Best collar alternative

[mama23+pyrs2]

Tomorrow, I finally get paid, so I want to get the pups some type of harness or something to use instead of the buckle collars they have now. Pyrs are extremely diffiult to leash train, that coupled with just learning a leash in general makes for a nightmare, ha. I don't walk them on leash very often now for potty time, instead they go out and do it themselves but I would like to start taking them for walks, and of course vet visits are just a total mess.

The problems are not so much pulling as they are planting their feet and refusing to move, or planting and pulling their head back- like trying to go to the vet. I can't carry them both in. They have some pulling behaviors in the yard, but that quickly becomes just the opposite problem when we leave the backyard. I hate trying to pull them to move and feel like they're being choked, so I'm looking for the best thing to use for that. Just a basic harness or a certain kind? I'll go to the pet store and get lost if I'm not looking for something in particular.

Any recommendation s would be appreciated!

[schelmischekitty]

if you want a harness, i can say the sporn halter works GREAT.  they sell a similar one at wal mart for like $8.  it works great to get them to stop pulling, and if they're like caine and pull backwards, they soon learn that uses their pressure points too.  we've had great luck with it!  caine is bad about getting low down on the ground and pulling and when we first used the harness, he decided he just wouldn't walk if he couldn't pull.  hubby snapped it one time and caine walked perfectly!  caine is also VERY stubborn, and has a very high pain tolerance (75lb pitbull) but like i said it works great!

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441774897&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025643&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1176218069344&itemNo=44&Nao=24&In=Dog&N=2025643&Ne=2

if you want a collar, a martingale style works good.  it's nylon, but tightens up so they can't pull out of them if they try to go backwards and it tightens a little also to help stop pulling.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775229&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025643&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023689&bmUID=1176218055272&itemNo=0&In=Dog&N=2025643&Ne=2

[mama23+pyrs2]

Okay, I'll check them out. Hopefully they carry them in the stores too. I dread having to take them anywhere, so hopefully one of these will work better.

[CalistogaPyr]

I like the Easy Walk Harness made by Gentle Leader. http://www.petexpertise.com/item--Easy-Walk-Harness-with-Matching-Leash--easywalk_set.html . 

It connects in the front (on the chest) as opposed to on the back, like carting harnesses.  Bo weighs 130lbs and when she doesn't want to move, she won't.  The Easy Walk harness makes it easier for me to get her moving, but it also keeps her from pulling ahead, as when she tries to move in front of me, the harness automatically pulls her back to my side.  It has been a god-send, as when I used the Gentle Leader head halter on her, people assumed it was a muzzle & avoided her, which in turn lead her to become more leash reactive (she senses when people are afraid of her & she then interprets that as they are something for her to be afraid of, thus she barks).  Since I"ve been using the Easy Walk harness, no one is scared of her, she is in control and I have the ability to redirect 130lbs of dog!!
Good luck!!

[schelmischekitty]

here's a great website that tells you all sorts of brands / types and their pros AND cons.  it says the sporn harnesses are hard to put on, but they're not.

http://dogpublic.com/articles/article.aspx?t=dogs101&sid=14&pid=432