Blackdog Infin8 Halti Or An "ezy Walker"/non-pull Chest Harn

[midnightmint]

Hi all

I have a new (adult) dog who is 5kg. Initially when I first adopted her from the pound (about 3 weeks ago), she was walking perfectly on the leash. I then adopted another dog (the male dog that she had been surrendered with) one week later. Now, when they are walked together, the female dog pulls on the leash, all the time (sniffing around madly). It seems like she is either super-excited to be going on a walk, now that her buddy is there to accompany her; or else she is going straight into "pack"/hunting mentality.

Two days ago she began gagging and coughing constantly. I took her to the vet thinking there was something wrong with her - it turned out just to be bruising from when her flat collar had been pulling on the leash (when my mother walked her - I wasnt present so I had no idea she had begun pulling so badly).

I know that I must train her to walk beside me, using treats etc; however for the meanwhile, I need to buy her either a halti (I've heard that Black Dog Infin8 is the better option), a no-pull 'chest' harness (like the Sporn harness), or a regular harness (Puppia soft mesh harness).

Which would be the best for her?

Check chains, martingales and prong collars etc are not really an option as she seems to be oblivious to any pressure/pain around her neck, and is causing herself serious damage...

[Kavik]

Honestly there is no way I would put any head collar on a 5kg dog. Certainly teaching her not to pull is the best option - shouldn't be too hard. The reason she seems oblivious to neck pressure is probably because she is being allowed to pull which is a steady pressure instead of being corrected or rewarded for not pulling. I would work with them separately and then together working on not pulling, maybe don't plan to go too far that trip Until then maybe a harness would help. Do they walk fine separately?

[midnightmint]

Honestly there is no way I would put any head collar on a 5kg dog. Certainly teaching her not to pull is the best option - shouldn't be too hard. The reason she seems oblivious to neck pressure is probably because she is being allowed to pull which is a steady pressure instead of being corrected or rewarded for not pulling. I would work with them separately and then together working on not pulling, maybe don't plan to go too far that trip Until then maybe a harness would help. Do they walk fine separately?

Thank you Kavik.

Yes they walk fine, separately.

Why do you say you wouldnt put a head collar on a 5kg dog? I have read about the general dangers of head collars, but why is it worse on a 5kg dog as opposed to a 20kg dog? Because a 5kg dog's muzzle is more fragile?

I am going to find it a bit difficult to walk them separately, because I live in an apartment, and one of them will go nuts (and bother the neighbours) if I leave them at home whilst I take the other one out. The best solution for the time being, seems to be getting her some sort of harness (or head collar), while I work on obedience training her.

I do 'correct' her when she is pulling but she basically just ignores me and sails on - she is so intent on pulling and sniffing around. I have only had her for 3 weeks so unfortunately I do not have as much 'power' over her as I would like to have, at this stage!

[Kavik]

Firstly I think a headcollar is definitely overkill on a 5kg dog - it is 5 kg, not 50, I cannot see why anyone would need to put one on such a small dog.

Then look at the angle that occurs when you put pressure on a headcollar on a dog of that size. And what would happen if the dog lunges. And they are pretty fragile if so small.

I don't think they will get better walking together unless you specifically train for it, which means not letting her pull. When they are together they are probably more excited than by themselves. The best would be to have a good loose lead walk separately, where they know the rules (however you decide to teach it, stay still until they focus on you, or correct or change direction etc) and then put them together and use the same rules. That may take a little time for them to get used to, but otherwise they will be so excited where as you have noticed they don't pay as much attention.

A harness will mean that she doesn't choke herself when she pulls, but it won't give you as good control.

I saw 2 littlies pulling and whining like mad on my walk today, while I practiced focus and loose lead walking around them with Kaos.

[midnightmint]

Firstly I think a headcollar is definitely overkill on a 5kg dog - it is 5 kg, not 50, I cannot see why anyone would need to put one on such a small dog.

I think that in this case, her weight is irrelevant - I am not getting "dragged along" by the dog or anything like that - it's just that she is injuring her throat by pulling as hard as she does. I've had lots of little (and large) dogs before- several of them were "pullers" - but none did it so bad that they injured themselves like this one has.

I might start with the Puppia harness.. she will probably still pull, but at least it won't be harming her throat.. and I can gradually work on the obedience training which will be useful in training her to walk alongside me or heel..

Thanks for your help!

[Stitch]

This is a problem that I encounter reasonably often as I have to train all my puppies to walk properly on a lead.

One of the best methods I have found is to just 'stop' when the dog pulls on a walk.

This takes a bit of patience on your part initially but what you are waiting for is for the penny to drop ie. if I pull then all forward momentum stops.

You are looking for the dog to look up at you at this point, asking the question' why aren't we moving forward ?'' so when they do this and there is even a small amount of slack on the lead, you start walking again.

It might take you half an hour to move 50 metres and a weeks worth of this to get it through their heads but the penny does drop after a while.

They learn that when they pull, you stop and they don't get anywhere.

When they look up and stop pulling you move forward until the pulling starts again whereupon you repeat, and repeat.

In my experiences harnesses and the like only make the problem worse.

Edited September 3, 2009 by STITCH

[Aidan]

Dogs can often learn to pull when walking with other dogs. They learn to get away with it when the owner becomes inconsistent due to the extra work it takes to maintain loose leash walking with two dogs.

[ClareL]

I got a no pull harness for my crazy puller, a normal harness he could pull harder and he hurts himself on a collar as well.

My one the ring you attach the lead to is at the front on his chest so pulling makes him turn sideways, doesn't hurt him at all and takes a little of the edge of his pull. its called a sense-ible dog harness. If you pm me i'll let you know where to get it form.