There have been multiple videos and horror stories of dogs slipping out of their harnesses and either injuring people, dogs or other animals in the last few months. It is scary, senseless and completely preventable!
No matter what type of training aid you use, make sure that it is fitted correctly and that you have some type of safety strap back-up in place. Most people put collars and harnesses on way too loose and they slip over the dogs head or they wiggle right out of them. You need to check them every day!
Based on your dog’s body size, some examples of good harnesses include Freedom harness, Balance harness, Walk-n-Snyc, Ruffwear front range harness (or the Flagline/webmaster for the barrell chested dogs), and x dream dog harness. These are just a few examples-there are others
Each harness may fit just a little different so measuring your dog is important. When the harness arrives, test it out by going for a short walk. Make sure the dog has full range of motion and the harness does not impact their gait. They should be able to move freely, and the harness should not move side to side in the front.
As I mention in all of my classes, training is about experimentation. Don’t be afraid to buy and try different harnesses. If they don’t fit, see if you can return or exchange it for a different brand. If you can’t, donate it to a local shelter or rescue.
The advice applies to prong collars, gentle leaders and regular collars. Make sure the training aid fits correctly, is not too loose and is being used correctly. I prefer martingale collars since they can tighten, and they fit all breeds of dogs. Last but not least, please make sure you have some type of identification on your dog in case they get out or get lost. If you don’t like the tag jingling, there are lots of different companies that make slide on collar tags or Road ID tags.
Please take a few extra minutes to make sure your training equipment fits correctly before any walk or adventure outdoors.