Using a harness for walks (Gentle Leader)

[SNA]

Hi
While I'm doing further training with her not to pull at the leash, I've started using a harness with my 9.5 month Jessie, it's a gentle leader I think, it has the D-link for the leash at the front on their breastbone. I can't seem to get it to fit properly though. Does someone else use these without any problem. I've got it on as tightly as I would like it to be, to the point where I'm concerned that it's rubbing under her legs, but it still shifts across her back when I inevitably pull on it, so I frequently have to adjust it so that the top strap is behind her shoulders. Any suggestions to getting it fit properly? What about when I have to pull on it to get her going, too. I know it's supposed to stop the dog pulling, but am I also supposed to be able to pull on her as well (eg, when she's stopped to sniff at something and I want to keep going)?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Sheree

[JazzysMom]

I sure can't help. I tried a gentle leader with Keoki and no matter what I did, he could get himself out of it. I know when I'm beat, and donated it to a local charity store, LOL.

[Quercus]

Have her wear a regular neck collar, AND the Premier harness. Use your leash clip fasten to both the collar and harness D rings together. This will keep the harness in the correct position and give you much more control, but also keep her from being able to get enough leverage to pull you.

And to answer the other part of the question…ideally you shouldn't HAVE to pull her, it happens sometimes...but try using some great treats to train her to check in with, and stay close to you. The walking harness and gentle leader should be walking aides that you use while you are in the process of training the dog to walk politely.

Good luck, and let us know how that works for you.

[nice2bme1]

I used a brand made by holt. It's a bit tricky to fit but it adjusted well as she grew. My breeder suggested it. However, the leash clips to the outside part of the upper neck

[lvoss]

What size did you get? Most basenjis are the 'tweener size S/M which are usually only sold by trainers, some vet offices, or online.

[nice2bme1]

I bought a Med at Petsmart and had to adjust it quite a bit. There is a silver small ring that should sit right about the top of the legs on the brest bone. It's lasted 10 years. I've noticed that as she gets older her trachia muscles have gotten weaker. My vet suggested that I put this harness on again to help. So I'm using again on walks.

[SNA]

I got a medium size, as she's quite large for a basenji. I haven't tried hooking the d link and the collar onto the leash as the two seem too far away from each other. Maybe that's part of the problem! But I have decided to stop walking her for a while again because it's just made her more aggressive. I liken it too Caesar Milan's recommendation to walk your dog everyday to strengthen your role as pack leader. But all it does for Jessie is strengthen her role as a dominant dog. She started nipping at the kids more again, and most annoyingly, at me when I was leaving her behind to go out somewhere (even when I'd given her a bone to chew while I was out. Grrr! I don't appreciate being nipped. I noticed on the last day I walked her a few days ago that she glanced at me for a quarter of a second, and that was a big moment! Normally she doesn't pay me any heed whatsoever. Which is probably why I'm pulling her a lot. I want to combine a brisk walk for me with a couple of longer stops for her to have a sniff. Her idea of the walk is obviously for me to trail around after her!
But of course it's my fault because I haven't been doing as much training with her as I need to. It's just such hard work, I keep getting distracted by other priorities. Back to it now I suppose, because I really would like to take her for a walk everyday.

[Quercus]

Have you tried a head halter? Like a Gentle Leader? It would probably give you more control. Have someone who knows how to fit one help you pick it out, and show you how to put it on her.

[SNA]

I tried a head halter ages ago, for at least 3 weeks, but she just hated it. She kept trying to get it off, even after three weeks, and I just couldn't do it to her anymore.
A couple of books I'm following at the moment say that head halters suppress rather than correct the behaviour.
She's doing well now.

[Quercus]

@SNA:

I tried a head halter ages ago, for at least 3 weeks, but she just hated it. She kept trying to get it off, even after three weeks, and I just couldn't do it to her anymore.
A couple of books I'm following at the moment say that head halters suppress rather than correct the behaviour.
She's doing well now.

Well, both the head halter, and the chest harness suppress the pulling behavior. You have to train the desired behavior at the same time. The idea is that you have to stop them from pulling, or else you can't make any progress training the correct behavior. Pulling is a self rewarding behavior; in their minds, they pull, and it makes them get to where they want to be. You have to stop that association, and retrain them that when the leash is loose you get to go where you want to be. Neither walking aide can do that, only the training.