Hi All,

I'm really keen on trying a Ttouch harness with Nando. He is great for me on lead, however he will pull if he wants to greet his friends when we meet in the carpark of the local woods we walk at. That is no problem and is just excitement.

However, for my Mum who suffers with her shoulder and neck, it is hard going to have him pull at all. We usually use a head collar if Mum walks him, but I don't like them and nor does Nando.

I tried it on my dog walker's dog today as she uses the Ttouch harness, but I'm not sure it really worked? I didn't find that it stopped pulling, anyway but perhaps my technique was wrong.

Does anyone use these and do they find they stop pulling in the same way a headcollar would?

Josh

Sorry that should have said "Do they stop pulling as effectively as a head collar?"

Josh, if you want to try a harness I'd suggest a front-fastening harness which attaches at the chest - of the sort which Grisha Stewart and Sophia Yin use and recommend.

Here in the UK, the one we have available is the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness (not the same as the Gentle Leader head collar).  This is the best stop-pull harness there is (IMO) - attaching at the chest gives you more control over the dog:
http://www.buygentleleader.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/behavior/easywalk/productdescription

They don't give you as much control as a head collar, no, but they are more pleasant for the dog and more readily accepted by dogs, and they do reduce pulling much more than walking on a collar. 

You might also want to try a lead which has a shock-absorber in it, that's also something I recommend for people with injuries, disabilities and dodgy shoulders.

I have had good report of these " Happy at Heel Harness "
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lUM9tKRK4Q
Not tried them myself but they were being talked about on another forum and those that had tried them said they worked well, as the pressure is accross the chest.

The ttouch harness is just one of many with a front ring attachment.  They do work if you handle them right, as with anything it's horses for courses but I like to use them myself, much better than headcollars IMO for a few reasons (not just pulling).

You have a few options though:

Halti harness (do not recommend unless you can't get anything else - great design, poorly executed)
Xtra dog
Dog Games "Perfect Fit" (you have to request a front ring I think)
Mekuti (not too keen myself as rather than a front ring, the front end of the lead threads through the chest ring to clip on the opposite side, fiddly as heck but they do work well)
Pets at home "control harness" (same shape as the ttouch, nice and sturdy BUT a complete PITA to adjust at the front)

Or you could modify one;  Phoebe has one of these:

http://grandprixuk.co.uk/product_thumb.php?img=images/I_20521_g.jpg&w=120&h=110

And I've sewn a ring onto the front of that using a bit of webbing and sail thread (so uber strong).  And Linc's harness is the same design, but homemade with fleece padding.

http://www.dogtrainingireland.ie/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=444

I have that one and it is amazing.

Thanks for the input everyone. I've ordered the Gentle Leader harness as after reading reviews it seems the easiest to get on. I will let you all know how I get on.