Q&A: Are there training disadvantages for using a harness vs. a normal collar/leash?
Question by H: Are there training disadvantages for using a harness vs. a normal collar/leash?
Our puppy pulls a lot while walking. Im wondering if it’s the actual gentle but firm pulling of the collar/leash that will teach her to keep in line not just while walking, but in our ability to establish a level of control over her in general. Harnesses are designed to stop your dog from pulling, but arent you losing the training opportunity to use an available tool to train your puppy?
Best answer:
Answer by SBT Above All
Harness actually encourage pulling, not stop it. This is just my opinion, but I don’t think you need a harness for a puppy.
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collars do MUCH more damage than a harness or for that matter a gentle leader or halti. personally I train using a gentle leader. they dislike at first but with training and time they accept it and are perfect. i have also been able to control a male while in heat females are around by use of the gentle leader.
harnesses actually ENCOURAGE pulling. The weight is more evenly distrubted on the harness. When the dog pulls, he wont injure himself on a harness.. but he will still pull.
I rather use the harness,
Harnesses are MADE FOR PULLING!!! I can’t say this enough. People wonder why their dogs pull while wearing a harness, but look at how it is made. It displaces the pressure across the dog’s chest evenly so pulling will be easier, and less painful.
You want to invest in a Halti head lead. They make pulling virtually impossible, and are the most gentle way to teach your puppy not to pull.
After reading the instructions, and fitting the head lead properly, you will need to get your dog used to the head leader. She will probably fight it and hate it at first, but keep her walking by your side, and feeding her yummy treats while praising her for being calm with it on.
Once you have her used to it, you want to make sure to only allow enough slack in the lead so there isn’t any pressure on her muzzle from the lead. This will force her to walk in the proper heel position. If she tries to walk ahead, since you have a firm grip on the lead,the halti will turn her head, and halt her advance. When it does, you say OOPS, and put her back into the heel position. Wait a few beats, then continue to walk forward. When she is heeling properly, treat her, and praise her.
She will get the idea real quick, and learn that heeling properly is much nicer.
We used this for our first two dogs. They were adults when we got them, and weren’t quite strong enough to stop them from pulling..at first. It saved our lives. http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/four-paws-no-pull-trainers-reviews
It’s a specific no pull harness that tightens around the front quarters when the dog does pull, and makes the dog slow down.
A harness is a bad idea. They don’t stop pulling, they create pulling. Think about it, sled dogs and other working dogs use harnesses to pull things. Your puppy will just learn to pull you around. Plus, with a collar the control is closer to the head and you gain more control. Some breeds of dogs need to use harnesses though, like some small breeds that can have throat issues or breathing problems. If you have a larger breed dog, definately go with the collar. There are a few harnesses that are meant to stop pulling, and I have one. Its called the Holt Harness, I think. It stops my large dog from pulling, but I still lose control over him b/c I can’t steer him around properly. From all my experience with a pulling dog, a collar works better.
when he is pulling you thats a doinant behavior thinking the pack leader should walk ahead of his pack and as far as the pulling, do away with the harness, it puts him in the position to pull. use the collar its the best way to go, when he pulls correct him.
hope this helps