How do you walk you boxer?

[clanblan]

Collar question

I've seen the posts on Gentle leaders, however don't feel comfortable using them. Is there anyone that uses the no pull harnesses? And if so what brand and or kind? I have a 4 month old female that is ~15 in. at the withers and is 20 lbs. Thankyou for any input

 

[clanblan]

Gentle Leader

Actually, I just saw that Gentle Leader also has a easy walk harness. I just always thought of Gentle Leader as a head collar. So I take my previous comment back

 

[RockyCody]

easy walk harness

we use the easy walk harness. Rocky is 6 months at 50 pounds the size medium fits but is getting tight.
The harness has worked wonders - even to this day if it's not on - he pulls like crazy.

It buckles in the front instead of on top like most harnesses (which discourages him from pulling). If he pulls he kind of tunrs sideways, so it makes him stop. He has learned to walk on my left side and even or slightly behind me. Rarely does he pull on the harness. It's a joy to walk with him now.

TIP: We buckle the leash hook to the harness ring AND the collar ring just for reinforcement. You may want to try that just in case something breaks loose or free or something.

Good luck!

 

[samsons]

Sam is a 2 Yo rescue ( lived in a cage till almost 2 ) so when he come to us he had no idea even what a leash was - :( i walk him on a no pull harness ( snaps over the back ) when loose is very baggy around the body )) he does very well on this , we have no pulling unless he is acting up. I did try the gentle lead and it did not work for our walking style, in michigan most of the winter we walk on narrow shoveled paths ( i live in town ) so he was usually behind or in front . i found that the gentle leader harness works best at ur side . sO DIDNT WORK WELL, for us anyway.

soo ... when we walk ( we now walk on just his plain rolled leather collar also ) as long as he is not pulling - we sniff what we want ,go ahead or behind, pause , look around ect - as long as u stay on my right ( i have a left shoulder injury ) but i use words , as he is usually a bit in front of me - he knows . " left, right, wait, slow. ( wait = stop NOW ) " we automatically stop at all cross streets ( we do live in a busy part of town ) and when i am ready ( he has to wait at my side ) i pat him on top of the head and say " walk " and will say the word and point in the correct direction. Every command i have been teaching Sam i also have been using a hand signal. i have found this handy when i am busy talking to someone, (usually when i am on the phone) and he is being bratty and i can just point to a dif room , or to sit , lye down ect !!!!

every baby is dif - but i have had good success with this type of harness ... and now we are working towards just using a reg collar for general walks - save the harness for exciting things - like the pet store !!

GOOD LUCK !

 

[Althea]

I train old school, and my boxer girl always walked like a dream. Let them walk, and as soon as they start to pull -- immediately stop, and go no further. When they turn back to you to see what is going on, start walking again (keep it brisk). If they pull, stop again. Eventually, they'll figure out that if they aren't pulling, they get to move ahead. You can also to a 180 turn if they start pulling, and just start walking the other way. You have to be careful -- don't "pop" them (I doubt you are doing it that hard, but that term scares me!) as much as you are simply guiding them with you. I used to walk dogs for a living and this is how I trained all of them, from puppies to geriatric. They all figure it out, and it's a great way to teach them to stay with you.

I've used both gentle leaders -- of which I'm not a fan, especially with boxers and their nasal passages -- and pinch collars, which can be used very, very humanely. But they are stop-gaps. They work while you are training your dog, but you shouldn't use them forever. Just IMHO, of course!!