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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Can my puppy wear a harness all day?

93 replies

HollyGrave · 28/07/2023 20:23

Finding it annoying taking it on and off to take outside or to pop a lead on when going into rooms that she needs to be close to me in, etc. can I just keep her in the harness until bedtime/unsupervised, where I'd obviously take it off or is that too much time spent in one?

OP posts:
Original poster
HollyGrave · 28/07/2023 22:10

@Newjobformoremoney that sounds good, what harness is it? and thank you Smile

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 28/07/2023 22:15

If it helps at all, I spend a fair bit of time in one room with the door shut when settling in a new dog, the cat then can go where she likes except in that room.

Gives is all a break

oakleaffy · 28/07/2023 22:24

Any cat worthy of the name is quite capable of putting an impudent puppy in it’s place.

Never heard of a dog harnessed indoors it attached to it’s owner before-.
Training is about trust
Not enforcement where a dog is harnessed next to it’s owner indoors.

Harnesses also are easy to take on and off if one uses a harness ( I prefer a flat leather collar and a loose lead-
Can’t see any merit in having a dog handcuffed to it’s owner all day- sounds horrible for the dog.

oakleaffy · 28/07/2023 22:34

The secure fence should have been installed long before getting a dog.
Any decent rescue or responsible person selling a puppy or adult wants to know that a garden is absolutely dog proof.
Tall and strong so a dog can run safely and play.
It really is a basic necessity.

Original poster
HollyGrave · 28/07/2023 22:37

Plenty of people have dogs in apartments

OP posts:
Moanycowbag · 28/07/2023 23:00

I have a harness on mu pup in the evening because he chases the cat, we are working on this, but I just have a soft mesh one with a lightweight house line attached, it does not rub and he doesn't mind wearing it, I also used to put one on him to take him out in the garden when he first came home as garden huge, puppy very small and there are rabbit holes in the hedges. which he could have easily popped down if so inclined.

Don't worry op, as long as it fits well, doesn't rub and pup doesn't mind then I would possibly continue, but would take it off for sleeps/naps if crated.

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 06:46

Please never leave a dog unattended in a harness/collar etc.
Secure fencing should be in place prior to puppy coming home.
What type of dog and who is trainer? I've never heard of this strategy before and it smacks of basic training not being in place. What are the qualifications of the trainer?

AlwaysGinPlease · 29/07/2023 06:51

@BeautyandtheBeats is right.

You're lazy and cruel. You asked a question. You're being told the answer and you're arguing. Poor animal.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 06:51

Blimey, some of these responses 🙄

As long as the harness is soft, comfortable and doesn't rub then of course it's fine to keep them in it all day. It's a harness, not a bloody torture device!

Or do some people on here genuinely think that dogs who are out walking all day in harnesses are somehow being abused?Confused

AlwaysGinPlease · 29/07/2023 06:53

HollyGrave · 28/07/2023 22:37

Plenty of people have dogs in apartments

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. An apartment with a garden with immediate access is fine. Having a dog, any animal, is a privilege not a right.

anywherebutthere · 29/07/2023 07:03

I agree, soft harness all day is absolutely fine. Some short haired dogs wear jumpers all day, there's not much difference?
You can get the harnesses that are much more clothing like and not straps/ropes. They don't even have buckles, you slip over their head like a tshirt.

tabulahrasa · 29/07/2023 07:05

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 06:46

Please never leave a dog unattended in a harness/collar etc.
Secure fencing should be in place prior to puppy coming home.
What type of dog and who is trainer? I've never heard of this strategy before and it smacks of basic training not being in place. What are the qualifications of the trainer?

I mean... puppies tend not to come with basic training in place....

Using a lead to cat train is pretty standard, stops the puppy getting the chance to practise the unwanted behaviour.

anywherebutthere · 29/07/2023 07:06

This one for example is pretty much a tshirt.

Can my puppy wear a harness all day?
Bspena · 29/07/2023 07:18

I feel sorry for the blind cat, it's like you stuck him in the middle of a road and then been annoyed he couldn't dodge a car.

Flipflopflopflip · 29/07/2023 07:20

HollyGrave · 28/07/2023 22:37

Plenty of people have dogs in apartments

But you don't live in an apartment...you live in a property with an insecure garden.

Agree with other posters that tying your dog to you to be trained around the cat really is a ridiculous solution.

Sound alike you're going to leave the harness on all day regardless of what others think, not sure why you asked, so make you pick a soft one rather than a sturdy dog walking one.

There's a lot of annoying things about puppies, you better brace yourself 🤣

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 07:21

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 06:46

Please never leave a dog unattended in a harness/collar etc.
Secure fencing should be in place prior to puppy coming home.
What type of dog and who is trainer? I've never heard of this strategy before and it smacks of basic training not being in place. What are the qualifications of the trainer?

Using a tether in the house is actually a very common training technique.

It helps with toilet training (as the puppy is always attached to you so can't sneak off to toilet somewhere), as well as with cat training (as it means the puppy never gets to chase the cat).

We also used a tether on our beagle as a teenager so that he couldn't run about like an idiot during his "witching hour" - the lead meant he had no choice but to settle with us and when he did, we praised and treated him. After a couple of months we got rid of the lead as he settled automatically without it.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 07:23

Agree with other posters that tying your dog to you to be trained around the cat really is a ridiculous solution.

It's not ridiculous, it's actually an incredibly common way to cat-train puppies as it stops them from ever being able to chase.

Once a puppy chases a cat, it's really hard to get them to stop as nothing you can offer beats the enjoyment of the chase. But if you can teach the puppy never to chase at all, it makes life much easier - for you, the puppy and the cat.

Original poster
HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 07:30

I have to say, I'm finding the cruel comments rather hilarious.

To the person underestimating my blind cat as well, have you ever had a blind cat? Although, according to the solution here, I shouldn't be leashing the puppy anyway and not bother trying to teach him not to chase him, as others have said, it's a common training technique.

And yes, I don't live in an apartment, 4 more weeks and there will be a huge secure garden that backs on to fields and forest, oh what a sad and cruel living space for the dog. However, having a lead on while I take it for the toilet is also now horrible, but it would be fine in an apartment but not because there's just 4 more weeks of it. Very interesting mindset of a lot of people in this dog section.

OP posts:
Original poster
HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 07:31

*her to chase him

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 07:40

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 07:21

Using a tether in the house is actually a very common training technique.

It helps with toilet training (as the puppy is always attached to you so can't sneak off to toilet somewhere), as well as with cat training (as it means the puppy never gets to chase the cat).

We also used a tether on our beagle as a teenager so that he couldn't run about like an idiot during his "witching hour" - the lead meant he had no choice but to settle with us and when he did, we praised and treated him. After a couple of months we got rid of the lead as he settled automatically without it.

Show quote history

Well I've never heard of it and certainly no trainer I know uses that technique so 🤷‍♀️
Instead of tethering during witching hour why not just train a 'settle' command?
OP really doesn't come across like they were prepared for a puppy/understood the training required in the early stages.

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 07:43

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 07:30

I have to say, I'm finding the cruel comments rather hilarious.

To the person underestimating my blind cat as well, have you ever had a blind cat? Although, according to the solution here, I shouldn't be leashing the puppy anyway and not bother trying to teach him not to chase him, as others have said, it's a common training technique.

And yes, I don't live in an apartment, 4 more weeks and there will be a huge secure garden that backs on to fields and forest, oh what a sad and cruel living space for the dog. However, having a lead on while I take it for the toilet is also now horrible, but it would be fine in an apartment but not because there's just 4 more weeks of it. Very interesting mindset of a lot of people in this dog section.

Well I hope youve started training your recall already with all the forests etc.
FYI people aren't being cruel, they are pointing out that you don't seem to have prepared for puppy's arrival. There is a lot of information out there about how to train pup around cats if you take the time to look and this should have been started on Day 1 and then you wouldn't need to tether the dog.

Original poster
HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 07:49

@twistyizzy I'm happy having a 1-1 trainer for the help with that, thanks

OP posts:
EdithStourton · 29/07/2023 07:49

This thread is a classic case of how some Doghouse posters 'welcome' new posters.

OP cares enough to ask. OP gets a pile-on from a minority.

If you disagree with what someone is doing, they're more likely to listen to you if you tell them kindly and politely.

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 07:51

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 07:49

@twistyizzy I'm happy having a 1-1 trainer for the help with that, thanks

That's great, make sure your trainer is qualified and experienced with your breed of dog. What breed is it?

stevalnamechanger · 29/07/2023 07:54

It's not cruel, many daycares do it .

As long as it fits correctly and isn't rubbing as can cause sores and hair damage