An Addendum To Leashes

06/25/2010

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The previous post on leashes should also include a note about Lupi, Yurkiw and Mekuti Harnesses. These are somewhat newly designed leashes for different physical types of dogs.

The Lupi can cause chaffing, as can the Gentle-Leader, however the Gentle-Leader can be ordered with soft pads to avert this. The Mekuti Harness is meant to stop your dog from pulling and can attach to two leads. However this leash is also associated with trainers who will yank on of the leashes from behind the dog, while the owner walks beside the dog, which I do not support. If the Mekuti is kept to one lead, attached at the FRONT of the body on the harness, then it is more effective and can be used for dogs who pull. The Yurkiw Harness is meant for tracking/protection dogs and can also attach a lead to the front of the harness. Because there are many loops to attach the actual lead to the harness, I would not recommend this harness to someone not using their dog for a working purpose.

If you do use it for similar purposes and your dog pulls you, just attach the lead to the foremost position on the harness (in the front).

Stick to the simple leashes and you will usually only have simple issues :)
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Leashes: Explained

06/16/2010

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After guest attending a group training class at a different company in NYC, I thought I would respond to something I was surprised the trainer did not know about: LEASHES. This seems like a fairly simple game for the common dog-owner. But as the other trainer, and my past dog-walking experiences have shown me, leashes can get complicated. Also, and this is important, make sure your leashes are tight enough! So many dogs just roll over and their paws slip out and voila! Freedom. I have seen dogs walking around with harnesses falling back around their butts.

Here are some basic rules to use when deciding on a leash:

Dogs who pull:
1) Collar
2) Gentle Leader (these are great!)
3) Halti (great and have extra reinforcement)
4) Sensation Harness (a harness with a front chest - clasp)
5) Choker (which I do not use)
6) Prong Collar (which I do not use)

Dogs who are nervous can use:
1) Sensation Harness
2) Gentle Leader
3) Halti

Dogs who scavenge and bite:
1) Halti
2) Gentle Leader
3) Sensation Harness ** not for scavengers, only biters

Dogs who do not pull or have any issues on the street:
1) Regular Harness
2) Step-Through Harness
3) Puppia Harness

As you can see harnesses are for dogs who do not pull. This is because the placement of the lead on the leash allows the dog to continue moving forward. If you have a dog with walking issues, try to use a leash that has more control over the head or controls the direction they are walking in, and keep in mind that chokers can really hurt dogs.
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How to get your dog to wear a Gentle Leader leash

05/24/2010

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                    >>>>>LINK<<<<<<<
Let's try out this blog thing! As the first of many-to-come blog posts, I thought I'd share a GREAT conditioning exercise from expert Jean Donaldson. From this video you can really see how this technique helps a dog to ENJOY putting on a gentle-leader leash! These are wonderful for dogs who pull, and are an alternative to all types of choker leashes for dogs who like to lunge forward to play. They can even help nervous dogs feel safer!
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