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| Dog Harness | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 2 Nov 2013, 04:55 PM (631 Views) | |
| shimah | 2 Nov 2013, 04:55 PM Post #1 |
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GSD Lover
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Can anyone recommend a good (strong!!) harness for walking Jaz a 47kg long haired GSD. He is now 6yrs old and normally wears a Dogmatic halter.....but he has just had a malignant melanoma removed from his lower eyelid with reconstructive surgery so now needs a body harness....any help appreciated, thanks. |
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| pangolin | 2 Nov 2013, 05:09 PM Post #2 |
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GSD Addict
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Presuming you use the Dogmatic for pulling issues or to give more control, I would say go for a harness with a double clip option (i.e. one O-ring/D-ring on the back, and one in the chest area). Used with a double lead, this can help with pulling, lunging, etc. more than a standard harness. I'd go for one of the comfy fleece harnesses like the Dog Games ones, the Perfect Fit one is nice too. Otherwise, there's the Halti harness, the Mekuti, etc. to name a few of the standard nylon type ones. http://dog-games-shop.co.uk/harnesses-fleece-lined http://dog-games-shop.co.uk/perfect-fit-fleece-dog-harness http://www.halti.co.uk/haltiharness.php https://www.mekuti.co.uk/ |
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| 4Paws | 2 Nov 2013, 07:35 PM Post #3 |
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GSD Addict
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It rather depends on why you needed to use a headcollar in the first place... The trouble with most harnesses is that the dog can now put ALL its bodyweight into pulling, which doesn't happen with a headcollar. Personally I don't like headcollars generally but I especially don't like Dogmatic or Halti headcollars because the lead clips onto the side of the headcollar and inevitably/invariably it rides up into the right eye. Which is not good. Is it this eye that Jaz has had problems with? The only headcollar we will use or recommend, and even then sparingly is Tan Wheelers Martingale Headcollar which we know works on dogs as large as Leonbergers and Akitas so Jaz wouldn't be a problem. Perhaps it's worth looking at that type of headcollar or a custom-made solution which I'm sure Tan would be happy to help with if you drop her an email and explain what you're needing. 4Paws |
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| shimah | 2 Nov 2013, 09:19 PM Post #4 |
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GSD Lover
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I used a headcollar simply because he pulled like a train and is a strong dog....and I had always used headcollars. \Unfortunately this is no longer an option...he had a cancerous mole removed from the inside of his eyelid and because they have to take a large area round it he needed reconstructive surgery......he lost a third of upper and lower eyelids....so they used a large section of his lip to fill the gap.This means he has two scars running down from his eye to his mouth...so a headcollar, of any kind, would only irritate..hence I wondered about a harness....Thanks for the help. |
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| pangolin | 2 Nov 2013, 10:25 PM Post #5 |
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GSD Addict
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I use the Dogmatic leather headcollars and don't find these rise up. I can't speak for the nylon one though, but the leather ones have a firm (but still supple enough to be comfortable) structure that doesn't really move around to the side. Still not sure they would be suitable for OP's dog though (but I'm not sure Tan's headcollar would be either - or any other brand even) Varios front clip harnesses in use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69rPBfh8GIA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJyg17iPke4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbM-U5kvQII http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNEEdW3tLmo |
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| 4Paws | 2 Nov 2013, 10:45 PM Post #6 |
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GSD Addict
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Oh poor lad .. I hope he's recovering ok? / I see why you think a headcollar is not an option... One other possibility is one of these new 'bungee' leads which are mega-elasticated and provide a measure of increasing resistance for the owner, and theoretically stop them getting dragged off their feet. We've been trialling the ROK ones with our club members recently but to be honest have had mixed results. They come in three sizes, matched to the dogs weight and the biggest/thickest 36" ones for big dogs are seriously elastic (we tried one on our 15kg Collie who lunged to the end of it and SPOING was airborne straight back towards us!!). Owners with large dogs have said that it takes the arm-wrenching out of lunging dogs but that they eventually learn to anticipate it and if not back to square one then are still searching for a better solution. However .. on one of the smaller leads the trigger failed/came right out when under tension, which meant the rest of the metal clip came flying back towards the owner. A large chested lady, she was grateful that it hadn't hit her in the face but instead got her where she had some additional padding Whether that was a one off manufacturing problem or a design fault I do not know.Elasticated leads may be worth thinking about in some form or another? Or perhaps you need to look at some extra training to address the pulling problem? 4Paws |
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| shimah | 2 Nov 2013, 11:03 PM Post #7 |
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GSD Lover
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Thanks, it was major surgery and hope it was got in time...but stitches come out in 10 days and so far it's looking good. To be honest he really only pulls with excitement till we get going then he walks perfectly....and having long hair I found the head collar didn't mess his coat (vanity on my part!!)..I'll try the Perfect Fit harness for those times we need extra control ..think I'll give the bungee leads a miss....with my luck it would be me flying through the air!! |
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| Astralhaze | 3 Nov 2013, 03:03 AM Post #8 |
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Rest in Peace Cyrus and Sue
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https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Gentle+Lead+Easy+Walk+harness&rlz=1C1GGGE_en-gbGB459GB459&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=d6x1Uvy4Osa60QXpi4DICg&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=667 Victoria Stilwell has used this type of harness in the US. I have the Mekuti balance harness and found it worked well by redirecting the forward motion to the side when executed correctly. https://www.mekuti.co.uk/harness_shop.htm I hope your boy recovers quickly. We are dealing with lymphoma with my boy at the moment so totall understand your concerns ![]() |
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| mary076 | 3 Nov 2013, 06:56 PM Post #9 |
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Newbie
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i walk my 3, 2 gsd and a manic spaniel, on Non-Pull padded dog Harness which u can buy from ebay. not expensive, really works and doesnt hurt dog in any way. friend had an akita who was a nightmare to walk but on this harness she had total control and a joy to walk. |
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Whether that was a one off manufacturing problem or a design fault I do not know.

1:34 AM Jul 11








