Help! I have a wonderful 7 month old border collie with only one vice (for the moment at least) he is like a steam train on the lead. I think it does back to when he was about 2-3 months old and we had to really coax him to come out on a lead now he gone in the opposite direction. Have tried a Gentle Leader but even after having it on and off in the house to get used to it as soon as we go out on a walk he freaks and I mean really freaks. He gets on well with a standard harness and that has worked a little but he is still trying to pull my arm off. The Walkezee harness appears to have all the answers and I would be grateful if anybody had any personal experiences of this, be it positive or negative. Thanks.

I had the same problems with the GL on my Lab, she hated it, it depressed and distressed both of us, no amount of treats or coaxing would make her get used to it. She is a big girl and me a small wimp, so I tried an anti pull harness. I used a Lupi at first, but this seemed really weak and the bits that go under the arms were really stringy... I switched to a Kumfi anti pull harness and this has been great, much stronger and much more comfortable. To stop Emmy pulling I would just stand still whenever she pulled, then rewarded her when she stopped and the lead wen slack. It is a matter of perserverance, it would take about an hour to get to the end of the street the first few times! But after a few weeks of doing this ALL the time, she soon clicked, if she pulls she gets no-where. Now she walks lovely beside me, except for when we see another dog and the excitement gets the better of her, this is when the harness is great, because it means I can hang onto her.
I've not tried the Walkezee that you mention, but I would recommend the Kumfi. Good luck.

I know a lot of trainers would disagree with me, but i do think/agree that headcollars just are not right for some dogs. Many dogs will get upset, but if introduced properly then learn to happily accept them.....but some dogs just cannot bear them and continue to get more and more upset even if the headcollar has been introduced slowly and carefully with rewards and good associations.

I persevered for a little while with my TErv pup a couple of years ago, but stopped after i realised it was just too stressful for us both, and i was totally sure i had introduced it properly :(

Having said that, i do believe that some dogs (GSDs often take to them for some reason, possibly the action on the neck/accupressure) are better in them, esp. those that tend towards aggression, and also for small people who may need to take out a strong dog, because they are a bit like power steering.

I have heard v. good things about the Walkezee, they have a small article on it in Dogs Today this month; but not used it myself. Maybe you could report back for us and let us know what you think ? :)

Lindsay

I agree Lindsay, having used head collars with my last two dogs, absolutely no problems, but the dog I have now, nearly 18 months, has never taken to it. In the time he should have gotten used to it, he was still continually struggling to get it off, so I put it away. Could see that was never going to work, so now have got him a Kumfi stop-pull harness - it's great, and he doesn't mind wearing it at all! Of course, I'm always on the lookout for newer and better doggy items, so there might be a harness that is even better!
Hilda

I have tried the gentle leader, the lupi, and the halti on my springers and they hated them, I then decided on the dogmatic and it works a treat, the dogs dont seem to get so upset with this type.

I liked the Kumfi too Hilda, :) it was very useful for a while.

Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,
Just wondering why you say 'for a while'! I have heard that dogs eventually learn to pull on a harness - is that what happened with yours? I was hoping that wouldn't happen with the Kumfi stop-pull!
Hilda

Hi Hilda sorry but my BC learnt to pull into her stop pull harness Not as badly as she did on her collar mind but she still could pull.(training is getting it under control though :) ) Gillian