Reasons a Harness Can Help Your Dog be a Good Dog
Properly training your dog not to pull, jump or nip can be hard, especially if you’re using equipment that isn’t ideal. Let’s review some of the ways a dog harness can help you and how the MerryWalker Dog Harness was designed with these issues in mind.
Walk the Dog
When you are using a neck collar or a harness that has the leash attachment on the back you end up with “opposition pulling”. Almost like a tug-of-war between you and your dog.
Also, when a dog is pulling on a neck collar, besides having no control, all that happens is that the collar puts a lot of pressure on the trachea, esophagus and thyroid. Which that pressure can damage of those areas of the neck. Jean Dodds, DVM recently wrote an article on how neck collars are damaging the thyroid gland in a lot of dogs.
With the MerryWalker Dog Harness, the leash attachment is positioned at the chest, therefore you end up guiding and steering your dog from the front, which eliminates most of your opposition pull.
The MerryWalker also fits your dog better than most other harnesses out on the market, so that it gives you more control and much less pulling.
Counter Surfing & Trash Can Invasions
Both counter surfing and trash can invasions are training challenges with many dogs. By keeping your dog on its MerryWalker Harness (under supervision only) and a lightweight leash (under supervision only) while you are home with your dog, you will be able to manage your canine companion in order to stop the behavior before it happens. If your dog does try to counter surf or invade the trash can, grab the leash and re-direct your dog away from the area.
Jumping
Most people reward the dog for jumping because they push the dog off of them. When you do push them off, in effect you are giving them a body massage, which rewards and not discourage jumping.
By keeping your dog on its MerryWalker Dog Harness (under supervision only) and a lightweight leash (under supervision only) while you are home with your dog, you would be able to grab the leash to redirect the dog away from you before they even jump up.
Thus, you will be able to manage your canine companion in order to stop the behavior before it happens.
Car Ride Safety
A harness is a good way to keep your dog safe in the car. Dogs can be thrown out of car the same as you or I could be. Dogs should always ride in the back seat in a harness, with “seat belt” attachment. The seat belt attachment attaches to your dog’s harness and then clicks into the seat belt snap, as any seat belt would. My personal favorite seat belt restraint is made by Kurgo.
Your Dog Wants to Please You!
No matter what training issues you are having with your dog, remember that your dog wants to please you. Having the right equipment to properly guide them to the right behavior will help make the training process much easier on you both. Learn more about the MerryWalker Dog Harness Difference and how it can help you and your dog.