I was watching an episode about a bull terrier who had a bad habit of humping on people and kids. I wonder why did Victoria encourage them to use harness? I do like her training style, but why did she suggest a harness if she wants to the dog not to pull?
Harnesses are for pulling and I don't think it helps the terrier to stop pulling. It encourages the bull terrier to pull more.
In dog sports, we always see harness on dogs that pull such as weight pulling, sledding, carting, skijoring, and scootering. They are encouraged to pull when they put on the harness. Actually I use harness for pulling and flat collar to walk by my side (no pulling). I would use a Halti and a flat collar on the bull terrier with two leashes. When the dog is pulling, I use halti to correct his pulling and use a flat collar when he is not pulling.
I have a question about one of those episode
Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost
Harnesses may be for pulling but they are also very good for stopping a dog from pulling. All my dogs wear them and several of them were very good pullers when I first got them.
I prefer the trail/tracking harness, it is more difficult for a dog to push into them because the strap goes either side of the neck and not round their chest.
This may help you understand how a harness works to stop pulling.
How a Harness Works
Different designs of harnesses do different jobs, and Iprefer the trail type harness which is a webbing v fronted design. The V at the front means that the dog can't set its shoulders and push, like a horse into a collar, (horses push not pull).
The lead connects to the centre point of balance and the dog can't have his full body weight to push into like he can with a collar. A dog can push all their weight behind a collar. The lead clips to the main body strap that goes round the body behind the front legs. The further back this, the better, preferably where the ribs dip upward is ideal. If the dog creats tension in the lead, the body strap raises slightly upward, without causing pain, which interupts the forward momentum, and the dog doesn't have enough power to push. If the handler is on the ground and the lead is low, the dog will be able to push into the harness more.
The main thing is the "Comfort Factor", the dog feels comfortable and surprisingly un restrained as it is evenly distributated so doesn't need to fight as with the lead to collar. Nothing tightens up or affects the dog's breathing, provided it is correctly fitted with V front going far enough down the chest, the dog is more relaxed and so is the handler. Good walking training is a doddle as the handler is more relaxed and can chatter away to the dog, the dog isn't concentrating on battling to breath or escape the neck pressure.
I prefer the trail/tracking harness, it is more difficult for a dog to push into them because the strap goes either side of the neck and not round their chest.
This may help you understand how a harness works to stop pulling.
How a Harness Works
Different designs of harnesses do different jobs, and Iprefer the trail type harness which is a webbing v fronted design. The V at the front means that the dog can't set its shoulders and push, like a horse into a collar, (horses push not pull).
The lead connects to the centre point of balance and the dog can't have his full body weight to push into like he can with a collar. A dog can push all their weight behind a collar. The lead clips to the main body strap that goes round the body behind the front legs. The further back this, the better, preferably where the ribs dip upward is ideal. If the dog creats tension in the lead, the body strap raises slightly upward, without causing pain, which interupts the forward momentum, and the dog doesn't have enough power to push. If the handler is on the ground and the lead is low, the dog will be able to push into the harness more.
The main thing is the "Comfort Factor", the dog feels comfortable and surprisingly un restrained as it is evenly distributated so doesn't need to fight as with the lead to collar. Nothing tightens up or affects the dog's breathing, provided it is correctly fitted with V front going far enough down the chest, the dog is more relaxed and so is the handler. Good walking training is a doddle as the handler is more relaxed and can chatter away to the dog, the dog isn't concentrating on battling to breath or escape the neck pressure.
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/PIXIE.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/th_PIXIE.jpg[/img][/url]
I'm not sure I understand it clear. I have a leather V harness kind of similar to this one. http://www.leerburg.com/leatheragitharness.htm
I only use it when the dog is tracking or doing protection training with a decoy. I am familar with different kinds of harnesses, but I have never seen one that made to stop pulling. What do you mean by you prefer a trail harness with webbling V? Can you find a picture similar to one you describe?
I only use it when the dog is tracking or doing protection training with a decoy. I am familar with different kinds of harnesses, but I have never seen one that made to stop pulling. What do you mean by you prefer a trail harness with webbling V? Can you find a picture similar to one you describe?
They are very similar to that leather harness. When a dog is tracking they are well in front of you and then they can pull on these harnesses, but if they are close to you, you can lift your hand which lifts the dog's body so they can't pull. 
This is one of my asbos with one of these harnesses on, as you can see it doesn't go round the chest and the strap round the body is set further back than most harnesses. Any excuse to put a picture up of one of my dogs
This is one of my asbos with one of these harnesses on, as you can see it doesn't go round the chest and the strap round the body is set further back than most harnesses. Any excuse to put a picture up of one of my dogs
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/PIXIE.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/th_PIXIE.jpg[/img][/url]
The harness I used was a sporn 'no -pull' harness, specially designed to help lessen pulling. Regular harnesses can make a dog pull more but there are many great harnesses that do exactly the opposite. I didn't use a collar for Chaos as his neck was very sensitive and made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He took to the no pull harness very well and walks became pleasant for him and for the family. Great result! To find out more about the sporn go to: www.sporn.com
I use a Sporn on my Murphy when we're on our long walks and it works like a dream. In under a minute he understood what was happening and stopped pulling. When we are close to the dog park he starts to pull a little because he gets excited for playtime, but it takes very little effort for me to gently pull him back to get him under control.