Product Review: ThunderLeash

The ThunderLeash is a no-pull product from the makers of the ThunderShirt. This is an easy-on, easy-off convertible gadget that can also be used as a regular leash. It is available in three sizes to fit tiny, small, and regular-sized dogs. The standard ThunderLeash is currently available in five solid colors with reflective stitching, and there is also a retractable version.

Photo by Erin Koski

The ThunderLeash uses chest compression to help the dog learn to walk nicely. The dog controls the pressure, the more they pull the tighter it gets. The leash wraps around the dog, and is held in place by the specially shaped leash clip. Two metal sliders prevent the leash from getting too loose or too tight around the dog's chest. This whole assembly slides on and off very easily.

There are a number of other products that use chest compression to reduce pulling, and each is a little different. The ThunderLeash is definitely easier to put on than the Freedom Harness or the Harness Lead. It's much sturdier than the Instant Trainer Leash. It stays in place a lot better than the leash wrap.

Photo by Erin Koski

But does it work? Annie helped me test this one because she is an extremely devoted puller. I had heard from a couple of people with larger dogs that said it didn't work very well for them, but maybe we had different expectations. It totally worked for Annie. The leash doesn't teach or encourage loose leash walking, but it does reduce pulling to a manageable level.

Pros: Comes with a money-back guarantee, so it's worth trying just in case it works. Simple and easy to use. Can be used as a regular leash and converts instantly. Works well on many dogs.

Cons: The hardware on the leash for dogs over 25 pounds is quite large and heavy. Godzilla is 28 pounds, and it's a bit heavier than I'd like to use on her.

Bottom Line: The guarantee means it's worth trying. I'd like to see them make a medium size with lighter hardware, though.

Turn Your Leash Into an Instant No-Pull Device, Free!

Your regular, ordinary dog leash can be used as a miraculous no-pull device. Seriously. There's a very simple trick called "the leash wrap" that can change your life. It's easy to put on and take off, and all you need is your dog's regular collar and leash. This is a particularly useful trick because you can employ it as needed, and then go back to regular walking.

Photo by Erin Koski

Ready? Here's the trick: Wrap the leash around your dog's chest or waist, leaving the snap attached to the collar, and passing the handle end under the snap end. Done.

When your dog pulls, they will now tighten the leash around their own body. When they stop pulling, the pressure lets up instantly. If your dog is wearing a martingale collar, you can even pass the handle end of the leash through the martingale loop to hold everything in place a little better.

There are a lot of commercial products that basically use this little trick. The Instant Trainer leash and the Monster Walker both use exactly this, with the leash positioned behind the ribcage. The Harness Lead positions the leash further up, behind the front legs.

I used to use this on a lot of my daycare dogs at pick up time, when they were over-the-top excited to see their humans and often forgot their manners. It's ideal for handling short bursts of excitement, like walking from the car to the dog park, or the very beginning of a walk. Be aware that the leash usually wraps around the dog's sensitive abdomen, so it can be surprising and possibly even a little bit painful the first time they hit the end of the leash. Try it out when they aren't bouncing off the walls first, so they understand the concept.

Of course, like all anti-pull gadgets, your dog can eventually get used to the leash wrap if you let him. It works best for dogs that already know how to walk on a loose leash at least part of the time. For a chronic puller, the leash wraps presents an opportunity to reward him for walking nicely before he gets used to the feeling and starts to ignore it.

What's your favorite solution for dogs that pull on walks?

Product Review: Harness Lead

The Harness Lead is a combination slip lead and harness that is incredibly versatile. It fits any body shape, regardless of the number of legs your dog has. It can be put on without touching your dog's feet, and the neck can open very wide. This combo leash tightens around the chest when your dog pulls, but does not choke. The Harness Lead comes in a variety of colors and two different sizes for dogs 14 pounds on up.

Photo by Erin Koski

The first time I saw this product, it was advertised as "Escape-Proof!" I laughed evilly and bought one to test with Annie the Escapologist. (Paid full retail, not being compensated for this review.) Communication between product reviewers and the company basically boiled down to "the product should be escape-proof if you use it right but we're not actually guaranteeing anything". I'm pleased to see that the Harness Lead is now described as "Escape-Resistant!", because they don't know Annie, and Annie laughs at escape-proof products.

The Harness Lead Company seems pretty cool. They give a lot of their proceeds to charities and rescues, and they have designed a product specifically to be used with kindness. This is not a tool to be used for giving leash corrections. No jerking, no popping, let the dog self-correct by pulling and tightening the leash themselves. I really like the big disclaimer all over the website advising dog owners that if their dog keeps pulling, this product isn't really working for them.

So the basic idea is that this is a slip lead with a couple of extra features that allow it to be turned into a harness. There are a couple of rubber stops that limit how big or small the neck loop can get. Immediately adjacent to the sliding ring is a loop in the fabric, and a rubber disc. Drop the neck loop around the dog's neck, then wrap the rest of the leash around their chest and pull it through the fabric loop to form a harness. The disc keeps the harness from getting too loose, and the stoppers make sure it only tightens around the chest. It's a little bit like this no-pull device, or that trick where you wrap the leash around the dog's chest, but way better.

Does it work? Yes, about as well as any device like this works. The stopper configuration makes sure the chest loop stays up around the ribcage, so there's no worry about the dog pulling sharply and squeezing their abdominal organs. It definitely made an immediate difference in Annie's pulling, both how much effort she put into it and how it felt on my end. She spent quite a bit of time rolling around in the grass and the Harness Lead did not loosen up. Is it escape-proof? No, but the design makes it difficult for many dogs to back out of. If your dog is shaped like a torpedo and is already an expert escape-artist capable of popping out of tools like the Freedom Harness, they won't have any trouble weaseling out of the Harness Lead either.

Pros: Excellent design, reduces pulling and transfers force away from the dog's neck. Soft rope design has no rough edges and seems to be gentle on skin and coat. Fits any dog, including tripods! Can be put on without touching feet or legs. Sits well clear of the shoulder and allows freedom of movement. Company seems to have good customer service, and will happily send a new rubber disc if yours meets misadventure.

Cons: Soft rope is prone to snagging, these can be snipped off and a lighter run over them if they bother you, they're only cosmetic. (The Harness Lead website has a video.) Like a slip lead, this cannot be left on the dog without a human on the other end. Flexible rubber disc seems to be really fun to chew, and may be prone to tearing.

Bottom Line: It's really convenient and seems to actually work for a lot of dogs. I like the company, but they seem to be responding to every bit of criticism by posting a disclaimer on their website. There's a lot of things to be said about this product, so there's a lot of disclaimers. I personally feel that there is room for improvement in the product design, the rubber disc could probably be made from something a little more durable and some color-coding might make it a little more user-friendly for the general public. Still, it's a pretty nifty minimalist harness.