With our unique fit and leash methods, your dog feels the harness against his sides (not against his legs). This helps him use his sense of touch to sense how to follow your leash. It is similar to how a horse responds to a rider’s leg pressure since both horses and dogs have a similar response to sense of touch. They will brace against a source of pressure which is why dogs lean against collars
Our harnesses involve more than just clipping a leash to the front of a harness; the front leash connection is only part of our invention. We developed a unique fit, and new leash methods that keep dogs comfortable while they learn with their sense of touch. Manufacturing our harnesses involves a specific type and placement of hardware to ensure comfort, safety and effectiveness. They are also made to be used with and without a collar for a variety of training needs as well as for extra safety.
Our harnesses are also more than no-pull harnesses. They not only solve pulling behavior but also improved communications for stress free training and general management. Unlike other harnesses that use restraint to discourage behavior, our harnesses are used to encourage behavior.
For many dogs, pulling behavior is greatly reduced if not stopped soon after use. For puppies and excitable dogs that are easily distracted from their sense of touch, we emphasize our quick sessions and training classes with trainers familiar with our harnesses. Humane training methods that maintain your dog’s attention enhance the use of our harness for full benefits.
No. They are also for general management however, we recommend using them first for training. After training, our harnesses provide easier management in vet offices, before competition events, and during general activities. They are also good for off- leash guidance of puppies, and a good solution for dogs unable to wear collars.
We recommend using a 4 to 6 ft. leash however a long leash can be used with a collar-harness leash attachment.
Yes. We have received positive feedback from several shelters and trainers stating our harnesses help reduce aggressive behavior. We recommend working with a trainer who has experience with aggressive behavior and also uses our harness.
It is not necessary for your dog to be in the heel position. She can be a little in front of you and be comfortable. It is up to you in how you move your leash so she can sense how to respond to it. This means gently pulling your leash upward, forward or sideways.
The SENSE-ation® harness is the favorite for short hair dogs, it is made with special webbing for extra comfort. The SENSE-ible® harness is a lower cost model of the same patented design and quality construction. It is made with standard, quality materials.
The first is fitting our harness like a regular harness. If all the straps are adjusted tight or snug up against your dog, this is not a good fit. A front leash connection requires the chest strap to be loose enough to give your dog shoulder room. When the chest strap slacks over your dog’s shoulder as you pull your leash, this is a good thing for your dog.
The second is fitting our harness too low. The back strap is either not adjusted at all or not adjusted enough. If the chest strap is close to the top of your dog’s front legs, the back strap needs to be adjusted more to keep him comfortable.
Loose leash walking is the goal with our harness; we just do not begin with a loose leash. Easily distracted dogs will naturally forge ahead of you on a loose leash. A loose leash also does not make use of our harness to tell your dog what you want him to do. Slight tension on the leash moves the harness to help your dog sense how to follow your leash. When he responds, a loose leash helps him know he responded well and reinforces his behavior. This means a loose leash becomes a type of reward.
If you wish to use a loose leash from the beginning, it is best to use training techniques to keep your dog’s attention as well as to reinforce good behavior. We recommend positive reinforcement trainers who are familiar with our harnesses and use training techniques such as clicker training.
When the chest strap slacks (gaps) over your dog’s shoulder, this is GOOD for your dog. It gives him shoulder room to walk comfortably and to step toward you
This offers long-term comfort for your dog. Otherwise, the buckle would place pressure on your dog’s shoulder muscle and cause soreness.
Grasp the short end of the girth strap with your right hand. Hold your fingers together to keep hair away from the buckle. Reach under your dog with your left hand for the long end of the girth strap and buckle.
The same way we fit other dogs. It can be easier to fit short legged dogs when they are up on a table so you can be sure to place the side rings in the middle of your dog’s sides and not too low.
Yes, if your dog runs on-leash in the harness. A tight fit (especially the chest strap) and inconsistent leash use without using a collar with the harness will also subject dogs to rubbing.
If your dog develops any sore spots, please stop using the harness and call us. We will go over fitting and methods to prevent rubbing. If you wish to provide extra protection for sensitive skin/short hair dogs, we suggest our SENSE-ation® harness (custom Softouch™, polyester girth strap). Otherwise, the following products can add extra protection:
If the harness is fit and used correctly, it is unlikely for a dog to slip out of. We recommend a leash is attached to both the harness and a regular collar at first. This offers general safety for unexpected behaviors such as jumping and lunging.
On-leash running subjects dogs to rubbing and irritation from the straps. When dogs run, they need the harness straps to adjust freely to their leg movement. This is only possible when the harness is fit properly and a leash is not attached. Once a leash is clipped to the harness, the leash controls how the straps move.
We recommend not leaving a harness on puppies and not on adult dogs at first. It is easy for puppies to use the chest strap as a chew toy. For adult dogs, the harnesses can be left on if they are fit correctly. If the chest (front) strap is adjusted too tight, dogs will feel pressure from the strap when they sit or lie down. This is why the chest strap is designed to be on the loose side to keep dogs comfortable; otherwise they will try to remove the strap by chewing.
It refers to clipping the leash to the TOP of the leash ring on our harness and to a regular collar simultaneously. Your leash snap holds both the harness ring and the ring on the collar together.
The chest strap on the harness is designed to pivot up to make it easy to reach a collar. We suggest loosening the collar if it has been adjusted tight for use alone with a leash.
The benefits:
After regular use, the collar-harness leash attachment can be phased out. However, the collar-harness is recommended in high stimulus environments.
Doing quick sessions at first offers more benefits than starting with a long walk, especially for puppies and easily distracted dogs.
Pulling in our harnesses is from a tight fit (over-adjusted chest strap) and or from pulling back on the leash.
Most dogs that have been pullers with other equipment will often forge ahead of you if you start by standing beside your dog with a loose leash.
In this case, do not pull the leash backwards. Instead, hold the leash steady and stop walking. Then step out to the side (to the right if your dog is on your left). Stepping to the side gives your dog a cue with the harness to at least turn his head toward you. If you reward his response (treat and or verbal praise), he will learn to respond when your leash begins to move to the right.
We recommend starting in front of your dog to make the best use of the front leash connection and to hold the leash as close to your dog’s head as possible to keep the slack out of the leash. If your dog is distracted and gets in front of you, start by facing him and step backwards to keep his attention.
Stop walking and hold the leash steady. Then step out to the side (to the right if your dog is on your left). Stepping to the side gives your dog a cue with the harness to at least turn his head toward you. If you reward his response (treat and or verbal praise), he will learn to respond when your leash begins to move to the right.
This makes the best use of the Front-Connection™. Pulling backward will cause your dog to pull from pressure across the front of your dog.