The neighbor who told me my dog was pulling too hard

Last month a retired dog trainer named Carol stopped me on our street and pointed out that my golden retriever's collar was digging into his neck because he was constantly pulling. She showed me how to switch to a front-clip harness instead and it took about a week for both of us to adjust. Now walks are actually relaxing instead of feeling like I'm arm wrestling a 70 pound dog. Has anyone else had good results with a front-clip harness for a strong puller?

3 comments

3 Comments

val_williams1d ago

Did Carol mention anything about how the harness actually changes the dog's posture when they pull? I've got a lab mix who thinks he's a sled dog and I tried one of those no-pull harnesses that clip in the front but he just kind of twisted sideways and kept going anyway. Was there a specific technique or way you introduced it to your dog that made it click after a week? I feel like mine just fights it still which makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong or if some dogs just need more time to unlearn that habit. Curious if the harness brand matters too or if it's more about how you use it.

kaih361d ago

My buddy's beagle took a full month before the front clip clicked. He'd just spin in circles like a top every time we hit the sidewalk. One day I stopped moving entirely every time he pulled. Just stood there like a statue. Took ten minutes to get down the block but something snapped in his dog brain after that.

the_spencer1d ago

Three weeks into using a front clip harness with my own lab mix, and I actually had to go back to Carol to ask the same question you're asking now. She told me something that made a huge difference - she said most people put the harness on wrong or choose the wrong size. Is it possible that your dog's harness is sitting too far forward on the chest, or maybe it's a little too big? The clip should sit right at the breastbone, not down by the armpits. When I adjusted mine, the twisting stopped almost immediately because the dog had to actually turn their whole body instead of just leaning into it sideways. What brand did you try, because some of the cheap ones from big box stores have the clip too low to actually redirect the force properly?