So many people struggle with their dog pulling on the lead. Sometimes even pulling them over and actually injuring them!
This is not the lovely companionable walk you envisaged when you got your dog!
The Holy Grail of dog ownership is to swan along, your dog trotting comfortably at your side, earning admiring glances from all those being towed along by their dog!
First of all I’d like to direct you to Let’s Go! Enjoy Companionable Walks with your Brilliant Family Dog - a complete program to teach your dog to walk on a loose lead. You can buy it direct from the author right here! at a special price too …
And to see illustrative videos of dogs and puppies learning this skill, you’ll find the full program in the Brilliant Family Dog Academy. You can find out all about this hugely popular program in our free Workshop on getting your dog to LISTEN!
But it’s true to say that sometimes we could do with a bit of help!
You may have been directed to lots of gadgets which are meant to solve this issue at a stroke.
But most of these clever gadgets (headcollars, slip leads, choke collars, retractable leads, prong collars, electric shock collars) are “aversive”. That is to say, the dog hates them and they can actually make the whole thing worse!
So what can you do?
Use a Harness
The first thing is to switch to a harness - but not any old harness. Some twist, some chafe, some are flimsy, some restrict movement, some hurt (!).
And keep in mind that there are “horses for courses”. The harness that will help you enormously with your dog on walks, is not the one you’d choose for an active sport like agility or flyball. You need a different harness for that, just as you have different clothes for tennis, dog walks, work, swimming, parties …
You need the right tool for the job, as any craftsman will tell you. You can’t make a whole cabinet with only a hammer!
Which harness?
The harness I find brilliant for loose lead walking is the 2Houndsdesign Freedom Harness
You can get it direct from me as I’m the main UK stockist. If you live anywhere outside the UK, this is where you will find it.
Why does it work so well?
The quickest way for you to see is in this video, transforming young Shadow from a choking, pulling maniac - bent forward scrabbling - to a dog walking in an upright, natural position, beside her astonished owner! The video covers a 20-minute lesson. That’s how long it took!
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “You’re selling these things, so you would say they’re good!”
But turn that around: “You’re selling these things because they are so good!”
I’d never recommend something I didn’t use and value myself
Proof of the Pudding
See what customers have written to tell me below. You’ll see that there are very large dogs, multiple dogs, and very small dogs.
This harness works!
"Walking is now a pleasure with the harnesses." Elsie, Dogue de Bordeaux and Marnie, Bullmastiff puppy, both in Medium, Herefordshire
"Just wanted to say the harness is an absolute triumph. I have to say I honestly didn't enjoy walking my pulling boxer, however it is now a pleasure not a chore. Thanks for bringing the harness to the UK. It's been a godsend." Cooper the Boxer in Purple Medium, Merseyside
"Harness and multipoint lead have been fantastic - highly recommend it!" Rosie Doberman in Medium, Worcester
“Have been using the harness for a month now and am pleased to report that it has significantly helped me control Max when out walking and restored my confidence and enjoyment in taking him out. Without it he would be confined to exercising in our fields as he was to strong for me to control even with a headcollar.” Jane, XL Royal Blue
“Performance-wise this tiny harness is like a miracle: at last we have four paws on the path even with a passing cat! I don't know how the design can so alter the centre of gravity but it certainly works, I feel like stopping every dog walker I see and sharing the secret.” Bertie, Toy Poodle in Extra Small Teal
“When we started classes with Beverley with our 3 year old rescue mini Dachshund we were told about the Wiggles Wags and Whiskers 2Hounds Design Freedom Harness. My husband’s feelings were, ‘Oh here we go, the sales pitch’. I find being dragged up the road by a young dog somewhat exhausting so I decided to invest in this harness. Well I am so glad that I did, our walks have been transformed! I can control Chester so much better, and the strain both mentally and physically no longer exists. It’s not a sales pitch to make money, it really does benefit both dog and human. Even my husband is a convert!” Chester, Dachshund, in Extra Small
And just before you start teaching the all-important walking nicely on a lead, check out this mini-course that gets you started with some foundational lessons!
