Dear Critter Corner: We’ve noticed that our pup has started to run from us when we are getting ready to put his harness on to go for a walk. We have to chase him around the house and almost corner him to put the harness on. Do you have any tips for us to make this process easier?
Many dogs have sensitive ears, and putting their head in a harness can cause discomfort for them. This may be why your pup has become avoidant when it’s time to put the harness on. Here are a few tips that can help with getting your pup’s harness on without the struggle.
If you have a harness with a smaller opening for his head to go through, you can look into getting a different style of harness with a larger opening. Some brands that typically have a larger opening are Freedom, Easy Walk, Sensation, and Wonder Walker harnesses. These harnesses also help with pulling if your pup is prone to pull on their walks. Sometimes this larger opening is all that you need to change your pups’ mind about having the harness put on.
If your pup needs a little extra help with getting the harness on, you can work on teaching them to put their head through the harness on their own and turning it into a fun game for them. You would start by holding the harness with the opening as wide as possible with one hand, and with your other hand, place a treat in it and encourage your pup to get the treat. To start you may need to place your hand through the opening to encourage him to come close. After a few repetitions, your pup should be placing his head through the harness on his own. Allow him to take his head back out if he wants. Do this a few times and then see if he will allow you to keep the harness on and clip it. As he becomes more comfortable with placing his head in the harness, you can start to have him do it on cue.
If you need additional help with training your pup, check out the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA website to schedule a consult to address the specific behavior.
Tasha Suda is the Lead Dog Trainer for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Behavior Department. For more information, please visit www.phs-spca.org, call 650-340-7022 x314 or email tsuda@phs-spca.org.