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  1. #11
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    I had planned on a Gentle Leader or something, but our breeder and trainers all said that we needed to learn to control her via voice and training and not physical restraint—she could out-pull any of us—so that's what we did. Also, ditto above on the thought that harnesses can teach dogs to pull with the strongest parts of their bodies. I don't want to encourage that in Hoku.

    Hoku walks really well loose-leash (and knows well to "heel," or "wait" if we need her to). But in situations that might involve something that could induce her to freak out or slip the collar, we use a plastic pronged training collar. She doesn't pull at it, but it seems to give her a sense of control and safety.

    This past weekend we were down at the new cabin, and on a short walk to the beach she met her first up-close deer. Really close, like maybe 30' away. The deer was unperturbed; Hoku didn't bark (she never barks, save an occasional low RUFF if she thinks there's a threat), but MAN she was interested. She wanted to go see what this WEIRD THAT'S NO DOG was. I wanted to let her see it, and the deer was not at all upset, so I got down low, to lower my center of gravity, and had her sit, and had my hands on her collar. The plastic training collar gave me a little extra security in this.

    A couple houses down—we're in a big wildlife area there, and I learned this weekend there are bears—she saw or smelled something that really freaked her out. She jerked away from me and into the (deserted) street. I had her leash, of course, and the pronged collar, and she was fine after a few seconds. But whatever she saw / smelled (I think smelled) freaked her out, and she could have possibly pulled from a flat collar. Her neck is barely narrower than her head.

    So whatever works, works. We've chosen against a halter of any type, because that works for us.
    Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15

  2. #12
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    nothing beats regular collars and training.

  3. #13
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    I second the training. Personally, I prefer a (properly fitted) metal prong when the pup is young. It will take very little time for the dog to understand that pulling isn't part of the vocabulary when on a neck based collar of any sort. It is self correcting-- dog pulls/strains/lunges, dog corrects himself and it's not a trachea damaging type correction because it's evenly applied, high on the neck (collar to be placed high, near the ears on the neck).

    Harnesses have their place if you have a dog w/ LP or neck issues who cannot have any added pressure on their neck (at this point, you hope you have a well trained dog for your shoulders' sake!). Also if you are engaging in scent work/ tracking where pulling and being in the lead is encouraged...
    Hidden Content
    The WindyCanyon Girls (taken Summer 2018)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Northern Spy CDX RA JH OA OAJ CC (14.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Ruby Pink BN CD RA CC (4.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Kanzi BN CDX RE JH (5 yrs)
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    IntCH WindyCanyon's Pippin BN RI CC (2.5 yrs)
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    IntCH HIT WindyCanyon's Kiku A Fuji Too CDX RE JH CC (10 yrs)







  4. The Following User Says Thank You to windycanyon For This Useful Post:

    Annette47 (05-31-2016)

  5. #14
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I use a harness for nose work and tracking but took the time to teach Maxx to walk nicely on a flat, buckle collar. I think a harness encouages pulling and the one you are talking about throws off the gait of some dogs, I would be concerned about injury.
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    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  6. #15
    Puppy
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    the gentle leader worked pretty well for Vera, except I hated using it in public, since all the passers-by seemed to assume it was a muzzle and then they'ed look at me all aghast with looks on their face that said "how dare you bring that deadly beast so close to my precious children?!?"

    This really annoyed me since the only risk Vera poses to their children is excessive face licking.

  7. #16
    Puppy Chippersnoodles's Avatar
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    Chip wears an EZ walk harness when we go out. He is pretty good on leash for me but it does give me the advantage that if he is extremely distracted by something, I can turn him to look at me without too much difficulty. It doesn't rub his skin or anything and he loves wearing it. We don't use it as a substitute for training and communication, it's just an added layer of security.
    Mom to 13 yr old DD, 1 black lab: Chip (DOB 4/26/12), 1 dachshund mix: Betsy (DOB 6/2008, gotcha date 8/2008), and 1 Californian rabbit: Smudge (DOB 8/13).

  8. #17
    Real Retriever Rosy's Avatar
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    I choose Back Clip harness for my doggy

  9. #18
    Best Friend Retriever silverfz's Avatar
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    I broke down and got a easy harness this week for Gigi. She got a little uncontrollable in the Delaware seashore state park.all the dogs ,kids , beech camping and birds .she immediately got better. So in 3 days her regular collar manner has improved too. I use the easy walk a few times but most the time she is on regular collar. Even my wife noticed it. She walks great with me or wife but when our kids are with us she gets all bent out of shape so the harness.

  10. #19
    Puppy
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    Dec 2015
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    I had great success with the Gentle Leader and then one day I put that on her and she just refused to walk. She loves all food, and not even the tastiest treat could tempt her to get up and walk. I managed to coax her a few steps at a time, and the next walk, she refused to walk again. It was so frustrating.

    Next I tried to Easy Walk and fingers crossed -- so far so good! She was a terrible puller and since I am usually pushing a stroller while walking her, I just didn't have the time and ability to train her from pulling by turning around and walking in the opposite direction like the trainer recommended. Now, the pullng has largely stopped. It's wonderful. I wonder if part of it is just growing out of the crazy puppy phase (she's 10 months now).

  11. #20
    Best Friend Retriever silverfz's Avatar
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    Gigi is pulling a lot less and we only use the gentle harness when we travel and know she will get excited.

    Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 



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