Best Harness
When Bianca was much smaller (she's growing soooo fast!) we had a little cheap soft harness for her that was super easy to get on and off and very comfy for her. She pulls so we don't feel comfortable getting her something that is going to possibly hurt her neck. Most of the harnesses i've seen have buckles near the armpit which we're trying to avoid for her comfort level. She's done very well with the one she has had but unfortunately she's outgrown the sizes they sell. Does anybody use a harness they recommend that is comfortable for their bully?
Comments
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B0NR9B4/ref=s9_hps_bw_g199_i5
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/comment/16727/
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
I hope my suggestion didn't come off as elitist or confrontational, as it was not my intention. And I may well move to using a harness one day myself if the need arises.
Did you order funny badges, too?
Also did you order it with the additional chest support? That's something I completely forgot, sorry. The chest support provides for an even better fit, that's my feeling, and makes it less likely for the dog to slip out of the harness.
Also like I already said, you will possibly find the clasp a little odd. It feels like it could open, but it should not, if you close it good!
I think it was Philsergeant, who mentioned that he has experienced the clasp actually opening while the dog was wearing a DT harness. But as I recall that was a different Dean & Tyler harness, not the one we own.
@Wrightkylej
My solution to control a constantly pulling dog would probably not be to just put a harness on him. I'd probably start off with training on leash.
But there are harnesses that make it hard for a dog to slip out of them. It depends on the construction.
And another huge factor is the correct sizing and fit.
I do our leash training with Djamila alternating with harness and on leash in order to get her to walk in an orderly fashion no matter what she is wearing. I look at it the same way you do: For a calm dog it's a great item.
However, a good harness should also provide enough control at any time even when the dog goes bananas, because after all they're dogs, and we never know which situations we will encounter.
I agree with everything you've said. If I had the option to use something other than a harness on some dogs, it would be great. Unfortunately, some people are very insistent on them. Usually because they are afraid of their dog choking. But instead of training it to walk better they let it pull or put a harness on it which causes it to pull harder. Because I hope that Freyja will enjoy pulling weight/sleds for exercise, I haven't put a harness on her. So she knows that the harness means pull and the leash means walk calmly. But you're right, a bird or a rabbit can be cause for concern. Especially in a dog with such strong prey drive like an EBT, and even more in a puppy with impulse control.
I think harnesses are great, as long as you're aware of the habits that they can sometimes build. But in your example of needing control....I'm so glad the rottweiler has a harness when he goes into "attack mode". Which I wish he was never trained to do. I can't believe its even encouraged in a setting that isn't for a highly trained service dog with an "off switch"
A little unsure, if you’re just joking around a little … can't see the smile of your face
"tougher on the human" means the harness is meant to engage the dog pulling?
No, in my mind, the reason for the harness is to take it easier on the dog's neck.... If he has his "whole body" to pull with, instead of just some part that hurts (read: injures) him, he is obviously going to pull harder if that's his tendency... But at the same time it gives you more "area" to control him and, if you are strong, you can restrict the movement and thus, hopefully discourage him from pulling (I was going to say "completely") but only somewhat. To me, the nature of a Bullie is that if something motivates them enough, you have squat chance of telling them "No". I can hold both my dogs back simultaneously if they see a deer or rabbit, but, I've told my wife, if she has one of them, and a rabbit shows up, let the lead go rather than have her shoulder pulled out of it's socket (if it's safe to do so).
On a sled or in weight pulling, of course the harness is meant for the dog to lean in and pull, and collars are contraindicated for obvious reasons.
But even a dog that is doing weight pulling exercises should be trained to know the difference between the sports activity and a regular walking situation and should not be pulling all the time. I'm talking about the IDEAL situation here, not necessarily every owner's reality.
I just have that mental image of a “bodybuilding” dog dragging his owner for a walk in my head.
Dogs can learn not to pull and they can even learn only to do it in certain situations when pulling is ok and even desired, while in other situations walking slowly is in order. It’s a matter of training.
When it comes to walking my pet at home, a harness sure is easier on the dog's neck, absolutely, especially when she gets excited. And there are several other possible reasons that could be prompting me to decide for a harness, e.g. a collar is rubbing off fur on the neck or causing allergies or other troubles.
Also a harness can give the dog a different range of motion - if leash is attached at the top, not front - on a long leash.
Many harnesses have a grip, which I find VERY handy, if the dog needs to be held closely for control - with or even without pulling.
My list of advantages goes on without the dog dragging like crazy being first reason for using a harness.
For longer walks on a retractable leash, we always use Djamila’s harness. And you're right because that absolutely takes the stress off her neck a collar otherwise would produce. With the retractable leash there inevitably is a little tension on the leash all the time. But that does not mean when I switch her to the short leash on her harness, that I tolerate her constantly dragging me after her.
Djamila is one of those dogs, who will start pulling like crazy once a certain threshold of excitement and distraction gets crossed. I think many EBT owners know that “phenomenon”. These dogs are just so full of excitement and joy. Right now we are training with a Martingale collar in more distractive areas with the goal of having her walk calmly on a short leash in general, even with a lot of distractions around and eventually doing the same wearing a harness WITHOUT dragging. All of that even though we allow her to drag on the retractable leash in order to make use of the range the leash allows.
http://www.bungeepupee.com
I'm not great with computers so I don't know how to make it the click and go thingy for the website but there it is anyhow. We bought the braided twisty looking one and it seems pretty sturdy so far. gives her a nice tug back when she starts to pull without us having to do the pull back.
Currently I only walk her over longer distances for leash training, which always takes some efforts to get her away from the house. Walking in our calm area is boring for her. For potty we slip on short leash and collar and go into the yard or just right over to the other side of the street. That's it.
This summer was just too hot here in Florida for doing a lot more than exercising in the pool together. And frankly somehow it still is.
Once we take her with us in the car to the beach or the doggie store or wherever, it's a different story - collar or harness, she will have a party and go forward. I guess the walking thing is just something a lot of them really have in common.
I've got two harnesses for Quinn, one for casual walks and one for public outings...the personal one clips on her back and she can yank me about anywhere if she wanted to. 8-X The public harness clips on the front, much more effective against pulling, but it does rub her chest red sometimes. I've yet to find a replacement I think both she and I would like. So just curious!
I have just ordered another Dean & Tyler harness - the No-Pull with a front hook - and just wanted to let you know that I cannot recommend it so far! Just in case you are considering it. It's an overall really great harness, but the clasp opens randomly. Dangerous!
I've already contacted Dean & Tyler. Waiting for an answer.
This is the one:
http://www.dtdogcollars.com/product-p/dthunv.htm
[ And Djamila would look good in anything, including Anthony's mask]
Happy to hear that! They do make such great products - just that clasp thing ...
We also habe a DT leather leash - great quality, made to last!
You got the orange harness (the same we also own), right? Does it have the same clasp that oddly does not make ANY clicking sound when snapping in to close it?
I had contacted Dean & Tyler and reported the snap buckle issue.
First of all I really can't complain about their customer service. My first e-mail seems to have gotten lost, but after my second attempt they were really engaged, friendly and helpful, also coming up with suggestions to solve the problem for me.
As far as it regards the "DT works" - that's the orange harness - they told me that the oddly silent clasp is absolutely normal and intended to make no noise when snapping in.
In general they told me that they have not heard a lot of complaints about issues with unhooking clasps so far. But they offered to do some tests no their products in-house and see, if they can reconstruct the failure.
Reportedly, they did not find any flaws in the clasps of their products.
I have tried to reconstruct the problem myself by pulling on the clasp, holding the harness in my hands.
Neither one of the two harnesses I own - "DT works" and "DT Universal" opened when I did that. In fact the clasps seem really sturdy.
Dean & Tyler explained to me that the harness should not even open, in case ONE SIDE of the clasp gets unhooked by accident (like for example by the elbow of the dog, because the clasp sits pretty close to it). And it's true, in my own test the clasp did not even snap open with one side of it unhooked.
However it remains true that on Djamila both harnesses do open randomly every now and then. That's all I can tell. I was not able so far to find out how it happens, but I know that she is not trying to open them herself, trying to slip out or whatever.
Had I not heard about others reporting the same issues, I would think, that only my two harnesses are faulty.
If anyone experiences the same problem, I can only encourage them to also contact Dean & Tyler and report it.
Dean and Tyler offered to replace my harnesses. But I don't want to do that, because I already fitted the chest of the "DT Universal", added some padding and the safety clasp and honestly I am tired of testing. Maybe a replacement harness will work, maybe it won't. This one right now, the way it is with all the alterations, works for us. And the other one we do not use very often. I will probably just add a second clasp there, too, and that's it.
Regarding the rubbing and chafing of the harnesses especially in the armpits I received the following information: Because the nylon harnesses are pretty coarse and can rub behind the elbows and break hair, Dean and Tyler recommends leather harnesses for permanent use.
I am using a nylon harness on purpose, because Djamila wears it a lot when wet (playing a lot in the water). So for us nylon is the better choice.
I don’t know where the truth lies, if the "opening issue" is a rare phenomenon on otherwise great products or if it’s something general. Sadly I was not able to figure that out.
I just wanted to share my findings with you to draw your own conclusions.
One thing is for sure: If you have any problems with D&T products, you will receive great customer service.