Page 4 | Can my puppy wear a harness all day?

HollyGrave · 2023-07-28T19:23:48+00:00

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?

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 10:30

Moanycowbag · 29/07/2023 09:37

Really? you seem to be shocked that others train differently from you, using a house line is quite an old and well used practise, but hey you train spaniels so you must be amazing and know everything!

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Ffs you really are pushing to turn this into an argument aren't you 🙄. Where have I ever said that I was shocked that other people train fifteenth to me? I merely stated that I had never heard of this technique,l and I have never needed to tether a dog in the house, not that I didn't believe it!
20+ years of dog training experience probably gives me a smidge more experience than an owner with their first dog but I never claim to know everything!

oakleaffy · 29/07/2023 13:12

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 07:40

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.

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Completely agree- not having a secure garden is just scatty.
Get the fences secure before getting a dog.
Tall ones too, as most dogs are good at jumping.
Sounds like a whim purchase without much thought.

Original poster

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 13:13

@oakleaffy maybe at least read my posts? Wasn't some random purchase ffs.

OP posts:

oakleaffy · 29/07/2023 13:15

So why not get the fences in place before getting a dog?

VinEtFromage · 29/07/2023 13:20

Wheresmyrobe · 29/07/2023 08:29

Definitely not. Dogs shouldn't even wear collars at home. There's a risk of hanging themselves.

@Wheresmyrobe

that's very alarmist. Lots of things are a 'possibility' but I'd be interested to know what the statistics are of puppies wearing a harness or collar.

oakleaffy · 29/07/2023 13:26

Iggys have very fine skin that can rub easily- a soft wide collar is much better

They are notoriously difficult to house train, so a trigger word is far more effective as is a good routine -
They don’t like the rain, so when it’s blowing a gale outside, you will have to be supervising outside-

Most that end up in rescue are due to house training issues.

Watch for clothing rubbing as well
Even fleece can create rubs on fine coated dogs.

Original poster

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 13:32

@oakleaffy do you have any suggestions on good collars that are suitable? Can I attach a lead to just the neck collar? They seem like they have such delicate little necks...

OP posts:

VinEtFromage · 29/07/2023 13:37

@HollyGrave

Give the thread up as a lost cause! Go cuddle your absolutely gorgeous puppy!!
there's no problem with leaving a soft harness on her for chunks of the day.

Not having the fence already only impacts you & it's only a short while, you'd think you'd said you were never getting a fence!!

💕 she really is gorgeous!! 💕

@Helenloveslee4eva I love the Spaniel Splat!!

I bet they love you bringing him in!

schloss · 29/07/2023 13:50

My thoughts - it is not a training method I would use but if you are happy with your trainer and how your puppy is doing that is the important bit.

I personally would not use a harness on any dog all dog, especially a fine skinned dog such as an Italian Greyhound, who looks very sweet in the photo - a lovely breed.

I would search for sighthound house collars and use one of those, with the caveat of always making sure the puppy cannot get caught up on anything with the collar on. Connect a lead to the collar when needed, however also be aware, especially for such a delicate breed as an IG, it is easy for their necks/spines to be damaged if they pull or you go in opposite directions.

My opinions are: a harness is better than a collar but not on all day, I would find a harness which just has a chest strap and one buckle/fitting - it is then just placed over the dogs head and done up, takes seconds.

If that is not an option a soft house collar, but I also would not leave it on the puppy all the time.

Finally a soft leather half check collar could be used, easy to put on, in a second and clip a lead to it.

Irrespective of training method used - the types of leads, collars and harnesses used can indicate to dogs and therefore train them to know what is expected of them, so leaving them on all the time defeats the training methods. That may not be clear, so as an example - dogs which do cani-cross know when their harness goes on, they will do cani-cross, when a show dog has a very fine show lead on, they know they are going to show. When a dog has its "normal" lead or harness on it knows it is just going for a walk.

Good luck with your IG, a lovely breed.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 13:51

oakleaffy · 29/07/2023 13:15

So why not get the fences in place before getting a dog?

Maybe the work was delayed? Maybe there was a supply issue?

It really doesn't matter - there's no requirement to have a secure garden just because you have a puppy. Yes, it makes life easier but that's about it!

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 13:53

And a lot of people on this post have said they have never heard of it. I am on a lot of training groups sites and I've never heard of it there either. Just because you say it is common doesn't mean it is!

Well, every trainer I've ever worked with has been a very strong advocate of tethering - I also work with dogs and see lots of owners use it with great success.

You seem almost pissed off that other people have come along and validated the methods OP is using

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 16:23

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 13:53

And a lot of people on this post have said they have never heard of it. I am on a lot of training groups sites and I've never heard of it there either. Just because you say it is common doesn't mean it is!

Well, every trainer I've ever worked with has been a very strong advocate of tethering - I also work with dogs and see lots of owners use it with great success.

You seem almost pissed off that other people have come along and validated the methods OP is using

I am not in the slightest bit pissed off, it makes zero impact on my life what others do. However others seem pissed off that I'm saying I haven't heard of it. Why does it matter so much that I haven't heard of it/use it,?

Shopper727 · 29/07/2023 16:26

Mine doesn’t as he chewed through his as a pup so trying to avoid that, just have a collar on then clip lead when you need to? It won’t be very comfy for them sleeping in a harness , depending what one it can also be bad for shoulder joints if pup is wearing it all the time, make sure it’s a Y fitting at the front with front and back loops for your lead.

stevalnamechanger · 29/07/2023 16:55

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 13:32

@oakleaffy do you have any suggestions on good collars that are suitable? Can I attach a lead to just the neck collar? They seem like they have such delicate little necks...

Never attach a long line to a neck collar ! Imagine if they reach the end of the line at speed . Not good .

Very cute

tabulahrasa · 29/07/2023 16:56

HollyGrave · 29/07/2023 13:32

@oakleaffy do you have any suggestions on good collars that are suitable? Can I attach a lead to just the neck collar? They seem like they have such delicate little necks...

I wouldn’t use a collar, not for what you’re using it for on a little puppy that isn’t going to just have the lead loose all the time.

Now I’ve seen she’s an Italian greyhound, tbh, I don’t know that I’d leave the harness on her either, they do have really fine coats and thin skin...

I’d look for one that’s easier to get on and off I think.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 29/07/2023 16:58

twistyizzy · 29/07/2023 16:23

I am not in the slightest bit pissed off, it makes zero impact on my life what others do. However others seem pissed off that I'm saying I haven't heard of it. Why does it matter so much that I haven't heard of it/use it,?

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There's nothing wrong with not having heard of something.

But you didn't just say you hadn't heard of that particular technique, you commented that "it smacks of basic training not being in place."

How can you say that when you haven't even heard of the technique in the first place? Just because OP is using a technique you're unfamiliar with, doesn't mean she's doing something wrong.

schloss · 29/07/2023 17:03

schloss · 29/07/2023 13:50

My thoughts - it is not a training method I would use but if you are happy with your trainer and how your puppy is doing that is the important bit.

I personally would not use a harness on any dog all dog, especially a fine skinned dog such as an Italian Greyhound, who looks very sweet in the photo - a lovely breed.

I would search for sighthound house collars and use one of those, with the caveat of always making sure the puppy cannot get caught up on anything with the collar on. Connect a lead to the collar when needed, however also be aware, especially for such a delicate breed as an IG, it is easy for their necks/spines to be damaged if they pull or you go in opposite directions.

My opinions are: a harness is better than a collar but not on all day, I would find a harness which just has a chest strap and one buckle/fitting - it is then just placed over the dogs head and done up, takes seconds.

If that is not an option a soft house collar, but I also would not leave it on the puppy all the time.

Finally a soft leather half check collar could be used, easy to put on, in a second and clip a lead to it.

Irrespective of training method used - the types of leads, collars and harnesses used can indicate to dogs and therefore train them to know what is expected of them, so leaving them on all the time defeats the training methods. That may not be clear, so as an example - dogs which do cani-cross know when their harness goes on, they will do cani-cross, when a show dog has a very fine show lead on, they know they are going to show. When a dog has its "normal" lead or harness on it knows it is just going for a walk.

Good luck with your IG, a lovely breed.

Quoting my own post here, maybe I have misunderstoon, I thought you were just saying always having a lead on to go out into the garden or when you need to access places where the cat iw. If you are long lining her then 100% only do this with a harness, as others have said a collar is an absolute no no.

Lordofmyflies · 29/07/2023 17:03

Hi OP, your pup is beautiful! I think I would buy a very soft wide collar for an IG unless I could be REALLY sure the harness was a true fit. Many harnesses don't allow for free movement of the shoulder girdle and alter the dog's gait. If you can get a super soft harness that doesn't affect her gait, thats got to be the best option - otherwise, soft wide house collar. But either way, remove them when not required - IG's have very thin, fine skin and I'd be afraid of rubbing.