chewing on her harness

[MommyJewelz]

I have this harness for her because when we walks she is still jumpy and pulls and winds up choking herself..
The harness seems like a good idea and she understands that she has to wear it in order to go to school with jordyn (our son) we walk every morning.. Well she gets all excited when she hears me say "want your harness?" then I will hold it up and she will sit.. BUT.. the instant I go to slip it over her head. She fights me.. she will try to chew on it and take it away. Twice now she did not get to go cause she put up too much of a fight and I would not let her walk.. i would come home and she would jump on my lap and yell at me for it.. (funny but not cause she can get LOUD) How do I get her to NOT struggle to get it on? and once it is on, NOT try to eat it?
I have given her treats/praises as soon as I would get it on the first few times.. but she still fights over it..

of course she still pulls, just doesn't choke herself now.. working on heel and she is getting there...

We got her with NO training at all and starting from square one is tough...

 

[Jill's boxer]

perhaps you could try NOT calling attention to the fact that you are going to put her harness and this will help her calm down a bit. It seems she has quickly associated the harness with going for a walk, and gets excited--which is understandable, but maybe if you do not draw attention to the fact that you have it ready and will be going for a walk, she would get a bit less excited. I think she is seeing this as a bit of a "game"--you show her the harness, excite her by drawing attention to the process of putting it on, and the wrestling begins. Also, I think that if she resists, you are correct in not taking her--stop, tell her no, and ignore her for a bit. if she realizes that she must sit still to put it on or she doesn't get to go, she may start to realize the need to behave and sit still for the harness. also, maybe try putting it on her when you are not going to take her out periodically throughout the day, so she will stop getting so excited when the harness comes out as she will not always expect to go somewhere.

 

[daisykaye]

Does the harness rub her anywhere? Maybe because it makes her uncomfortable she does not want it on. Check for redness around her legs where the harness may rub to make sure. Other than that, just keep doing what you are doing and she will get use to you putting it on.

 

[MommyJewelz]

No it does not rub her.. I think that she is stuck in between size honestly.. I had the small one and that one was too small. I know have the Medium and it seems a bit loose.. Not like she will get out of it in anyway but that it is not snug on her... She wears it some during the day even when we are just at home.. and she does fine. I think it may be when she gets bored and knows it is on then she goes for it. OR at times when she is walking and that part that the leash attaches to dangles to one side and catches her attention..
She will even struggle and wrestle with me when taking it off..

Is there a better harness I should be using maybe?

 

[Jill's boxer]

one of the girls who goes to our dog park with Bruno (8 month old boxer) uses on of those Gentle Leader harnesses (I thik that is the name of them? its for pulling/jumping problems?) She swears by it and says it has made all the difference and works better than a regular harness. It looks comfy enough and not as "bulky" as some regular harnesses to me. I don't use a harness, so I really don't know, but maybe worth considering? No park this week since the weather is bad and Gracie has a "bug" that she picked up at the park last week apparently... but next week I will ask her if I see her!

 

[shonna]

gentle leader

I have heard (on here) that the gentle leader is a great harness, especially for boxers, due to short muzzle. I have not used it, but am thinking about it. My 12 wk. baby is pulling REALLY bad.

Let me know what you think, if you get it, or another that works well for you.

Shonna

 

[Jill's boxer]

one of the girls who goes to our dog park with Bruno (8 month old boxer) uses on of those Gentle Leader harnesses (I thik that is the name of them? its for pulling/jumping problems?) She swears by it and says it has made all the difference and works better than a regular harness. It looks comfy enough and not as "bulky" as some regular harnesses to me. I don't use a harness, so I really don't know, but maybe worth considering? No park this week since the weather is bad and Gracie has a "bug" that she picked up at the park last week apparently... but next week I will ask her if I see her!

The one I was referring to is not the head halter, but a harness that goes across the chest, similar to a regular harness sort of, but made specifically for pulling problems/jumping. I just wanted to clarify b/c I saw a few posts referring to the Gentle Leader head halter...

 

[MommyJewelz]

The one I have is I believe a HOLT harness.. got it at a pet store here in town.. It slips over her head and then you have to put her front legs through, you can slide the leash attachment part to secure it better (still loose I guess)

I will keep an eye out for the Gentle Lead and see how that one works..

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[abbey_eisma]

I also have the easy walk harness for my two. It works great and they dont fight it at all. She may find it more comfortable and it will help you with walking her.