Is this A punisher? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halti-non...hash=item3a811898a8:m:mtztoF_KLS4CuUUIyNaICLQ I cant quite tell and I am very inexperienced so would really like some advice I want to find a good way to ease the lunging like other mentioned on previous threads from a front fastening harness. I cant see anywhere that it would tighten up or cause pain but I didnt like this sentence ''it gives total control over the dog"s shoulders and thus sets the direction in which he can move'' And I know Halti do the head halter ones which I dont like.
I have tried MANY harnesses, and have never found one that eases the lunging . For us, it has been a matter of train, train, train with no distractions to lunge at. Easier said than done, I know. Coco CAN walk nicely now, but still lunges at cats, dogs, blowing bags etc. .....but he IS getting much better.
I've tried a couple of harnesses for Corona and have settled on the Freedom No-pull harness. She hates putting it on, stands there like she's frozen in time, but the second we take off, she's all tail wagging, nose sniffing so it can't be so bad. That said, if she sees a squirrel, another dog, a person, a leaf blowing, she still lunges. She's gotten a bit better with training, but it's definitely a work in progress. This harnesses clips at the shoulders AND in the front so you have dual control simultaneously which is nice. The goal is to just use the back clip but she's not reliable enough for that yet. I try to consistently stop if she pulls even just a little and it seems to be doing the trick. She comes back to my side and we are off again. I'm not super strict with heeling though and do allow her a fair amount of lead to sniff and investigate. Corona is almost 7 months and gets 2 one hour walks a day, so she gets a lot of practice. Practice and training are key, no harness is going to stop the lunging I don't think. If you find one though, please let me know
There's a good review of harnesses on The Labrador Site. I find the front fastening harness is very easy and quick to get on so I use it when I might need to quickly put on the harness - in case we meet a bitch on heat, for example. But it's awful for walking Snowie, really affects his front legs, gets in the way. But I do have control - essential if we meet a bitch on heat. For ordinary walks - my usual morning walk which has some road walking - I use a regular back fastening harness. Pain to put on. I place it on the ground and Snowie steps into it, but not always in the right holes, then I need to fiddle, and then while I have one foot in a hole, he steps out with the other foot! But it's great for walking in, doesn't get in the way of his legs, but definitely not quick n easy to put on. Also, if he's determined to pull, I really have to work hard to hold on! But he's become good at walking on a loose lead, but of course there are times when he wants to race over to something. He has become good at indicating he wants to go in another direction: he just stops and won't budge. Must've been taking tips from here!!
I find the best harness for no pulling are the double triangle ones, like these ones: They usually fasten on the back and it's a little more difficult to put the harness on them because you have to slide them trhought the legs, but after some days of double walks your lab will soon understand why he is putting it on. The one on the pics is great because you can strap the leach on the left, back or right side (the ones where you just strap on the top will slide to the side on walk). The colar is lower to the dog's chest, so it doesn't bother your lab if he has another colar, and if he behaves a little worse on walks, if you give a little pull on him or if he pulls reall hard he will not choke. Now a little advice... Do not let your lab with it when you're not walking even for some minutes or they will tear the harness apart!
I have to agree with Sue, a harness is not going to stop lunging. The only way I have been able to control lunging after cats, squirrels, etc, is to train and it's taken along time and a lot of patience to make headway. I've found that the gundog training exercises that we do has really helped with impulse control.
Hi, yes , I too have a freedom no pull harness bought through the force free trainer I went to for classes. And yes Cassie too hates having it put on. I find that it is effective in as you say, easing the lunging but also agree that training is the way to go but it really helps with that. When she was about 7 months old it really helped but at 10 months of age I hardly use it as her loose lead walking is improving. I hate proper heel work, but I don't like to be pulled either. Interestingly - and I've been dying to say this for ages- she goes and sits under the table if I pick up the harness but if I pick up her rope slip lead she goes at sits by the door patiently waiting to have it put on. Ummm. Once the harness on though she sets off as normal.
Well this is encouraging! I'm hoping to eventually get to this point also! And I completely agree, I also hate proper heel work! As long as she doesn't pull, it's a successful walk as far I'm as I'm concerned. And I look forward to her being excited to go for a walk. I'm assuming when the harness isn't required, she will be jumping at the door to go. I know it's putting on the harness that is the problem but for now, there is no other option. If I knew how to post pics, you would laugh at her pathetic stance when she first gets it on. (Corona also goes running in the other room when she sees the harness, lol, but a high reward treat is enough to coax it on)
I wouldn't like you to think we are sorted and perfect we are not! I'm lucky too in that we can do lots of off lead working in relative safety. I decided very early on that I didn't want her getting over excited for a walk, we had dogs at home that used to get whipped up into a state of near lunacy when their leads were picked up. So I taught her to sit and wait when quite tiny. I'm lucky also that she seems naturally laid back. Yes I too need to learn to post pics - we can compare stances. I hate that she doesn't like it, but as you say @jeanine it doesn't seem to hinder her once on.
I have also tried several different styles of harness with Bella who is now 18 months old and probably the worst dog for pulling when out on a lead that I have ever had ( in the past I have had 2 Labs and a German Shepherd ). The harness that I have found works for Bella is the one that is in the link in the OP , paired with a Halti double ended lead it makes life a lot easier when you have a dog that pulls . I must admit that she does not like having it put on , however once on she does she does not fuss .The double ended lead is a godsend , and I would personally recommend it . I would also like to add that I also used a Halti opti-fit head collar . The reason I say "used" is because after using it for a month with Bella I found that she no longer pulls , ( I must admit that I was always against head collars and did not like to see dogs wearing them , however I am now a convert ) and now dont use it .
