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Behavior Tip of the Month

By Carole Beck Schatz

Anti-Pulling Device QUESTION Damp pungent My dog hates the anti-pulling devices that fit around his head and nose. He runs when I put one of them on. He acts like a bucking bronco trying to get it off. Our walks are chaos. Is there something else to try that will minimize pulling but be acceptable to my dog? ANSWER I recently learned of something that might work for you. It's a new way of using the standard harness that fits around a dog's body. September Morn, a well known dog trainer and writer, wrote about this new way of adapting a harness to minimize pulling. She says to buy a "regular body harness - the type that has a metal ring in the middle of the dog's chest where the shoulder straps meet with the strap that connects to the girth (tummy)." What you do is attach the leash to the ring on the dog's chest instead of to the D-ring on the dog's back. This makes the harness work like a full-body Halti, turning the dog's body when she pulls, so she can't dig in and pull forward. You must fit the harness snugly on the dog so it doesn't slide around much". If you can't find a harness with a metal ring by the dog's chest area, buy a ring at a craft or home store. Go to a shoe or luggage repair shop and have them attach it to your harness. If you try this new adaptation of the body harness, I'd love to have your feedback. It sounds great but the proof will be if your dog's pulling is less and he doesn't mind wearing a harness. Late breaking news ... soon after I posted this article, the latest issue of the Whole Dog Journal featured a new product that does what I talked about above. It's the SENSE- ation HARNESS by SofTouch Concepts. SofTouch Concepts' phone number is (866) 305- 6145 and their web site is www.softouchconcepts.com. I hope this helps -- please let me know either way. Good luck, Carole Carole Schatz, CPDT Certified Pet Dog Trainer Best Friend Behavior Counseling and Training San Diego, Ca.