Harnesses and other issues.

[HotnSunnyRainbowRoses]

Ugh, please help!

No harness fits my little dog (Chihuahua), they all either rub his arm pits or gape at his shoulders so while walking he ends up pushing his front leg through the front of the harness 😡

A new custom made harness arrived for him yesterday, I deliberately provided his measurements so it would fit and again, fitted fine around his neck and belly but gaped around his shoulders.

Took him out this morning, walking for less than a minute and his front leg has popped through so I have to fart arse about trying to release his leg and remove the harness from the now stuck and panicked dog and clip his lead onto his collar.

I dont really want him on a collar because although he’s fairly good at walking he is liable to lunge on spotting other dogs.

So, any suggestions for harnesses that will actually fit would be great!

Also, does anyone have any tips for frustration tolerance around other dogs please?

He comes across quite aggressive sometimes because he lunges and sometimes barks on spotting other dogs on lead.
Although he is a bit nervous around ‘full on’ dogs it’s mostly frustration.
When loose if he spots another dog he runs in circles around them wanting them to run and play chase with him, if they don’t he gets annoyed and starts barking at them 🙈

For a harness, have you tried perfect fit?

www.perfect-fit-dog-harness.com/perfect-fit-fleece-dog-harness.html

Perfect Fit!

they really live up to their name too. I have them for my chis and my littlest one who is an escape artist can’t get out of it no matter how hard she tries

Perfect fit is one I haven’t yet tried, thank you, I’ll look into getting him one.

Does anyone have any tips to get him to be a bit calmer around other dogs too please?

Best way to encourage calmness around other dogs is to be around other dogs. My dog behaved like that it's really common. I did puppy play dates off leash in a secure garden. Also went for longer walks with friends with more mature dogs after the initial blast of silliness she'd calm right down and copy their good behaviour.

Another vote for Perfect Fit. Go into a shop to get him fitted though.

My girl had three pieces to her harness, many dogs will only need two pieces. She's a greyhound cross with collie, malamute and husky so has a massive barrel chest and skinny waist with a ridiculous giraffe neck 😂 so most harnesses didn't fit her.

Dog tax photo included.

My girl had three pieces to her harness, many dogs will only need two pieces.

All perfect fit harnesses need three pieces to make up a complete harness

@RedCarsGoFaster yep, my boy has a very similar shape.
Long neck, short legs, little wasp waist, big ass chest.
Hes very muscular for such a little dog, his chest/shoulders jut out further than your lovely dog but very similar shape.

Def perfect fit, and they are super helpful on fitting and returns. But it being 3 separate parts really does help - one of my fosters had an XS, S and L combination

Our local dog food place sold perfect fit and were brilliant and patient with fitting to make sure it was right. I'd really recommend

Definitely Perfect Fit. I currently have a toy breed pup that is quite deep chested. He’s in their newer tiny sizes range, Size 1 top, size 4 base piece. It’s different to their standard harnesses which consist of three pieces, as it just has the top and base pieces.

They have worked for every size and shape dog I’ve had since they came out, from this tiny one, up to an really big Lurcher who needed XS front, S top and XL chest/girth pieces. He had incredibly thin, easily damaged skin as well, but as they are fleece the PF didn’t rub him at all.

If you can’t get to a shop that does fitting, call them. They are really helpful over the phone and help you work out the correct size based on current measurements and expected adult weight/size if they are a pup. If a component doesn’t fit you can exchange it free of charge for an alternative size.