Hi All,

Nando's dog walker recommended a harness with a d-ring at the front to stop him pulling. He is trained to walk to heel however sometimes he forgets where he is and gives the odd pull for another dog or for a fuss from a stranger etc.

My Mum's back is not too good so would like to invest in one for my Mum however they're pretty pricey so I don't want to waste money!

Here is the one I was looking at (I like the 'in training'- could come in handy for his re-call training!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/No-Pull-Assistance-Dog-Harness-Medium-Large-XL-Dogs-/320710601474?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item76c0530623

Hoping to get something similar from england- postage is nearly more than the actual item!

Josh

I couldn't live without front attaching harnesses! I feel more secure when walking all of mine together,using something like that.  I have these ones, not as heavy duty as the one in your link, but they are the best I've found :-)

http://www.friendsoffido.co.uk/easy-walk-harness-c12.html

The Mekuti Harnes is very effective

http://www.mekuti.co.uk/

or the Halti

http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/products/halti/halti-harness

We got our harnesses from Xtradog.co.uk. They are great believers in tellington touch and gentle leading.

I've used harnesses like those before and the dogs have always been able to back out of it which is what puts me off somewhat. I use the headcollar with him now all the time as I like the control it gives me and the calming effect it seems to have on him. I just can't get it back on him once I've taken it off <g> and I am fed up of people asking if it's a muzzle or jumping out of his way.

Agree with Tohme... I really like my Mekuti and wouldn't choose anything else.

Have tried various things over the years but currently use bridles that I find kinder and more effective than many other products.

To Celtic Lad - many dogs do not do well with their heads restricted. Which is why I found the Mekuti helped with my reactive dog. Horses for courses but I would certainly recommend Mekuti for sensitive, reactive types where headcollars of all constructions have failed.

As you say each to his own but I have found the bridle much more effective than the harness for a strong reactive dog.

I have always found a harness just makes a dog pull more, a head collar or bridle as hoers have said should work better. Mine are all trained to walk at heel and individually are great, if they are all lead walked together they have to wear a head collar as combined hey could easily pull me over but with them on they walk perfectly. Put a harness on them and they pull like mad!

I'm more of a headcollar person.  I tried harnesses of various types but don't really feel any are effective except for the Mekuti. 

I know what you mean RE: Harness. Nando isn't a persistant puller and to be honest I would say a quick reminder is enough to stop him pulling for a good five minutes or so. It's the wanting to play with other dogs or when he gets a scent (a big distraction for him, I really should start scent work with him) that he really looses himself.

It's not the stopping pulling that I want the harness to do, I just want something that my Mum can feel a bit more in control of him with. Her body language and behaviours when walking him just encourage him to pull and to be excitable and I think giving her that extra confidence would take away some of his excited edge when on walks with him.

> It's not the stopping pulling that I want the harness to do, I just want something that my Mum can feel a bit more in control of him with. Her body language and behaviours when walking him just encourage him to pull and to be excitable and I think giving her that extra confidence would take away some of his excited edge when on walks with him.

I am a Mekuti fan so I do bang on a bit, but the above just what this type of harness is good at controlling. It is used with a double-ended lead, one end attached to the D ring on the back. The other passes through a ring on the chest and clips to a ring on the side of the harness. It means that if the dog starts to get lungey or exciteable, the pressure across the chest will prevent the dog from pulling, and does a lot to help keep the front feet on the ground. it does take a little practice to get used to but it's well worth it if it works for your dog!

I have Mekuti on my FB page, and by coincidence they posted this comment today:
"Complacency strikes! Mutley has been so good in his Balance Harness that I've just been attaching the lead to the back ring. Today we met a cat sitting under a car in a narrow lane who would not move! Muts went nuts, shrieking and lungeing, nearly managing to pull me over in the process. I quickly put the other end of the lead through the front and attached to the side ring. He immediately calmed and walked past the car without a murmur or even a second glance at the cat who was inches away from him. Extraordinary!"

They do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee so that might be what you need to test-drive it; though if you & Nando can get to any events where they have a stand, that is your best bet, so it can be properly fitted (as mine was). The maker says that it the most common reason it "doesn't work" is due to not being adjusted correctly.

Edited to add: I have found it even better if I put the lead through the nearest side ring then through the chest ring and onto the ring on the other side. Hard to explain but it gives a lot more leverage with a bouncy lungey dog!