Someone please explain harnesses...

[fankino04]

My friend has had a bit of family emergency meaning she has to spend the day in Birmingham and leave her 7 month old rottie pup alone all day, as I'm off today I said I'd pop round and take her for a few walks, she has a julius K9 harness and I just don't get it? I can't direct her properly in it when the lead is in effect attached to the middle of her back. It's the first time I've used a harness so maybe I'm missing something, can someone please explain the fascination with harnesses these days?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I use them when I want pulling up a mountain or I want the dog to go crazy in drive in the barking and even in the latter case, a big wide collar will often do. Personally speaking, for large dogs that pull, a normal harness is useless for everyday walking. There's a reason why they're worn by dogs to pull things along with, you are attaching yourself to the strongest part of the dog.

I do understand some people use them on small/light dogs, dogs with small necks or weak tracheas. I do not understand why people think they are 'kinder' to large dogs for everyday walking, a jolt on the neck and a jolt to the chest/shoulders/under arms is the same thing to my mind.

 

[fankino04]

As a malamute owner I'm always coming accross posts on snow dog sites asking for advice on the best anti pull harness and its never made sense to me, just train your dog not to pull its much easier....

 

[dogatemysalad]

I've wondered this too. We are regularly out all day hiking and I've looked at lightweight designs, but it still means the harness will hold mud and water or make the dog sweat on a hot day.
I like collars, but fumbling to attach the lead on a walk is a pain with a hairy dog.

 

[meleeka]

I use one on my JRT but that’s because she was a year old when we got her and already pulled on the lead with the result of a weak trachea. We have been able to teach her to walk properly on a harness but she still pulls enough to make herself cough if on her collar. She can also slip a collar very easily as her head is the same diameter as her neck. We had few instances where this happened so now she has a harness and a collar with her tag on separately.

 

[{97702}]

Millie lurcher has a harness because she is a slippery little soul who backs out of her lurcher collar! She rarely wears it though, mainly if I run with her or I’m taking her somewhere that she will find very exciting

 

[MotherOfChickens]

mine are generally walked in harnesses, sometimes though they are walked in slip leads, they don't pull in either although it took some retraining with the goldie after canicrossing him. Some do hold water, I've not had one make a dog sweat though, not sure what design would do that. Fitz also has a head the same width as his neck and was quite nervy when we got him so it felt safer having him in a harness. I don't like the ones that inhibit shoulder movement though. If people don't like them fair enough but if other people want to use them on their dogs, well its not up to anyone else is it?

 

[CrazyMare]

I only use them on my skinny necks when I want to be certain I've got them at times of high excitement.

My greyhounds wear a harness, and collar and lead attached both when we go eventing. I don't want to be the owner of the loose dog.....

 

[fankino04]

This one today definitely seems to be low accross the front and therefore inhibiting front legs, don't know if that's the design or it just doesn't fit well? The thing I have most trouble with is that I'm essentially connected to the middle of the dog not it's head so didn't feel particularly in control, I get that if she pulled she would only get so far in front of me before the harness action kicked in (again not sure it stops pulling or gives them something to pull into but agree each owner can decide what they want), I just didn't feel very in control....

 

[MotherOfChickens]

yes, the Julius K9 does inhibit the shoulder-I think thats why some use them to stop/inhibit pulling. I mean, they should be used in conjunction with training, not instead of but just because someone uses a harness, doesn't make them useless muppets

If the dog also has a collar, if you have a double ended lead you could snap one end on collar and one end onto harness-will give you a little directional control.

 

[fankino04]

I wasn't suggesting all owners that use them are muppets (although many malamute owners I met on organised snow dog walks definitely fit into that catagory), I was genuinely interested in why they are used so much these days and also if the fact I felt incompetent with it was my lack of knowledge on how to walk a dog in one?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I wasn't suggesting all owners that use them are muppets (although many malamute owners I met on organised snow dog walks definitely fit into that catagory), I was genuinely interested in why they are used so much these days and also if the fact I felt incompetent with it was my lack of knowledge on how to walk a dog in one?

not you per se, there is always the insinuation on here that people that use harnesses don't train their dogs, sorry if I came across as a bit sharp (I have hurt my back but thats no excuse). A dog can be trained to walk to heel in a harness in the exact same way as in a collar. I believe that people think they are kinder and also for some come under the 'accessory' category. As I said, double ended lead and a collar will help you somewhat should you have to exercise this dog again.

 

[SamBean]

Both my Dalmatians had harnesses, one learned to sit and duck in a way to take her collar off and she would get upset if strange dogs came too close so was kinder to her than pulling on a lead attached to her neck.
My other lad bless him had wobblers and after surgery to remove a vertebrae was advised by his vet to only use a harness on him.
I can't help you with the walking in one though, one was a typical dizzy girl as stereotype and other I had to really look after and nanny him.

 

[CorvusCorax]

A dog can be trained to walk to heel in a harness in the exact same way as in a collar.

I think that's the crux, there are people out there who have been lead to believe for whatever reason that they just whack on a piece of equipment and that will solve a pulling issue. I know of other dogs that evade any sort of leash pressure and panic and a harness is a better option than them strangling themselves.

I do agree with the accessory thing, I saw a puppy being walked at an event on a collar and lead and harness with nothing attached recently, I did ask the people (I know them) why the harness as well, they said they didn't really know and took it off....for a lot of dogs the harness going on means they go into work mode, also.

 

[Cahill]

if you have a puller,a harness stops possible damage to throat.
have never seen a magic cure for pulling except good training.
the juliusk9 seems very fashionable but i think they are horrid as they sit on the shoulder and interfere with movement.

to my mind harnesses are for pulling.
have recently bought a zero dc and a howlingwolf toughskin,two different makes for two different shape dogs.
i am very pleased with them and had excellent advice from the lady at k9sport.x

 

[fankino04]

I totally get them for sport when you want the dog in front of you and pulling, it's interesting to hear about dogs pulling back out of a collar, never known that happen so that makes sense as does a dog with a sensative trachea or rehabing from an injury. I guess as my dogs walk with their head by my leg and get corrected when they get ahead (they are allowed lots of free rein and off lead too), it just felt odd having so much of the dog in front of me and not feeling I could "bring her to heal" properly, there were a couple of times I had to get hold of the grab strap to reposition her and continue walking and I wondered why so many people walk like this on everyday walks. (also wondered about the long term joint effects from walking with restriction accross the front legs but that's a different topic 😜)

 

[SamBean]

Believe me I was gobsmacked when she first did it - I had her from rescue and she was nearly 10, she decided an abandoned pizza in the middle of the road was fair play and gave me such a fright! Fortunately because of said pizza I quickly caught her again.
I can't remember how mine worked but they weren't the thick and chunky harnesses that you see a lot of, and only put tension on if pulled on the lead, I guess like the way you communicate through reins, but allowed free movement of their legs/neck/shoulders.

 

[blackcob]

Said it before and I'll say it again - I loathe the Julius K9 style harnesses. A strap over the most actively moving parts of the dog, bulky saddle area, point of attachment too far back allowing the head and neck to snake about doing whatever - ugh.

My big dogs have harnesses but they are for pulling in or use with long lines.

 

[{97702}]

I must admit I was surprised at myself when i got a harness, I’ve never seen any need as the one thing all rescue greyhounds do is walk nicely on a lead 😊 Having Millie back out of her collar when I was doing a 5k trail run with her was really unusual for me - I got her back about a mile later, and had dozens of runners coming up to me after I finished saying “she’s very fast isn’t she” 🙄😂 thank goodness it was an off road route...

Which does remind me of little Flick greyhound backing out of her collar on the hard shoulder of the M6.... she didn’t want to stand on the nasty wet verge out of harms way thanks.... she trotted around my car, down the slow lane, then back round the car and in through the open side door when I called her 😳😳😳😳😳😳

 

[Kaylum]

My terrier has a harness she loves it. I hate to see dogs being pulled around by their necks. The one I use does not go round the front of her chest it goes underneath and she steps into it and it fixes at the back.

 

[CorvusCorax]

There's a big difference between a terrier and a Rottweiler. And I see more dogs pulling owners around than I do the other way....

 

[{97702}]

Hmmmph I’m so old fashioned....despite all my training from when he was a pup, Macallan lurcher pulled on the lead. Apart from being affronted about how dare he 😛 I put him in a very large link check chain collar - he soon learned to stop. This was 20 years ago mind you, I’d probably get done for cruelty nowadays

 

[CorvusCorax]

Momentary discomfort/negativity followed by release of pressure and reward is generally frowned upon these days. Except if it's horses, then it's ok.

 

[Unicorn]

I have one for my GSD x. Mostly it's as compensation for my inadequate training skills (work in progress for both of us) , and partly because she had to spend several months on the lead rehabbing after surgery, but it works for us.

Like Kaylum, it's one that goes under her chest rather than across it and doesn't restrict her shoulder or impede her movement, and she seems fine with it

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Except if it's horses, then it's ok.

not for everyone.

 

[splashgirl45]

i really dont like harnesses , i think they are useful when they are puppies so i am not pulling on their neck before they have learned to walk properly on the lead. my terrier is tiny and i was prepared to use a harness for longer as he is so small but he didnt like it, when i got the harness out he didnt want it on but once i changed to a half check collar , he was happier.. i have it so it goes as tight as a collar would go as he wears a leather collar all of the time and i like their collars loose so they can slip out of it if trapped when running through the undergrowth..i am now using a harness on my old collie cross to help her in and out of the car and also have the lead attached when she goes in the river(which she loves) as she is a bit more wobbly and i worry she may struggle if she gets too deep, i still dont like them though but for her, its useful..

 

[Bellasophia]

I’ve used a collar on all my dogs and trained them not to pull.

However some dogs are unpredictable and will pull / neck jab on a collar
..many persistent pullers end up with damaged cervical vertebrae or damaged thyroid( leading to hypothyroid issues)
this article is one of many suggesting ,for such dogs, a harness may be a better option when training“ not to'pull “has failed ..

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/c...s-muzzles/can-a-collar-damage-a-dogs-thyroid/

I do use a harness when teaching a young dog recall using a long line,so dog can “ run free” but be brought back in if needed,without any damage to his neck.
ive often spoken to people with an unruly , harnessed dog and suggested it’s like having a wasp on a piece of string.. this picture seems to get their attention and after trying a collar for a week they have never gone back to a harness.
You just have more connection/ communication with a collar and lead ..imo.

 

[{97702}]

Well I’ll join in the blatant advertising because I can ?

I wouldn’t go anywhere but K9 trail sports for a harness - Emily is fantastic and provides fabulous advice and aftercare

https://www.k9trailtime.com/

Oddly enough I still use harnesses on the same dogs as I said before, for the same reasons ? Millie is an escape artist and backs out of collars, George has a damaged trachea and cannot wear a collar. It’s horses for courses IMO ?

 

[AmyMay]

I use one on the collie I walk - the Julius K9. He doesn’t pull in it, but does on a collar. He only wears it when we’re doing any sort of roadwork. I also take it off once we’re on the beach.

 

[blackcob]

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You'd do better using an image of a harness that actually fits, and that isn't on a distressed-looking air-hungry brachycephalic dog.

Zombie thread etc. but I'd like to reiterate my loathing of the Julius K9 type design. ?