Amazing leash for pullers!

[Kipawa]

Wow! I just put Kipawa's new Easy Walk leash on him and tried it out for one block around our cul-de-sac. It's like walking a different dog! I had loose leash throughout the walk - no more shoulder discomfort for me.

Here is a link to the product. For Kipawa (25 lbs.) I bought the small/medium.

P.S. I have absolutely no ties to this company. They were suggested to me.

http://www.sitstay.com/dog/supplies/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=59915

[Kananga]

Interesting. I'll have to see if any local places have these.

I've been looking for a good harness. Kananga is a big puller at times and I always worry about him slipping out of his collar.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Patty]

Sounds very good, Fran but does it rub under his legs? I ve tried something like (but not this one) and found my B got quite sore.

[MacPack]

A friend got one of these for her foster/maybe-new-boy who is a terrible tugger. She said it made a big difference right away.

[Kipawa]

@Patty:

Sounds very good, Fran but does it rub under his legs? I ve tried something like (but not this one) and found my B got quite sore.

Patty - thanks for pointing this out. After all walks, I will check Kipawa thoroughly. We just got back from a mile walk. There is no evidence of areas where rubbing might have occured. When fitting the leash, I did allow a fair bit of 'play' to ensure it would not inhibit his gait.

[LindaH]

Thank you, Fran! I've just ordered one…look forward to getting it and trying it out on Blaze!

[lvoss]

I have had a better fit on my basenjis with Sensation, http://www.softouchconcepts.com/products/sense_ation_harness.php

and with the Wags, Wiggles, and Whiskers Freedom Harness,
http://www.wiggleswagswhiskers.com/

All three are good products. The Easy Walk tends to loosen up more easily so be sure to check the fit. Also check to make sure it is not rubbing off hair and causing discomfort under their arms. The Freedom Harness as velvet on it so it is less likely to rub off fur and cause irritation.

[Nemo]

@lvoss:

I have had a better fit on my basenjis with Sensation, http://www.softouchconcepts.com/products/sense_ation_harness.php

and with the Wags, Wiggles, and Whiskers Freedom Harness,
http://www.wiggleswagswhiskers.com/

All three are good products. The Easy Walk tends to loosen up more easily so be sure to check the fit. Also check to make sure it is not rubbing off hair and causing discomfort under their arms. The Freedom Harness as velvet on it so it is less likely to rub off fur and cause irritation.

Can you use the freedom harness without using the martingale part? It seems like it would work like a Sense-ation harness then?

[lvoss]

Yes, you can use the front clip only and it works like the Sensation. You can also use the martingale clip only if you choose.

[CanisBasenjius]

The Wonder Walker is my personal favorite.

Also, it's important to note that after wearing it for a while most dogs will habituate to the harness and start pulling again if you don't actively train the dog to walk on a loose leash. This applies to all harnesses.

[wizard]

I tried the Easy Walk but I couldn't get it to fit correctly – I followed all instructions for sizing exactly. The girth was correct but her distance from chest to leg was wrong and I couldn't get it to downsize enough and a smaller size didn't have enough girth. As a result any time she walked ahead of me (which is most of the time) the whole harness got messed up and then she would balk and try to back out of it (which she did).

[Nemo]

@wizard:

I tried the Easy Walk but I couldn't get it to fit correctly – I followed all instructions for sizing exactly. The girth was correct but her distance from chest to leg was wrong and I couldn't get it to downsize enough and a smaller size didn't have enough girth. As a result any time she walked ahead of me (which is most of the time) the whole harness got messed up and then she would balk and try to back out of it (which she did).

If you're still interested in a harness, the other ones that lvoss mentioned can be custom ordered.

[Kipawa]

Okay, knock me on the head a couple of times. I have no idea why, but I fit the harness so that the leash attaches behind Kipawa's shoulder/back. I hadn't looked at the picture showing the correct placement where the leash attaches in the front. Attaching the leash on the back seems to work for Kipawa. Are there any physical concerns to doing it this way? There are still no areas being irritated.

[lvoss]

I don't know, I am not sure I can picture how you have managed that. If you like the martigale with the clip on the back, you may want to consider a Freedom Harness for you next purchase since it is designed to function that way.

[wizard]

@Kipawa:

Okay, knock me on the head a couple of times. I have no idea why, but I fit the harness so that the leash attaches behind Kipawa's shoulder/back.

Never thought of using it this way (since it's the wrong way) but last night I tried it and it fits Gossy perfectly and works great. Serendipity! It does have a lot of hardware (clips and adjustment sliders) and I worry about these rubbing. I think we will check into some of the other brands.

[bewler]

Thanks, Fran! Do you know if this harness prevents them from backing out of the harness and getting loose? My B-mix Jack seems to have a penchant for pulling backward and OUT of his harness lately. I am looking for something that will prevent him from getting out of his harness on our walks. He is very timid and when he gets freaked on a walk, he seems to be able to back out of his harness - I have tried 2 kinds and he has escaped from both. Luckily, as he has matured, he now longer feels compelled to run one fre, but it is disconcerting none-the-less!

[Kipawa]

@bewler:

Thanks, Fran! Do you know if this harness prevents them from backing out of the harness and getting loose? My B-mix Jack seems to have a penchant for pulling backward and OUT of his harness lately. I am looking for something that will prevent him from getting out of his harness on our walks. He is very timid and when he gets freaked on a walk, he seems to be able to back out of his harness - I have tried 2 kinds and he has escaped from both. Luckily, as he has matured, he now longer feels compelled to run one fre, but it is disconcerting none-the-less!

Well, Kipawa can be a squiggler, especially with this new leash, as he feels that his power has been taken away from him. Sorry Kipawa - that is the reason why you're wearing the leash!

As long as you take the time to fit it properly, I would think even trying to get out of it by backing up would be difficult. Today I am going to fit the harness so that the loop/martingale area will be at the front of his neck, and then will attach the leash to it there.Now, it seems to me that you have to have your dog walk slightly behind you to have this work, otherwise the martingale area is going to be pulled to one side when your dog pulls. Then the placement of the harness is going to be lopsided and more apt to chafe some areas of the body? Hmmmmm….

[CanisBasenjius]

@Kipawa:

Okay, knock me on the head a couple of times. I have no idea why, but I fit the harness so that the leash attaches behind Kipawa's shoulder/back. I hadn't looked at the picture showing the correct placement where the leash attaches in the front. Attaching the leash on the back seems to work for Kipawa. Are there any physical concerns to doing it this way? There are still no areas being irritated.

Yes, it negates the purpose of the harness.

The purpose is to A) help you teach the dog to check in and look back rather than pull and NOT to engage the opposition reflex, which rear clipping harnesses are designed to do (they are "inspired" by sled harnesses).

Yes, front clip harnesses (like any other) may chaff if the dog pulls enough. The purpose is to train the dog not to pull, so if your dog is habituated to the weird feeling of the harness and is just leaning into it and pulling hard enough to rub fur off you're doing it wrong!;)

[Shaye's Mom]

@Kipawa:

Okay, knock me on the head a couple of times. I have no idea why, but I fit the harness so that the leash attaches behind Kipawa's shoulder/back. I hadn't looked at the picture showing the correct placement where the leash attaches in the front. Attaching the leash on the back seems to work for Kipawa. Are there any physical concerns to doing it this way? There are still no areas being irritated.

I have been using the Easy Walk Harness on Shaye and Gemma forever - it is the only harness that makes it possible for me to control them, since that "D" ring in front of their chests will turn their whole body when they try to go where I don't want them to go. I use regular collar leashes with their retractables when they will be able to wander around fields, but if we're walking in public, those harnesses are a lifesaver and make people believe (hahahahahaha) that the dogs are well controlled.:o

[wizard]

@CanisBasenjius:

Yes, it negates the purpose of the harness.

The purpose is to A) help you teach the dog to check in and look back rather than pull and NOT to engage the opposition reflex, which rear clipping harnesses are designed to do (they are "inspired" by sled harnesses).

Yes, front clip harnesses (like any other) may chaff if the dog pulls enough. The purpose is to train the dog not to pull,

Then the logical response is … don't use a body harness until you teach your dog to stop pulling ... if a dog pulls, the front clip will always pull off to one side; once your dog learns (by other means) to stop pulling then the body harness can be used.