Slip lead or harness for puppy?

[Butterflowers]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about my Shihtzhu puppy who is quite stubborn when we are out for walk. He doesn't like to go too far and will sit and refuse to move. I can't lure him with treats or toys when we are out, he just isn't interested. We had his 4 month puppy check today at the vets so I asked for advice. The veterinary nurse told me that I should stop using a harness as they give him all the power in his shoulders and will allow him to pull when walking. She suggested a slip lead instead and that I should pull/drag him to make him walk in the direction that I want him to go. I'm a bit shocked by this actually and am wondering if I'm being too soft by not wanting to do this?

A Veterinary nurse advised this? i'd be reporting him/her! That is appalling advice. Slip leads can damage grown dogs but Puppies have fragile necks that slip leads and dragging should have no contact with!

Thank goodness you said that, my friend has just told me she agrees with the veterinary nurse and said that I need to be the boss or he could turn snappy. So much conflicting advice is bamboozling my brain.

Use the harness. We only use slip leads when walking to an area we let our dogs off lead.

I didn't bother with the harness today, he really doesn't like having it put on/off. It goes over his head and he wriggles and bites to get away. I spoke to a behaviour therapist who said try mixing it up by clipping the lead to his collar sometimes and harness other times, see which works best. She also said don't pull/drag him but try to encourage him to go further with a higher reward treat than what I have been previously been using. Also to feed him after his walks and not before so he's more likely to eat the treats. Today I took some sausage and ham out with us and he went further away from the house than he usually does. Much better than the advise from the veterinary nurse. We both came home much happier.

Have a look at the Perfect Fit harnesses by Dog Games - they come in three parts that clip together, so they don't have to go over the head, and you can replace each part individually as your puppy grows, or chews them

Please don't drag your puppy on a slip lead puppies especially small breed dogs have delicate tracheas that you could easily damage.

I've ordered a Mekuti Balance Dog Harness and lead set, so will see how we get on with that when it comes.

Can you make walks rewarding so he begins to associate with good things? Maybe walk for a tiny bit.then give him a puppy bone and carry home or get someone to give you a lift home?