Our Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (Adolescent Support Group)

[MonCoubousMonTourmalet]

Okay folks, let's head into late summer/autumn.

It was me that suggested a martingale @DislocatedShoulder and no, it is nothing like a choke chain. It does not work in the same way at all. A choke chain has no stopping point and will continue to tighten when the dog pulls, but a martingale can only tighten to a certain point and can be very precisely adjusted so it cannot hurt the dog or pull too tight. It is useful where there is a risk of a collar slipping off, as in my dogs case because she has a furry ruff. I thought it might be a helpful suggestion given that you are struggling.

FTR I would NEVER use a choke chain on my dog, despite her being FOUR times the weight of yours 😁

Anyway, I shall bow out of the thread now because very clearly my input is not needed here.

God bless Mumsnet, there’s always one 🙄

@DislocatedShoulder I have a Mekuti 3m double ended lead and I love it - and the harness, which lets me sort of loop the front end through the chest piece and then connect on the other side - makes it like using toddler reins. I also have a couple of Halti leads (like this) but he outgrew the thinner ones and managed to break the bungee on two of the larger ones (designed for bloody Rottweilers). I did like having a bungee - much easier on the arms pre-walking belt - but I don't think it helped him learn not to pull, and it was getting a bit embarrassing having to return them every few weeks...

@Bupster that photo really confused me. I thought for a moment it was Bill dressed as a werewolf for Halloween 😆

That's hilarious. It would give me ideas except he needs no assistance to be a horror...

@Bupster that looks really interesting, I’m going to read further about it. It doesn’t look as cluttered as my monster does with all his gear on. Your dog sounds like a proper character! If a handful!

Is this the harness he escaped from? It looks worryingly similar to one of ours...

Yes, but in fairness, Bill has managed to get out of every harness he's ever worn, largely because I'm trying to persuade him onwards when he very definitely doesn't want to do so. Short of getting a harness that straps around his fluffy white arse I don't think there's much to be done except haul in the other direction next time.

Scary though, that it's even possible for them to come off 😨That was how B slipped her fixed collar; I was walking ahead, trying to tow her along, it slid over her head. It's why I now use the other type of collar that shall be nameless 😏

In general with Bill my problem is slowing him down. He does sometimes come to a grinding halt because he doesn't want to shift, but today's lesson is if I really want him to, I have to either bribe him effectively or lift him bodily.

I can't imagine there are many harnesses or collars that he couldn't actually wriggle his way out of if he really wanted to. And I don't really mind - he once got his collar caught in the v between two tree trunk/branches and got stuck and it was terrifying; I'd far rather he be able to get himself out of trouble even if it means he can get himself in it as well!

Can you still lift him? He looks quite solid.

That's a good point about the danger aspect - I know they always say that about cat collars, it's important that they slip off easily. I can see that would be important when dogs are off lead for any length of time.

With B, the issue is that she puts the brakes on when we start the walk home, so I end up towing her up the hill. It's why I got the hound harness with two girth straps, but no doubt your little Houdini could probably wriggle his way out of that one too 🙄

I can! When I first got him, my trainer at the gym used to get me to do what she called a Lurcher Squat (it's a zercher squat and it's horrible). She said 'what if he gets as big as a Labrador and you have to carry him through a flood?'. I am surrounded by nobheads. It was very handy though, I can still lift him up, though it would have to be a very small flood as I can't carry him very far. His fur is as soft as a kitten but beneath that squidgy exterior is 25kg of solid muscle, honed on mouse nests 😄