No pull harnesses

[ChickensGoMeh]

Jasper, 6 month old cocker/springer cross, is a git for pulling on lead. He will walk beautifully on lead in the house/garden after months of training and a pocketful of cheese, but as soon as you get outside on a walk he is all about the tug. I've tried stopping every time (it took 45 minutes to get to the end of the road), but as I take him on the school run it isn't always practical. He pulls so much he chokes himself, and this morning was sick. So I went to the pet shop to get a harness so that until we have the pulling thing licked, I can walk him without him damaging his neck. The sales person in the shop showed me this 'No pull' harness which when the dog pulls, exerts pressure between the dogs shoulder blades. I was assured it doesn't hurt. Jasper walked on it in the shop, and it did stop him pulling. But I didn't buy it as I was concerned as to whether it's cruel or not. So, over to you people. Is it an acceptable, helpful training tool? Or is it a bit mean?

[tooearlytobeup]

I can't help, but your post has made me feel so much better! I have exactly the same problem with my pup (7 month old Springer) He walks perfectly on the lead at home, and he is Ok at training class too, but walks are awful!

He pulls so badly that I am afraid of being pulled over on slippery ground like mud, so I tend to do off lead walks most often. I bought a Gentle Leader which worked brilliantly for a couple of weeks, but is now much less effective {sad}

I was using the stop/start method too, for months, but it made no difference, and I was then worried that as we hardly moved he would not get enough exercise

I hope someone knowledgeable has some advice

[PersonalClown]

If Jasper will allow it, Halti all the way.

I have a dopey, bouncy Doodle and a hyper-I-need-to-sniff-everything Staffy.
They could pull your arms out of the sockets.
With a halti on, they've become a joy to walk.

Some dogs are fussy/uncomfortable with something on their nose/close to their eyes though.

[tooearlytobeup]

Is Halti better than the Gentle Leader? I was worried about the muzzling action on it (my pup is very very friendly and loves to chase balls) but will give it a go if it makes things easier

[MoaningMinnieWhingesAgain]

I use a Gentle Leader on my collie as he pulls terribly and treats etc do not distract him one bit. He can pant etc fine with it on, and I take it off for playing with the ball. Usually walk him with both children and it was too unsafe to let it carry on.

I understand those harness mean their front legs are lifted up a bit so they can't pull successfully. I don't think they look like they would hurt then.

I only walk him to the park with it on, then he is off lead, I take the head collar off altogether. He is usually chilled out enough after exercise to walk back most of the way off lead but he is not quite reliable yet. But he is better off lead than on, doesn't wander too far ahead, comes back when asked. But he is too excited to walk nicely on the way there.

[PersonalClown]

A Gentle leader and Halti differ slightly under the jaw.
The gentle leader is fixed under the jaw see here
A halti has both sides linking through a loop which , when pulled tight CAN muzzle. Here

Neither muzzle or clamp the jaws shut when relaxed. You can pull on the halti to use it like a muzzle though.

Both mine still manage to pick up sticks, discarded food and god knows what else on walks!

[toboldlygo]

I dislike the no-pull harnesses because I think they are counter intuitive - my dogs, and many others, find leaning into a harness and pulling very rewarding and easier than pulling on a collar (think of what you put on a Siberian husky to enable them to pull a sled long distances in comfort...). I've known dogs who just pulled through the discomfort of the Lupi type harnesses and ripped out all the hair in their armpits by leaning into the rope.

I also don't like headcollars for long term use - fine to help break the habit on a really established puller, perhaps, but they can be pretty aversive tools and I see so many dogs crabbing along with the strap up in their eyes. The Dogmatic ones appear to be the best fit if you do want to go down that route.

Really though there is no tool that will cure pulling, only mask the problem (and maybe only temporarily). If he can do it in the garden, he can do it outside, you just need to generalise the behaviour to lots of different scenarios.

If he's not in a regular weekly training class that's the first port of call, a second pair of hands and eyes is invaluable as is the opportunity to practice around other dogs and people. I often think that so many niggly issues like this would be solved so quickly (or not have occurred in the first place!) if people went to a good, fun training class every week (forgive me if you already do but so many don't).

Secondly, pick a method and stick with it - I like the silky leash method or Kikopup's Youtube videos, all easy, positive and just requiring a flat collar, leash and treats. Be consistent, be upbeat, work on getting and keeping your dog's attention no matter where you are. Make yourself the most exciting thing in the world (cheese/chicken/sausages, high pitched 'puppp-eeeee, PUP PUP PUP, look at meeeee, eeeeeee!', scattering cheese in your wake ), reward lavishly for a slack lead. Spaniels are smart, he will get it very quickly if you're consistent. :)

[ChickensGoMeh]

We were in a training class, but it finished before Christmas and the next level class is held too far away and quite late (I don't drive, so DH would have to drive me, pup and two knackered primary schoolers around at 10pm). Hmmm. Not sure what to do. Is there any way of using the harness alongside the loose leash training so that I don't get my arm pulled from its socket and Jasper learns not to pull? I'm actually genuinely concerned that he will damage his neck.

[twange]

Hi, I purchased a 'stop-pull' harness from pets@home a couple of months ago as my shoulder was starting to play up with all the pulling. I've found my dog still goes ahead to pull, but he puts no where near as much pressure on once the lead is taught. He now feels just like my yorkie does when he pulls and I can live with that. I only have them on lead till we get to the park anyway, and like you, I just want to keep going and excercise them at a good pace, so for me it has really helped and given me an immediate solution to my problem. It doesn't seem to have hurt him in any way as far as I can tell.

[cravingcake]

i have gentle leaders for my two cocker spaniels - the best thing ever. I got them when I was about 19 weeks pregnant as they were hurting my back as they would pull. They now walk very well beside my buggy on the gentle leader collars and the only time they try to pull is when we turn the corner to our street coming home.

The idea is that they dont like the pressure feeling around their nose - it doesnt hurt them, it is just uncomfortable and gets more uncomfortable the more they pull, so it discourages them from pulling.