Easy Walk Harnesses

[Longcoat]

what does it matter if i can take a dog and get it to walk on a loose lead if an owner can't? Some owners cannot do whats required and need the assistance of tools that manage the dog and make it easier.

Agreed, it's usually possible but not always in the time available. Another issue is safety. The majority of my clients are women with large, strong, reactive or aggressive dogs. I think it's essential that these owners are relying on the conditioning and NOT the tool, and they are highly motivated so they do learn how to train the dog. But I still ask them to use a front-attaching harness or head halter in case something goes wrong. It can be attached to a double-ended leash.

As a matter of interest and I understand that many trainers have different methods, but why do accomplished K9 trainers who specialise in working breeds, Schutzhund, police dog and security training generally frown upon head halters, harnesses etc for gaining reliable obedience???

There are several reasons, firstly you cannot compete or work with these tools and we aren't talking about pet owners. Anyone who cannot teach a dog to walk to heel on a flat collar or check chain has no place doing this sort of training. I think the level of skill is generally higher and the dogs are more tolerant of correction usually, so where you have a large, strong dog and a small or physically disadvantaged handler a prong collar can be an option.

A head collar or front-attaching harness requires very little training on it's own, they can often be quite effective with the most basic training in how to use them. For this reason people tend to use them and then have little motivation to teach the dog how to walk on a flat collar. Some people make their own choice to just keep using the equipment and that's their business, it can back-fire if the dog then learns how to pull into the equipment though.

Those who want to come and get help in training their dog can learn to use a flat-collar, martingale or whatever. If they would obviously require leverage in an emergency then I encourage the use of a front-attaching harness and a double-ended leash. That way they can still walk on a flat collar, but if the leverage is required it is immediately accessible. You can't train a dog to be rock-solid reliable under any amount of distraction overnight.

You have specifically mentioned "... for gaining reliable obedience" so I'm not entirely sure that I have answered your question because I'm not sure how broadly we are speaking here or the relevance of head halters and harnesses to obedience in a broader sense?

Thank's Aidan, a good explanation, appreciated I had a thought that K9 trainers were more focused with training the dog what ever it takes and not provide tools of management. I train with a Schutzhund club and the times people have arrived with head collars or harnesses to do obedience it's always been "firstly, get that thing off the dog" scenario.

[Longcoat]

Mum attened obedience religously and had several different trainers. Dharma will heel for 2 seconds and then pull. If you constantly remind her she will heel, but it is a CONSTANT battle. She did not improve at all even with regular training and consistent training, etc. She is a very stubborn dog! Mum wants to go for a relaxing walk and at the moment, she won't walk her at all because she is so strong and just refuses to settle. That's why I thought one of these would be good. She currently wears a halti but it does not do anything - Dharma stops to rub it then pulls, stops to rub it then pulls...

Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations. We'll give them a go.

The fastest rehabilitation of cronic pullers I have seen have used prong collars along with the required training methods to complement that collar system.

[LOVE GSD'S]

The thing I like about the harness is that it's completely stress free. Sure I could try to get him walking with a flat collar by using a whole lot of training techniques and working hard at training him every time I take him walking. Or I could stick a head harness on him and battle through the head tossing, panic-stricken reactions. But I'd rather not thanks.

The EW harness let me take him walking from day one with no effort and no need to push him to learn things he wasn't ready for yet. This has freed me up to just happily and calmly teach him things as I feel like it while we're walking along rather than make the whole thing a 'training exercise'. I don't come home with pulled muscles and a headache and he doesn't come home feeling uptight and stressed. And with a dog like Tango that's vital. As he'd never been walked before I wanted to focus on him feeling like going for walks was "normal", relaxing around all the distractions, meeting other dogs and socialising with people and animals etc and letting him follow Peppers lead (she is angelic on walks - on or off-lead LOL) so he could also learn from her.

I don't know how well I've explained that but I just wanted to address the comment "it's not about the tool but the method". The right tool is important because it makes it easy/easier to apply the right method/s, I reckon.,

I agree, I think it was Cesear who said "once the harness is on, the dog KNOWS its time to behave" (or something like that... ) Life is so much easier now with the harness, and walks more enjoyable for both of us.

I bought a SERIOUS harness: the Supa Tuff, from dogcollars.com.au and had very good service.

Edited March 3, 2010 by LOVE GSD'S

[Gayle.]

I found when Benson was pulling, he pulled so hard that I couldn't train him to not pull because that required getting him into the correct position and praising him for being there, but when he was so determined to wrench my arm out of it's socket, the last thing I felt like doing was offering praise and it was absolutely impossible for me to get him beside me anyway.

The tool, and I tried a lot of them although not a prong as they aren't legal here, enabled me to get him in the correct position and reward him for being there. It also allowed me to have a relaxed and enjoyable walk with him, which isn't at all possible when you have a dog hellbent on getting there first. Walking with your dog is a good bonding experience, being violently towed by your dog just makes you hate taking him anywhere.

He doesn't pull anymore, he walks sedately beside me and gives me signals when he'd like to stop and have a sniff of something. He's delightful to take out now, we no longer use a no-pull tool, just a limited slip collar as I don't leave collars on my dogs all the time, and I can just slip these ones over their heads when I need to. Getting him to the point where he is now was due to using head collars, no-pull harnesses and teaching him that it was better to walk beside me.

[outatime]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

[Longcoat]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

You can actually train a dog to walk nicely on a piece of rope.........it's not so much the tools, but the training method and the tools just make the job a bit easier.

[outatime]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

You can actually train a dog to walk nicely on a piece of rope.........it's not so much the tools, but the training method and the tools just make the job a bit easier.

I know that - and thats where I'm hoping to get to with her, eventually, but without the tools, its physically impossible to hold her, you'll end up flat on your face. I cant wait until the day I can walk her on a flat collar, but to get there I need tools!

[Longcoat]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

You can actually train a dog to walk nicely on a piece of rope.........it's not so much the tools, but the training method and the tools just make the job a bit easier.

I know that - and thats where I'm hoping to get to with her, eventually, but without the tools, its physically impossible to hold her, you'll end up flat on your face. I cant wait until the day I can walk her on a flat collar, but to get there I need tools!

I use prong collars on my GSD's to teach leash obedience then switch back to a flat collar once good behaviour is learned. IMO, physically powerful dogs who can pull you off your feet need to learn that their is a corrective consequence to leash misbehaviour. Some disagree, but my dogs trained in that method walk nicely without a leash too

[sas]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

You can actually train a dog to walk nicely on a piece of rope.........it's not so much the tools, but the training method and the tools just make the job a bit easier.

I know that - and thats where I'm hoping to get to with her, eventually, but without the tools, its physically impossible to hold her, you'll end up flat on your face. I cant wait until the day I can walk her on a flat collar, but to get there I need tools!

Perhaps consider working on your Leadership first so you have a basis to work with the dog?

[spottychick]

Perhaps consider working on your Leadership first so you have a basis to work with the dog?

I think it can work the other way round. There may be nothing wrong with her leadership skills, sometimes it's more complex than that.

With Tango, I was much better able to communicate with him and be the leader once I used the harness. It calmed everything down, made it easier for me and him and opened the way for Tango and I to bond etc. The key to me is to get rid of the stress on both sides - it's hard to achieve anything otherwise.

And I should add that yesterday I took Tango for a walk without the harness (by accident - I simply forgot it) and just had him on a flat collar - he was absolutely fine. I couldn't have imagined this when I first got him and taking him for a walk was so stressful - until I got the harness.

But a BIGGER example is the neglected, totally untrained, "straining" massive big dog down the road who used to pull everyone literally off their feet so NO-ONE was walking him. I got his owners to use an Easy Walk harness and he's been taken out with it on a few times. From the moment I first put it on him he walked like he'd been loose leash walking all his life. We were all shocked at the difference it made. AND he started listening to voice commands and focussing on the handler instead of trying to race off somewhere and being distracted by everything in the universe.

His owner told me she took him for a walk the other day without the harness and - incredibly - he didn't pull!!!! Why??? My guess is he's learnt that he could have a great time going for walks without rushing at everything like a bull at a gate.

[kamuzz]

I've tried to get the loose leash walking thing right - and for some reason I am hopelessly incompetent.

I'm going to wait for Steve to come to Adelaide for one last try - and if I'm still hopelessly incompetent after he's shown me what to do - I'm buying a harness!

Colosmo I agree - For those of us who are too dumb (or have dogs who are too challanging) I think it's probably a great tool

But Huski I also agree with your point that a trainer should be able to get the dogs walking lose leash - even if that doesn't translate to the owner being able to do it.

Steve couldn't fix me either and all I managed to do was teach my GSD how to pull on a prong. It's nice to know I'm not alone!

ETA meant that I was "hopelessly incompetent" despite all Steve's input.

Edited March 8, 2010 by kamuzz

[sallyandtex]

Sorry but i disagree with huski and nekhbet- what does it matter if i can take a dog and get it to walk on a loose lead if an owner can't? Some owners cannot do whats required and need the assistance of tools that manage the dog and make it easier. Some owners do not have the timing and co ordination thats required and while many can learn it, some cannot.

I don't see the issue with using a tool that creates no issue for the dog (unlike a headcollar) that makes life easier for the owner.

Hi,

We have 2, 5 month Kelpie pups, PULLERS!!

The puppy school lady suggested the easy-walker.

They are a god-send!!!! YES THEY WORK. Got them cheap at Petstock about $10 each

Stops them pulling by the front attachment, and if they pull, makes them walk weirdly (not hurting).

Only trouble is that we can't go back to a collar lead! (They choke)

Maybe they will mature into non-pullers.

[Longcoat]

I've tried to get the loose leash walking thing right - and for some reason I am hopelessly incompetent.

I'm going to wait for Steve to come to Adelaide for one last try - and if I'm still hopelessly incompetent after he's shown me what to do - I'm buying a harness!

Colosmo I agree - For those of us who are too dumb (or have dogs who are too challanging) I think it's probably a great tool

But Huski I also agree with your point that a trainer should be able to get the dogs walking lose leash - even if that doesn't translate to the owner being able to do it.

Steve couldn't fix me either and all I managed to do was teach my GSD how to pull on a prong. It's nice to know I'm not alone!

Did Steve actually work your dog himself and failed to correct the pulling or was it a correspondence lesson that didn't work for you, just interested as I don't believe that a prong used correctly from my experience training GSD's will not correct leash pulling effectively???.

Edited March 7, 2010 by Longcoat

[kamuzz]

I've tried to get the loose leash walking thing right - and for some reason I am hopelessly incompetent.

I'm going to wait for Steve to come to Adelaide for one last try - and if I'm still hopelessly incompetent after he's shown me what to do - I'm buying a harness!

Steve couldn't fix me either and all I managed to do was teach my GSD how to pull on a prong. It's nice to know I'm not alone!

Did Steve actually work your dog himself and failed to correct the pulling or was it a correspondence lesson that didn't work for you, just interested as I don't believe that a prong used correctly from my experience training GSD's will not correct leash pulling effectively???.

There was a comment made earlier in this thread by I think Cosmolo about those of us that are challenged - lets say in the area of co-ordination, and I am definitely one of those. Ah found it -

Some owners do not have the timing and co ordination thats required and while many can learn it, some cannot.

Steve was very good at supporting us, both when we were with him at his facility and remotely.

But I just couldn't get it together. I don't believe that anything Steve could have done would have made a difference. He was certainly more than willing to keep working with me.

It is about timing, I think. My current theory is that if you consistently correct too late, your dog can't learn.

Edited March 8, 2010 by kamuzz

[Adnil444]

I've used a Sporn chest halter on a largish dog (around 30 kgs - greyhound X) who otherwise pulls like a train. It fits around the shoulders under the armpits (with lambs wool buffers) and is secured at the back with a very light adjustment. I don't know what it does (in theory) but in practise it turns her into the easiest dog in the world to walk.

I've used the halti on other dogs and they tend to shy and flip out a bit (at least at first, even though it makes them much more manageable) - the Sporn harness seems to work without any adverse impact on the dog.

Hi, I've used the Sporn harness as well with great success. I've tried the halti and the gentle leader head collar and they didn't work for me. The Sporn harness made an instant difference. Hope this helps.

[tez]

We have just started using the easy walk harness and I must say that I am surprised at the added benefits it brings. Jane is able to focus much better on me and seems to be able to react faster to the commands I give her such as 'sit', 'come around'( to get her to walk on my left from the right side) and 'bring it back' (when she starts to get abit ahead of where i want her to be). I am now thinking that I might actually be able to teach her to heel. She has only managed a very very short heel in the past with the flat collar.

On a negitive note, I really don't like the way the lead swings when we walk...almost like a skipping rope or am I needing to shorten the lead?

[Gayle.]

This thread prompted me to drag out Bensons Easy Walk harness which I bought when he chewed up the Sporn one. I hadn't used it much because by then he was walking pretty good on a loose leash. But the past few weeks I've noticed Dusty wanting to be first all the time so I adjusted it for her and we've had a couple of walks with it now.

I had forgotten just how effective and easy it was, and how it makes walking the dog such a pleasure. I walk two at once and to have one dog constantly straining to be in front drives me nuts.

On a negitive note, I really don't like the way the lead swings when we walk...almost like a skipping rope or am I needing to shorten the lead?

'The lead I use is less than a metre long. Quite short in fact. The longer the lead, the further in front the dog can get before it's corrected and I prefer to correct as soon as possible.

[Aidan]

On a negitive note, I really don't like the way the lead swings when we walk...almost like a skipping rope or am I needing to shorten the lead?

Perhaps try a lighter leash like a Black Dog (still very strong)? You don't want too much slack, but you want a bit - no tension. I reckon if the lead is hanging down you are doing it right!

[darlingdog]

I would like to see anybody walking my 50kg puller puppy on a flat collar lol

I started off using a sporn harness with Ruby, which I absolutely loved, I could walk her with my baby finger, but our trainer doesn't like the sporn (says it hurts the dog) and so we moved onto a Harmony Harness - which I didnt like at all and compared to the sporn, it wasn't nearly as effective. I now have Ruby on a Black Dog Training Halter, which is very effective, but Ruby ABSOLUTELY hates it.

Cosmolo and 4 Paws, a question for you both: Having tried (without success) the harmony harness, is there any point in trying the sense-sation harness that you both posted about?

The sporn harness hurting the dog ? What a lot of rot ! If you were having such success with it then ignore your trainer and continue with it. Used one for the past 4 years for play walks and provided you have the cords well covered with sheepskin or similiar of course it does not hurt the dog ! Why change something that works for you. A trainer is there to guide and educate you not make all the decisions for you !

[Red Fox]

I've tried to get the loose leash walking thing right - and for some reason I am hopelessly incompetent.

I'm going to wait for Steve to come to Adelaide for one last try - and if I'm still hopelessly incompetent after he's shown me what to do - I'm buying a harness!

Colosmo I agree - For those of us who are too dumb (or have dogs who are too challanging) I think it's probably a great tool

But Huski I also agree with your point that a trainer should be able to get the dogs walking lose leash - even if that doesn't translate to the owner being able to do it.

Well if Steve can teach me he can teach anyone

As far as the harnesses go I see no problems with them. If it means that an owner can walk their dog then that can only be a good thing.

But my concern with a harness is how do you correct the dog or get their attention if need be? I'm sure I could put Kei on a Sporn/no pull harness and he would find it aversive enough to walk on a loose leash BUT when he sees another dog he goes into complete overdrive. At the moment I can give him a couple of light pops to bring his attention back well before he gets to the screaming, lunging stage (and believe me, if he gets to that stage he will pull through anything -including a prong collar). But how could you do this with a harness? In Kei's case I think he would break it if I couldn't bring his attention back and he got too worked up!