extra $10 on that website you posted The lead came with the harness as far as I know. I think I paid $50 for the lot last year, but that may have been discounted because of the course I was doing with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denis_c Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Hi I have tried a whole range of no pull products over the years, (I think collecting dog equipment is a hobby of mine too) as my Lab could pull my OH around walking on marbles attached to a concrete wall to borrow a phrase. Form my own personal use, I prefer a flat collar and training , but not everyone wants to do this. So he gets to wear an easywalker when he goes for a walk with my OH. I am at the concept of ever getting her to take some food with her for reinforcement for him. It would rate right up their with putting men on mars in terms of achievements. Failing that ,I would have a look the sporn. But now I will just have to buy a harmony to look at it and try. These two items have always made me look like a super dog trainer who knows everything to lay people looking for a quick fix. Having said that , I have seen many people succesfully use head halter type harness with success, but my dog will happily pull through one of these. I must admit to near total negilence to teaching my poodle llw. Somehow , a 7Kg dog doesn't have quite the same impact. But, out of interests sake, I am going to have a crack at the method outlined in Get Connected by Brenda Alloff Sp?. I have tried a couple of her methods (Be stil switch and Approaches) had they have worked very well and very quickly on the right dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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