Loose Leash Walking Equipment: Harnesses

Often, dog owners will get a harness to help their dog. Sometimes the dog is pulling excessively, or is choking himself, but the type of harness matters significantly to help curb problem behaviors while walking.

This harness clips to the back, is made of nylon, and is REALLY comfortable - 

especially if the dog enjoys pulling on a leash 

Compare the above harness, which clips to the back of the dog, stretchy, padded in all the right places to the harnesses in the below photograph, which clip to the back of the dog, are stretchy, and padded in all the right places.

"Wheeee! Pulling is FUN!" 

I'm going write about other walking devices in follow up posts (Harnesses, Head Collars, Aversive Collars, and Other Training Tools) so you can hopefully find the right walking/training device for you and your pup.

Harnesses:

There are thousands of harnesses to chose from - some of them stating that they are "No Pull", some are nylon and stretchy, and many are just damned cute. Some are step-in harnesses, and some slide over the head of the dog. The possibilities are endless!

Puppia Harness 

Rogz-Dogz Utility Harness 

If you have a dog that walks beautifully on leash, doesn't pull, and is trained to walk with you, a standard back attach harness might be a good option for you (see the options above). Our greyhound walks with a back clip harness because he does not pull, and has a neck injury that tends to get aggravated when he is walked with his standard collar.

If, however, walking your dog feels like a form of medieval torture, you might wish to try a harness designed to take some of the ease out of the pull (and your rotator cuff).

Sensation Harness. Available at some boutiques and online. Fits better on adolescent and skinnier chested dogs than the more commercially available Easy Walk.

Easy Walk Harness. More commercially available than the Sensation, not appropriate for "skinny" dogs . Better for dogs with a broader chest.

Sporn No-Pull Mesh Harness: Pulls the front legs up when the dog pulls. Some dogs are sensitive to the pressure put on the legs, and it can chafe.


I'm a huge fan of the Sense-ation Harness. This harness is a front clip design, where the leash attaches to the chest of the dog instead of on the back. When the dog pulls, his momentum is stopped. I used a harness like this on our Border Collie with fantastic success. Some other examples include the Easy Walk Harness (from our friends at Premier, and clips to the chest) , and the Sporn Harness (clips to the back, pulls dogs front legs off the ground when they pull).

It's important to note that some dogs suddenly and miraculously walk much better when on a harness. However, most dogs will do well with this equipment as a device to help TRAIN the dog not to pull. There are several humane methods to teach your dog not to pull. This is one of my favorite methods for real life training outside.




Pros:
-The leash attaches to a ring on the back or chest of the dog, leaving the esophagus, airway, and neck vertebrae at minimal risk of injury.

-For dogs with spinal injuries or other medical conditions, this is a good alternative for walking with a collar around the neck.

-Some sports or work require the dog to be in a harness (Skijoring, Tracking, or Search and Rescue work to name a few), and all of these harnesses encourage pulling. This is a "pro" if you are engaged in an activity/sport where you need the dog to pull.

-Many of the Chest Clip harnesses (like Sensation and Easy Walk) slide comfortably over the head of the dog - no more pulling the harness through each of the front legs.


Cons:
-If you have the wrong harness, it can encourage pulling behaviors, making it difficult to walk your dog.

-Step-In Harnesses are inconvenient to get on and off of a dog.

-Can cause chafing in some dogs.



Stay tuned for more on walking devices!

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Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA is a certified dog trainer in Somerville, MA and can be found teaching dogs through the Boston/North area. 

Where the Rubber Meets the Rawhide

About 5 months ago, Kyjen Toy Company sent me a toy for Zeppelin. I told them I would write up a review of this toy. Then, Christmas happened, as did 5 months of morning sickness (so we're going to have to look for good toys for small humans soon!) - and I am JUST now getting around to writing their review! Thanks, Kyjen, for being so patient!

For starters, I will openly state that Kyjen has long been one of my favorite vendors. The innovation is brilliant, the product quality is top notch, and did you know that they are behind Outward Hound products? I openly recommend their Kyjen Tail Teaser at every opportunity, especially for high drive, city dwelling dogs that need aerobic activity. 

So when they offered to send me a toy for review, I was pretty excited. They sent me a large version of their new Seamsters Line , which combines Rubber with Rawhide, mental stimulation with added bonus of making the rubber toy into a puzzle toy as well.

Both dogs got to try this toy, though the Border Collie rather "helped herself" to the Seamster after the Greyhound had his fun.

First, the Greyhound:
Zeppy really doesn't get into toys. He likes Kongs, as long as they aren't too challenging. He does, however, like to chew on things. Bully sticks, rawhides, and once, my glasses. When we presented him with this toy, he got really excited, took it from me, and went to his bed to chew. I figured he'd be done in just a couple minutes, but he worked on this toy for a solid half an hour. I took the toy away from him, presented it to him the next day, and he worked on it until the rawhide was done. He loved it - it was durable enough for him, and he really had a good time!

Second, the Border Collie:
Let me first start off by saying, I strung this toy together incorrectly. The toy comes with a rawhide refill - basically a strip of rawhide that you soak for a few minutes so it becomes pliable, then you thread it through the loops to put the pieces of the toy together. I didn't have to thread anything when Zep was working on the toy since it came pre-strung. When I threaded it, I got confused and went the wrong way, which later would prove to be a bad move on my part.

Zeppy got bored with the toy when it was threaded wrong, so he left it alone after a few minutes of frustration. Sadie, our BC, decided to give it a shot. Sadie's basic coping mechanism for anything challenging is to run through it, tear through it, or throw it into the ground. She started by throwing the rubber toy into the ground (which works for her Linkables), and it didn't work. So she decided to chew through the rubber rungs that held the rawhide in place, which was rather impressive. By the time I realized that she was chewing THROUGH the outer rings of the toy instead of chewing the rawhide (she had her back to me, and chewing rawhide looks very similar to chewing tough rubber!), it was too late for part of the toy. However, I will say, that she had a rather good time, and looked really happy while she was destroying the only toy that has ever given her "brother" any joy.

It wasn't until after this had happened that my husband noticed that the threading was incorrect, which explains everything that happened above.

In Conclusion:
I really do like this toy for dogs that love rawhide, and also need mental stimulation. As stated earlier, for one of our dogs, this was the only toy that has ever given him the mental stimulation that he needs, in a fashion that he enjoyed. He's not a destructive chewer, but does love to chew on rawhides and other animal bits. However, for more destructive chewers, or dogs that have maybe chewed through other types of rubber toys as a coping mechanism, the rubber rings on the outside of the toy might not hold up over time.

I loved how innovative the toy was - taking dense rubber and threading rawhide through it to make a Super-Toy. It's definitely one that I'm going to continue to recommend to my students (puppies will get a kick out of this!), but do keep in mind that there it should be supervised to make sure the dog doesn't chew the wrong parts of the toy. I think threading the toy incorrectly (my fault, entirely!) also contributed to the destruction, but if I messed up the threading, anyone can mess up the threading, so it's something to keep in mind.

Exercise Tip for Small Spaces

I frequently mention the Kyjen Tail Teaser (please, don't google "Tail Teaser" - lots of interesting things come up on image search.) I love this toy, and better yet, so does my high energy dog.

Here is a short video on how to use the toy in a small space, still work on great skills (such as Take It, Drop It and Tug), and exercise your dog! (Thanks to Peter at Riverdog in Union Square for introducing us to this wonderful toy!)

For more information on how to keep your dog tired, click here.
For more information on teaching your dog Drop it and Leave it, click here.
And for more information on Tug of War (is it good, is it bad, how to play, does it cause aggression?) click here.

Rain Rain Go Away!

Urgh - what a terrible week for going outside with the pups! How on earth do you keep your sanity and get your dog(s) exercised when it's been raining for a week?


Food Dispensing Toys
There is NO rule that a dog needs to eat out of a food dish. In our house, Sadie eats every meal out of a food dispensing toy. Zeppelin doesn't need the same amount of mental activity, so he eats out of a raised dish. A few examples of food dispensing toys are listed below!

Kibble Nibble by Premier

One of the toys suggested by every dog trainer is the Kibble Nibble. It's an "easy" dispensing toy. You put an allotted amount of food/treats in the toy. The dog has to roll the treat ball around, and the food dispenses out of a tiny hole on one end of the toy.

Kong Extreme for heavy chewers

Kong toys are another must-have in every household with a dog. They come in a variety of sizes and chew strength. You can put fat free yogurt, peanut butter, soft dog food, cheese, meat, anything that your dog loves, into this fantastic interactive toy! For a longer lasting experience, you can put the Kong with the stuffing of your choosing, into the freezer!

Premier Linkables - my favorite toy of last season!

The Linkables have been a LIFE-SAVER in our household. The dense rubber is difficult to chew, but soft enough that when Sadie tosses the toy around, it's not disruptive for our landlords who live on the floor below us. The brilliance of this toy is you can make it as easy or difficult for your dog as needed! You buy each piece separately, and configure the toy in a variety of ways to keep your dog interested and busy at meal times. I mix up the food dispensing toys at each meal, but at least once a day, she gets her Linkables set to the most difficult setting for 30 minutes of mental activity without adding extra calories.

Long Lasting Chews

Bully Sticks: A tendon of a bull, and not a cow....

First and foremost, I have to suggest the Bully Stick.  Yes, they can be a bit expensive, but they are really worth it. I have one friend that calls them "Sanity Sticks" and for good reason! They are a dense tendon that keeps even the most persistent chewer busy longer than most other chew sticks.




Marrow Bones are no longer recommended by veterinarians due to higher incidents of fractured teeth on the indigestible bone. Similarly, antlers, horns, and other bones-of-former-animals are not advised.

Interactive Toys & Games:

Tail Teaser: I was a bit uncomfortable google searching for this.

If you have a higher energy dog, especially one that loves to jump and chase, there is the Tail Teaser from Kyjen. It's a wonderful interactive toy that allows you to play with your dog (which is what they really want!). It's also a great way to teach "Take It", "Drop It", and other useful commands. It also is an aerobic activity which will help burn off all the energy your dog isn't able to get out otherwise.

Tennis Ball: Tried and True

Not exactly a novel try, but an old favorite. Play fetch with your dog using a tennis ball in the house! Easy peasy! If you have a stair case in the home, sit at the top of the stairs, drop the ball to the bottom, and have the dog fetch. With all the running up and down the stairs, you'll get more energy burned in a shorter amount of time!

Tug of War: I wrote an entire article on Tug of War. Tug can be a great way to teach great skills (drop it and take it) and  still burn energy. Check that posting if this is something you're interested in!

New Toys
We all love our dogs, so why not get them a new toy? I'm including a link instead of a photo because this is my favorite toy of this year. It's another Premier toy, but is a great toy for shredders. They are not filled with stuffing, so they don't get fluff everywhere. Instead, they have a rubber mesh ball on the inside with a squeak inside, so when they shred the exterior, they still have a functional toy on the inside. BRILLIANT!

Training and Tricks
Play "find it" games, which engages a dogs mind and keeps boredom at bay. Put your dog in a "stay", hide a treat, and have the dog "find it". It works on impulse control, engages their mind, and is an interactive game between owner and dog. Win, Win, Win!

Teach your dog a new trick! "Spin", "Roll Over", "High Five", "Shake" or any number of party tricks.

One Last Tip: 
 Many people leave dog toys out all the time. Instead, invest in a doggy toy box. If that seems absurd to you, get a hanging fabric shoe rack, put a couple of your dogs toys in each shoe slot, and rotate toys daily! This will keep the clutter down, and keep your dog interested in the toys!

A nice way to keep your shoes cleaned up AND your dog toys cleaned up!

Best of luck this very rainy week. It's been a tough one. Hopefully these tips can help you out until the sun comes out again!

Great Toy For Dogs: Tail Teaser

Sorry about the unfortunate Google Term. Flirt Pole is a type of toy that looks like a glorified cat toy, but made for dogs to chase. These are fantastic tools for high drive dogs who like to chase things, but happen to live in small places.

Tail Teaser isn't much better...it's the brand name of a specific flirt pole.

I know, the jokes write themselves

That said,  I have to say that this toy has served as a lifesaver this winter with all the snow we've had in New England, and the dreaded colds that keep contaminating our household!

Video on Tail Teaser - To be fair, I was a bit nervous typing in "Tail Teaser" into Google. Who knew what crazy things could have come up...and did. Search with caution!

Dogs Using the Tail Teaser : There are a couple things I dislike about this video, but this is the only video I could see where the dogs were using the toy. I'll go point by point:
 1. Multiple dogs going after one toy: Ideally, you'd work one dog at a time, in a space without other dogs present to prevent resource guarding.
 2. The floor: You don't want to injure your dog if they are jumping up to get the toy. Instead, use a carpet, or get a portable play mat that will not move when your dog jumps and lands. Or, go outside!

That said, I do like that the owner asked the dog "drop it", and the dog immediately complied. You don't want to get into a tugging match with your dog unless that's the game you want to play, but you should eventually get your dog to drop the toy on your command. You can use this toy to teach a reliable drop it command, by using the techniques found in this training video.

One last point to make: If your dog is a resource guarder with humans - for example, your dog growls when people try to take something away, or if a human comes close to something that they are possessive over, then consult a Certified Pet Dog Trainer or Certified Behavior Consultant to assist you.

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful!: Cold Weather Equipment for City People and City Dogs

Here in Boston, we experience several seasons, one of them colder and yuckier than the rest (Sadie, as usual, disagrees.) We have a cold weather dog, and a dog that detests the frigid New England temperatures. Additionally, when you live in the city, there are many different things to consider: walking on concrete sidewalks, especially when covered in a sheet of ice is VERY challenging - and I don't know about you, but the gloves I wear never keep my hands warm and I can't open poop bags (another "city" phenomenon....I never HEARD of a poop bag when I lived in Maine!)

So here are a few tips for winterizing yourself when you live in the City and need to adventure out with your dogs, not matter what the weather!

Muttens:
I have some wonderful friends that thought of me last winter around Christmas time. I take their dogs out for a walk around lunchtime a few times a week, and had let it slip in passing that opening poop bags with gloved fingers is damned near impossible, not to mention when it's particularly windy out, gloves just simply don't keep your fingers warm the way mittens do. Have you ever tried to open a poop bag with mittens? If you take the mittens off to open the bag, your hand freezes. Well, some clever soul created Muttens, and they were my Christmas gift last year - a thumbless mitten that keeps your entire hand toasty warm, with an opening at the top for your hand to easily slide out of to open poo bags, or open doors.

The fleece continues to cover the back of your hands, protecting from the wind, even when part of your hand is exposed. If you walk with a retractable leash (I hope you don't in the city!), you can hold the leash in the Mutten with your hand completely covered by the warm fleece. I didn't need to wear any additional gloves with the Muttens, and I usually wear 2 pairs of gloves when I go out walking with dogs. Absolutely the best way to walk your dogs, and stay warm. Click here for the Muttens website

Yak Tracks
I slip and fall ALL the time on the sidewalks. Some people don't shovel the sidewalk in front of their apartment, some only shovel and don't throw salt down which leaves an icy walking surface where dogs and people can get hurt. A shop owner recommended I try Yak Tracks. You can get them at most hardware stores. Basically, they are a rubber slip on with steel coils underneath to help you get grip. I haven't fallen once since I started wearing these for walking dogs. When dogs pull on the leash on an icy patch, I can still keep my balance because the steel digs into the ice, giving the wearer a grip. I absolutely recommend these for anyone that is prone to falling, or out on icy sidewalks for more than 2 steps. Plus, they are easy on/easy off. I keep them in my car, they slide over my boots and sneakers (the rubber is self adjustable like an elastic band, so no adjusting needed for different shoe types), and I'm ready to go in 15 seconds. Be particularly careful wearing them in the house, though - steel and tile don't mix! Yak Tracks info here


What about my dogs? How do I keep them safe and comfortable?
Snow, salt and ice kept getting up in the pads of his feet, creating microcuts in the pad. Zeppelin finally just stopped walking entirely in the winter. Salt, though good for people to walk more comfortably is incredibly painful for dogs to walk on, and it's a part of living in the city. What can you do to help your pup?

Boots
Now, keep in mind I come from a dog-sledding family, and boots on our dogs was part of their running equipment to protect their paws from sticks, rocks, and frostbite on longer runs. The boots I see in the city with lace and slippery bottoms are strictly for show, plus they don't stay on. Ruffwear does make a great boot for city use - they fit snugly around the foot, and are completely utilitarian. I have several clients that use them and praise them heavily. NOW, keep in mind that not all dog feet are created equally. Sadie has very small feet and very little for the boot to grab onto around her ankle. Even though she's comfortable with boots on, and will wear them without complaint, she throws boots when she runs after Frisbees. Labs, who have a big foot and small ankle, would do better with this type of boot.Our problem was with Zeppelin, who will not walk with boots on, no matter what we tried, and he's super-sensitive to the ice/salt mix on the sidewalks. After three years of trying to find the right equipment for him, we decided to try....

...Mushers Secret, a wax that creates a thin protective layer on the dogs pads and feet. It prevents snow and ice from building up inside the pads, and even seems to help with the salt problems. I equate it to Chapstick, for dogs feet. It won't protect against frostbite, or tons of salt, but it does help quite a bit. Since we have used it, Zeppy has gone from walking 4 blocks maximum to a full 2 mile loop every morning. I admit, I was hesitant to use this product in the city. We used it on the Huskies because they were on powder snow and never encounter salt, which I thought would stick to the wax, creating more damage, but it is working for our particular dog who will not wear boots, and I'm very happy we found something that works.

If you have any other suggestions, or great products for winterizing people or dogs for city life, feel free to leave a comment!

Toy of the Year: Linkables

One of the benefits to attending the APDT conference is the trade show. After attending conference sessions from 9am-5pm, 1,500 lined up like the Filenes Basement Running of the Brides. The reason for all the excitement was the free swag/treats/products given by companies like Kong, Premier, Cloudstar, J & J Dog Supplies, etc. in the hotels' exhibit hall. In addition to the free stuff, they had massive discounts for all their other products. For starters, I got a Kong Frisbee, retail at $12.99 for $5.00.

The best purchase I made, however, was on the Premier Linkables. This is a puzzle toy that beats Kong by a mile for those dogs that aren't challenged enough by it. We've been feeding Sadie her dinner out of this toy since she re-injured her leg, and it mentally exhausts her, and keeps her occupied for 20 minutes. As I type, she just finished her dinner, and is curled up at my feet, resting and relaxed. Not easy for a Border Collie!

The way this toy works is simple. It's three different pieces that can be linked together in a variety of ways to vary the difficulty. You can start with putting food or treats in just one puzzle piece, make sure your dog enjoys it, and as they get better at it, then make it harder by adding more pieces. This will make an excellent gift for people that have high energy dogs that may need something more challenging to do.

Admittedly, I was a bit concerned on my trip back going through the airport with these. This was the first week of body scans at Boston Logan airport and Atlanta's airport...and they were really looking into the luggage scans as well. With the three pieces taken apart in my suitcase, it had to have looked like the pieces for a pipe bomb or a bong. Luckily I wasn't pulled aside, but I can only imagine the look on the inspectors face when those very specific pieces show up on a luggage scan.