[BuggLover]

I am so confused when it comes to harnesses... I've sifted through some other threads but I'm still not too sure on the no pull harnesses for training.

I was using an easy walk harness to train and Winston has gotten a lot better with the loose leash walking so I picked up a mesh puppia style harness. He definitely pulls more on this harness so I think he might need a bit more loose leash training before he is completely ready for a back clip one. He does generally listen to me when I correct his pulling and praise proper behaviour, but the issues is that he pulls in the first place. What I like about this harness is that he doesn't choke himself when he does pull (the very first harness I got him was a step-in and it was bad for choking him).

I have been researching a bunch of harnesses and there are just so many out there it's insane. The easy walk I currently have is getting small so I will have to get a new one for training either way but my main issue with it is that the leash gets tangled up in his feet when he walks. I also think that the chest strap isn't big enough for him, and the fit in general is finicky (he is definitely more comfortable in the mesh harness).

What harnesses have you guys found work for a puppy/dog that pulls?

I am particularly curious about the following styles:
- Freedom Harness Freedom Harness http://ahimsadogtraining.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=MCH-0082
- SENSE-action Harness http://www.softouchconcepts.com/product/sense-ation-harness
- Premier Sure Fit Harness (not technically designed for pullers but it does have a ring at the front and I have heard good things about it) http://www.pawandorderonline.org/Premier-Pet-Sure-fit-Harness-p/4115.htm
- Sporn Mesh Non-Pull Harness http://sporn.com/training/mesh-non-pull-harness/
- Any other harnesses designed to help with loose leash walking training

 

[Shell]

I was using an easy walk harness to train and Winston has gotten a lot better with the loose leash walking so I picked up a mesh puppia style harness. He definitely pulls more on this harness so I think he might need a bit more loose leash training before he is completely ready for a back clip one.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked but it might help--
I have found that when a dog has been trained with a "tool" like the easy walk harness, what they learn sometimes isn't actually loose leash walking but rather to listen very well to that tool. Put on a plain harness or collar and they pull, because they haven't been taught that they also have to walk loose leash with that item.
Switching to another form of a no-pull harness may just teach him to walk nicely on that harness and you'll still end up retraining him on a plain one later.

My suggestion is to consider taking the time to work with him on the puppia harness so that he really 'gets' what loose leash means (and then can be walked on any variety of regular harness). think of it like when you have a young but housetrained dog in your home but if you move or go visit somewhere with him, you have to reinforce potty training and take him out regularly because he hasn't yet made the connection that all houses are the same; here the connection is that all harnesses have the same expectations.

All that said, the Sporn harness seems to be pretty comfortable for them and work decently; if you like the mesh puppia harness, this one is most similar of the no-pull options.

 

[Pawzk9]

I tend to recommend the freedom harness, and my students who have used it love it.

 

[gingerkid]

Personally, I really like the easy walker, although I also agree with what Shell is saying about loose-leash walking on ALL kinds of harness. But to be honest, in my experience dogs can get tangled up in a leash no matter what its attached to. They're talented like that. As a result, I try to keep any slack on the leash in my hand so that it is not dragging on the ground (probably not an issue with larger dogs, but it is for us). I don't keep it tight, I just hold enough of the slack so that it doesn't drag on the ground, and Snowball can pull some of the slack out of my hand to go sniff stuff, etc. without being dragged along.

 

[BuggLover]

I think I'm going to keep him on the mesh harness like Shell suggested and reinforce the loose leash walking... if I'm in a situation where I know I'll need more control and won't be able to keep the training up I'll use the easy walk...
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Analogdog]

The shelter I volunteer at and my personal harness of choice is the Wonder Walker http://www.wonderwalkerbodyhalter.com/ . I have taught several shelter dogs and my own dogs to loose leash walk with this harness.