As a dog owner, I have always taken my responsibilities very seriously and have had to work my way through the various products to find the harness for dogs most suitable for each of my dogs for what ever activity I am taking them on. The last thing I want when out and about with my pack is to feel anxious and stressed about their pulling, choking, gagging or safety.
I am sure many of you know that there are numerous harness for dogs out there, but I certainly found there were very few guidance notes and the search for the perfect harness became a mission. That is when I decided that we dog owners needed a place to go to review and discuss products with our fellow canine lovers.
My very first dog, a golden Labrador, was rescued from our local shelter and came with few issues, she had been well trained and required little guidance so we have found that a collar and leash has been more than sufficient for keeping control of the old girl.
However, when out and about in my previous car which was a convertible, I used a special safety belt harness for dogs to keep her safe and restrict movement on the back seat. This harness alo doubled as a walking harness when she got out of the car. W hen I changed cars to a Jeep, there was a dog guard fitted so she stayed in the very back and did not require a harness.
The next dog that I adopted was a Spaniel Labrador X. He arrived with absolutely no idea of rules! I very much take the approach that it is not worth getting worked up about the lack of discipline, as dogs can sense your tension and they behave even worse. I went to all the local pet stores to try and find out what the best product would be for a very excited young male dog who always pulled on a lead. After looking at the numerous products, we tried a very thin strapped torso harness for dogs. This harness worked okay but I found that because the straps were like a thin rope there was a lot of rubbing under his front legs. So, I continued my search and settled on a wider strapped nylon mesh torso harness. This has been much better and as soon as any pulling starts the force is redirected to his torso, which has the knack of making him want to sit! Once I have his attention we start off on our travels again.
The latest adoptee is an English Setter. Gorgeous, gentle and loving but oh so highly strung. The first harness we brought was a torso harness for dogs, but this did not really have desired effect. as soon as there was any force which was defected to the chest and torso she was up on her hind legs instead. Back to the drawing board! I purchased a gentle leader facial harness. This has been much better, as her intent is not to pull it is purely that her focus gets withdrawn from you and fixated on something else. Therefore a gentle correctional pull of the harness brings her attention swiftly back to me. Which is exactly what I want when we are out running.Experience helps us select the correct products, but there are some invaluable pointers to assist those looking for their first harness for dogs. Always consider the size and breed of your dog, for what purpose you want the harness for dogs so that you can find an easy to fit model and thereafter your choices will be narrowed down to material, which should be hard wearing and easy to clean.
I will be looking at various makes of harness for dogs and accessories and discussing my findings with you, hopefully pointing you in the right direction for your next purchase and helping you to avoid those stressful experiences!
Thanks for stopping by
Linda
