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.

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.

Product Review: Holt Control Harness

The Holt Control Harness, currently available from Coastal Pet Products, is a slightly different version of the no-pull string harness. This one-piece design slips over the head and then both front feet are stepped into the harness and the toggle is tightened up. The Holt harness allows total freedom of motion, and does not rub under the armpits. It is available in three sizes to fit dogs with necks 8-26" around, and chests up to 36" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Holt Harness was originally sold by the Canadian company Pet Valu. Coastal Pet Products acquired them in 2009. There don't seem to be a lot of Holt-branded products out there, but this is definitely the most recognizable and unique. It uses rounded cords to concentrate pressure like the Sporn Halter and the Yuppy Puppy Anti-Pull Harness. However, it does not run the cords through the dog's armpits.

This is one of the few no-pull harnesses that allows total freedom of motion. It does not block the motion of the shoulder or upper arm at all, and it sits well clear of the armpits so it will not rub. The round cords also disappear into the dog's coat, making this harness less likely to contribute to matting on hairy dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Like the other string harnesses we've tried, this one is not strongly aversive. At least, Sisci did not mind towing me over to a tennis ball in it. You can see it sort of riding into her armpits in the pulling picture, but it is actually very adjustable and I could make those cords sit much further back. Like the Balance Harness, the top section on this one can be adjusted so it can be made to fit all sorts of weird body shapes.

My only complaint about this harness is that, like most string harnesses, it tightens down with a toggle for a secure fit, leaving any extra length of cord to dangle. This means a smaller dog in the size range could have a foot or more of extra cord hanging around, while a larger dog may not have any. I don't like having the leash clip swinging around in my dog's face, and I also don't like having a big floppy bit hanging off the harness when my dog is off leash.

Pros: Rounded cords slide into long coats. Seriously adjustable in every dimension. Likely most effective on larger dogs. Allows freedom of movement and stays out of the armpits. Does not choke.

Cons: Toggle fitting system leaves a big length of cord swinging around, needs a leash attached to prevent leash ring from hitting a running dog. May seem a bit complicated for newbs to put on. Requires a bit of flexibility to get into as the dog must step over cords.

Bottom Line: Simple and kind of classy. A minimalist no-pull solution.

Product Review: Original Sporn Halter

The Original Sporn Halter is a no-pull harness that has been around since 1992. It consists of a collar with an unusual number of D-rings, and a cord with clips on either end and a ring and spring toggle in the middle. The cord is run through a pair of fleecy sleeves to prevent it from rubbing on the dog. The Original Sporn Halter is currently available in three different colors and four sizes to fit dogs with necks 9-33"around.

Photo by Erin Koski

Before there was the Simple Control Harness, before there was the Non-Pull Mesh Harness, there was the Original Sporn Halter. It was invented in 1992 and I'm sure I was using one shortly after the product was released. I used to walk Sid the Weimeraner from down the street on a Sporn Halter, I guess my neighbors were early adopters.

Like every piece of dog gear, there's some good things and some bad things about this one. For some users, it is nothing short of a miracle. Back in 1992, it allowed my tiny prepubescent self to walk an enormous dog with ease. Sid the Weimeraner had major skin issues, but the harness never rubbed him raw, and back then the cords didn't even have those sherpa sleeves on them.

On the flip side, this is a somewhat complicated piece of gear to put on, more so because it can come apart unlike similar products by the same company. The collar has two metal D-rings on the front and two on the back. Each side of the forked cord piece is run through a back ring, under the dog's front leg, and attached to the front ring on the same side. The plastic toggle at the center of the cord is then used to pull both sides snug. The leash is attached to the center ring above the toggle, so that the restraint cords are pulled tight when the dog pulls.

Apparently not.
Photo by Erin Koski

Doesn't That Hurt?

I have for many years considered the Sporn Halter to be an aversive tool. Clearly pulling a thin cord into a dog's armpit must be painful, right? The primary reason I keep these in my toolbox is because they just don't seem to bother the dogs much.

In my review of the Yuppy Puppy (now YUP!) Anti-Pull Harness, I said I was sure a dog charging to the end of their leash with a full head of steam would feel actual pain when they hit this harness. During our photo shoot, I actually got to see this happen. Annie the Escapologist saw another dog across the park and went flying to the end of a 6' leash in an Original Sporn Halter...and didn't even notice. The harness made her front legs sort of spread out to either side, airplane style, but she quickly figured out how to engage her back end and keep pulling with her front completely off the ground. 

I have now revised my opinion of string harnesses as aversive tools. Clearly they don't cause nearly the amount of discomfort imagined, given how well they work. It seems they make the action of pulling on the leash inconvenient or awkward, rather than outright painful. 

Pros: Light for dogs that abhor heavy harnesses. Instantly effective on many dogs. Does not require the dog's feet to be lifted, or anything to be pulled over their head. 

Cons: Some dogs just don't find it that annoying. The cords on this design can rub the dog's armpits raw, the Sporn Non-Pull Mesh Harness places them a bit further back. Can be a bit complicated to put on for the spatially-challenged  (or maybe looking at a mass of straps and cords and being able to immediately identify what it is and how it goes on is my superpower...). Is definitely not escape-proof, short-legged dogs and those that can back out of their collars may have an extra edge when it comes to popping out of it.

Bottom Line: Annie the Escape Artist is a fantastic product tester for no-pull products as well as supposedly escape-proof gear. I had regarded this harness as difficult to escape until she tried to back out of it. Apparently, for some dogs, it's as easy to pop out of as a flat collar. Annie is a great example of how we learn more from difficult dogs than we do from the easy, well-behaved ones.

Product Review: Sporn Non-Pull Mesh Harness

The Sporn Non-Pull Mesh Harness is designed to discourage pulling by tightening when pressure is applied. It is highly adjustable and nearly escape-proof. Available in black and red, it comes in four sizes to fit dogs with necks 8-33" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Sporn Company

Does this look exactly like the Yuppie Puppy No-Pull Mesh Harness? That's because they're by the same company. In fact, it looks like they've finally combined their brands and now the Yuppie Puppy stuff is being sold as Yup! By Sporn. I kind of like that, it sounds like the opposite of 'nope!'.

The Harness

This harness works by concentrating pressure onto the cords running under the dog's armpits. It's kind of like wearing a backpack with thin straps, that just keeps getting heavier. It loosens up nicely as soon as the dog stops pulling, and seems to be a lot more intuitive for them than a choke chain.

This is one of my favorite products to use as a bandaid for a pulling problem. Ideally everyone would train their dog to walk nicely on leash, but some people just want an instant fix, and others need to be able to control a strong dog for safety. A lot of dogs seem to figure out how this harness works right away, and it's only mildly aversive so it won't leave a sensitive dog screaming in pain as Sisci is demonstrating in the picture above.

Because it's not terribly aversive, when no actual training takes place many dogs still pull a bit in the Sporn Mesh Harness. They don't pull as hard, but the discomfort increases as they pull harder so most just find a balance that involves a bit of leash tension. When actual training takes place, the Sporn harness can be used to change the picture for a habitual puller and help them feel the tension they've become desensitized to on their regular walking gear.

Pros: An easy fix for dogs that pull on walks, also good for training loose leash walking. Can help a small person control a large dog. Difficult to escape. Does not appear to cause acute discomfort.

Cons: Rubs the armpits of sensitive dogs. Less effective on fluffy dogs. Tangles up easily when putting it on the dog and easily confuses the less spatially-oriented among us. Leaving the harness on the dog without a leash doesn't work well.

Bottom Line: At around $20 new, this harness is worth a try. For really fluffy or very strong dogs, I would choose the original Sporn Halter as it provides a stronger sensation.

Bad Idea: Why Can't I Use a Flexi Leash with an Easy Walk Harness?

The PetSafe Premier Easy Walk harness is great for preventing dogs from pulling like sled dogs on walks. Flexi retractable leashes are great for letting dogs have a little more freedom without a long leash dragging on the ground or tangling in their legs. Why not combine them and give the dog the freedom of a long leash without getting dragged all over the neighborhood?

Photo by Erin Koski

Well I guess you can use them together if you want to, but it's not very nice to your dog. You see, the Easy Walk harness is designed to make leash pressure inconvenient and uncomfortable, and the Flexi leash exerts constant pressure. The result is that the dog learns to ignore the signals given by the harness because pulling is actually a good thing.

Using a retractable leash with a no-pull harness means the dog feels a constant unpleasant sensation.

Photo by Erin Koski

The entire point of retractable leashes is that
they do not go slack. Constant tension from the handle to the dog ensures that the leash never drags on the ground, keeping it clean and dry. The bulky plastic handle of a retractable leash houses a spring and a wheel.

Unless the brake is pressed, the spring exerts continuous pressure on the wheel causing it to roll the leash back into the handle. This is what causes an unclipped Flexi leash to go flying back into its handle. Unless the brake is presses, the spring also exerts continuous pressure on the dog. It's not a lot of tension, but it is ever-present tension.

Photo by Erin Koski

In order to extend the leash and get wherever they want to go, dogs learn to pull on the Flexi. The leash is constantly pulling on them, so there is no way for them to walk with no pressure. Just pull against it, and the leash will get longer most of the time.

Unlike other front-clip harnesses, the EasyWalk tightens up across the front when leash pressure is applied. This causes squishes the shoulders and alters the dog's gait. It makes them walk funny. That's not fun, so the dog learns to keep the leash slack so he has freedom of movement.

It's hard to walk while pulling in an Easy Walk harness. A Flexi leash constantly pulls on the dog. Plenty of dogs learn to ignore the feeling, walk funny, and pull as much as they can in the harness. This defeats the purpose of using a no-pull harness. It's also not great for their bodies. Easy Walk harnesses restrict shoulder movement, causing the dog to put more weight on their back end. Using a retractable leash with constant tension probably exacerbates this effect. While it's not always noticeable, sore hips, knees, and backs don't need to be carrying more weight than necessary.

A Better Way to Adjust the Easy Walk Harness

The PetSafe Easy Walk harness works well for a lot of people, but it can be difficult to fit on the dog properly. The instructions included with this harness don't work very well for most dogs. Sure, they look plausible when you read them:














Just make the straps that go around the bottom and top tight enough that they remain in a straight vertical line even when the front strap is pulled forward. Then adjust the front strap so that it is tight enough to stay horizontal, 90 degrees from the other two straps, but not so tight that it pulls them forward. The connector rings and front strap should sit precisely at the level of the dog's breastbone. Easy, right?

The Mythical T-Shape
It sounds easy until you actually try to put an Easy Walk harness on a dog. Then physics comes into play and you begin to realize that dogs aren't shaped like that. I have yet to find a dog on which I could fit an Easy Walk harness as directed. No matter how incredibly dog-suffocatingly tight I make those top and bottom straps, they will not remain vertical. Nope. Not happening. Also, the straps attach to each other via a ring on either side. This allows the straps to rotate freely out of position at the slightest pressure.

If your harness fits like this and any of the straps are at their maximum
length, you probably need a bigger harness.
Photo by Erin Koski

The front strap on the Premier PetSafe EasyWalk harness includes a martingale loop that allows it to tighten. This feature also makes it very heavy. Unless your dog has an extremely prominent breastbone on which to hang that strap, it is going to sag. Heavy leash clips exacerbate this issue, and once again those handy side rings allow it to rotate very easily. There is no keeping the front strap horizontal.

So what can you do? If you try to keep the front strap tight enough to stay up, it pulls the top and bottom straps out of vertical and into the NO Y-shape. If you try to keep the top and bottom straps vertical, the front strap sags. There is no happy medium. Even worse, the mythical T-shape requires that the top and bottom straps sit in your dog's armpits, and fit very tightly. Chafed underarms galore.

The SENSE-ible Solution
The fitting instructions for the SENSE-ation harness are a bit different, but they work extremely well for the EasyWalk. For a better, more comfortable, less droopy fit, loosen that bottom strap and tighten up the top one a bit. The connector rings should now sit higher than the dog's breastbone.

A size bigger, this M/L can be adjusted for a better fit.
Photo by Erin Koski

With the front strap now attached a bit higher, it should sag right into its ideal position. When light pressure is applied, the Easy Walk harness may even take on the mythical T-shape. Since the front is no longer being held in place purely by tension, the bottom strap can be loosened enough to allow some freedom of movement. This also keeps it out of the dog's armpits and reduces chafing.

How to Fit an Easy Walk Harness Comfortably
1. Find the point of the dog's breastbone at the front of their chest, just below their neck.
2. Adjust the top shoulder strap so that the connector rings on either side sit an inch or two above this point.
3. Adjust the bottom belly strap so that it is snug, but loose enough to allow the dog to sit comfortably without getting jabbed in the armpits.
4. Adjust the front chest strap so it is snug enough to sit against the dog's body, but not so tight as the affect the position of the other two straps. It should droop slightly and sit just at the dog's breastbone.
5. If the front chest straps hangs lower than the breastbone or the leash clasp hits the dog's legs, tighten the top shoulder strap more. If the bottom belly strap is chafing under the front legs, loosen the front chest strap and tighten the top shoulder strap.

Keep in mind that Easy Walk harnesses tend to loosen up over time, and need to be tightened and adjusted often. Have you used this harness? How well did it work for you?

Product Review: The Instant Trainer Dog Leash

The Instant Trainer Dog Leash is a leash designed to reduce pulling. It features a ring that allows it to wrap around the dog's waist, and has a rounded plastic handle for added grip. This is an "as seen on TV" product".

Photo by Erin Koski

There is an old dog handling trick that is affectionately known as "the leash trick". It's a way to get your over-excited dog from the car to the beach, park, or whatever awesome thing is just a short distance away. This is a tactic that is best used on a trained dog that normally knows how to walk nicely on a leash, in situations where they may forget their manners. "The leash trick" is just to leave the leash attached to the collar and then wrap it around the dog's waist. A knot is tied to keep the leash from tightening around the dog's unprotected abdominal organs, and the handler than holds onto the dog via the remaining length of the leash coming off this waist knot.

The Instant Trainer Dog Leash is clearly an attempt to capitalize on the old leash trick, but it fails in a number of ways.

Photo by Erin Koski

1. There is nothing stopping The Instant Trainer Dog Leash tightening up. If it stops the dog from pulling, great! If not, I'd worry about organ damage.

2. There is nothing stopping The Instant Trainer Dog Leash from loosening up. As soon as the leash goes slack, the loop around the dog's waist goes slack. It can slide back around their back lacks, get peed on by boy dogs, and if it gets loose enough the dog can even step through it.

3. There is nothing between the hardware and the dog. The bit where the leash slides through the ring is is right in contact with the dog's back. Brisbane lost a bit of fur just taking these pictures, and he doesn't even pull on the leash!

4. The ring isn't welded. Let me say that again. The ring isn't welded. Not an issue if the sensation of the leash tightening around their abdomen doesn't bother the dog, but an obvious point of failure for any dog that pulls despite it.

Pros: This leash actually does work for some people and some dogs. It's an inexpensive product and the effect should be instant, so dog owners should know right away to stop using it. I believe it can also be used with the leash looped around the dog's ribcage, like the ThunderLeash. This would be safer for the dog, but may also put too much pressure on that unwelded ring.

Cons: This is a poorly made product, and there are tons of reports of both the ring and the snap breaking. If the dog fails to stop pulling immediately, they can injure themselves. Using this leash requires constant vigilance from the handler to keep it taut enough to stay in play, yet loose enough to be comfortable.

Bottom Line: The same effect can be accomplished safely and more effectively with a regular six-foot leash. I am confident I could create a better product with a sturdy nylon leash and a climbing carbiner.

Product Review: SENSE-ation Harness by Softouch Concepts

The Softouch Concepts SENSE-ation harness is a front clip harness designed to discourage pulling and promote good leash walking skills. It features a simple three-strap design with a single buckle and a bottom strap made from soft non-abrasive webbing. The SENSE-ation is available in five colors and nine different sizes to fit dogs with chests 13-50" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

While it may look a lot like the Premier Easy Walk harness, the SENSE-ation harness is in my opinion a superior product. With one fewer buckle, it's easier to put on and less likely to baffle the uninitiated. More importantly=, it does not have that obnoxious tightening martingale loop in the front.

While the Easy Walk harness is supposed to tighten across the shoulders to make pulling difficult, the SENSE-ation harness just changes the leash attachment point from the front to the back. The fixed strap gives a much better fit and is far more ergonomic while being just as effective. The issue with the Easy Walk harness is that the martingale loop doesn't actually tighten the harness, it just pulls the top and bottom straps forward and into the dog's armpits.

The SENSE-ation harness is also fitted differently than the Easy Walk, and since acquiring mine I have changed the way I fit dogs with Easy Walk harnesses. Premier tells users that the top and bottom straps should be vertical, and the front strap should sit horizontal and level with the point of the chest. The guys at my local pet store call this the "mythical T-shape" because it just can't be achieved on a real dog. The get the front strap to sit at the point of the chest, it has to be tightened until the top and bottom straps are pulled into the dog's elbows.

The SENSE-ation harness is fitted with the chest trap adjusted a bit higher. When gravity and physics and the laws of nature take their course, the front strap ends up right at the breastbone where it belongs. Unlike the Easy Walk harness, which instructs users to tighten the vertical straps so tight that the front strap stays up, the SENSE-ation harness instructs users to keep things loose enough to be comfortable and allow for natural movement.

Pros: A far more comfortable and easier to use front clip harness that the most popular one on the market. Discourages pulling without impeding normal movement.

Cons: Not Dr Zink-approved because the horizontal strap lays across the shoulder, though this is more a concern for canine athletes and less for average pet dogs. The pink ones I've seen have faded badly even though they haven't been in the sun.

Bottom Line: I feel like this harness was designed by people who actually used it long enough to improve the design and fitting instructions. It's what the Easy Walk harness would be if a team of dog-loving engineers got to work on it. While it hasn't replaced the Freedom harness as my favorite no-pull solution, it's a lot better than the more popular Easy Walk.

Product Review: Freedom No-Pull Harness

The Freedom No-Pull Harness, by 2 Hounds Design (formerly Wiggles, Wags and Whiskers)  is a unique piece of equipment that doesn't really fit into any of the categories by which I usually classify dog harnesses. It's shaped more like a step-in than anything else, but goes on like a Roman harness, with the neck loop around the neck, center strap passed between the front legs, and the belly strap clipped around the dog's middle. The Freedom Harness comes in twenty different color combinations and two strap widths to fit dogs with chests 14-44" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This harness has a martingale loop on the top that serves to tighten the chest strap around the dog's girth. The tightening strap discourages pulling without choking or hitting sensitive pressure points. While most no-pull products use some sort of pain or discomfort to discourage pulling, this one does not appear to bother extra-sensitive Brisbane.

One of the things I like best about the Freedom harness is the velvet lining on the straps under the armpits. This makes it very popular for off-track greyhounds and other dogs with sensitive skin. Brisbane's armpits are pretty much naked, so I am very careful with harnesses that have straps anywhere near that area. I'm pretty sure the original Wiggles Wags and Whiskers harness was designed specifically for greyhounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

Another unique feature of the Freedom harness is a front leash ring. This attachment point does not tighten the harness when leash pressure is applied, unlike the ever-popular EasyWalk harness.

Ideally, the leash should be clipped either to the back ring only, or to both the front and back rings at the same time. This can be accomplished with a double-ended leash, a regular leash with a carabiner snapped to the handle, or or even two leashes. This allows the handler to primarily use the back attachment point to discourage pulling, and the front ring just for turning the dog around.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Freedom harness has been awesome for Ulysses. He doesn't really pull on the leash, but he does fixate on things like other dogs in the distance. The front ring allows me to turn him around and walk him away in a manner that does not trigger him to react. This is the harness that I recommend now for people who have issues with pulling or reactivity.

Pros: No-pull feature does not make my uber-sensitive Brisbane act uncomfortable, meaning it is not a hugely negative pulling deterrent like a prong collar or string harness. Really does deter pulling, though I have not tried it on a strong dog yet. Does not require picking up the dog's feet to put it on, and the neck loop is big enough to go on without touching sensitive ears. Does not hang loosely, can be worn without a leash attached. Soft velvet on straps behind the legs help prevent chafing, and the harness does not sit too close to the elbows.

Cons: The front strap sits pretty low, probably low enough to interfere with shoulder movement. Brisbane recently developed some hip arthritis, and suddenly became visibly unhappy when wearing any harness that touches his shoulders. Our harness is a size large, I tried going down to a medium in hopes of having the strap sit higher, but the back loop section is actually the same length on both sizes. I'm also not in love with the sizing, with the large harness we have almost every strap adjusted as short as possible, with the medium they were all as long as possible. I wish there was more overlap. This harness is also sort of complicated for the uninitiated to put on the dog, though it gets easier with practice.

Bottom Line: This is my new favorite band-aid for pulling, and for managing reactive dogs. It has been wonderful for Ulysses and I plan to use it for future fosters as well.

Product Review: Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull Harness

The Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull Harness is a back clip harness designed to discourage pulling. It is an aversive training device that makes pulling uncomfortable. The harness is available in four colors and four sizes to fit dogs with necks 3-33" around. Not every size is available in every color.

Photo by Erin Koski

I call this style of no-pull band-aid a "string harness". Wide, flat harness straps distribute force and make pulling more comfortable, so pulling harnesses and roading collars are made from wide strapping. This harness works on the same principle, a narrow and rounded cord is the least comfortable thing to pull against because it concentrates the force. Of course, pulling on a rounded choke collar isn't aversive enough to discourage an insensitive dog from pulling, so string harnesses route those cords across more sensitive areas like the underarms.

That said, I don't actually find these harnesses to be that aversive. They aren't associated with painful corrections the way choke chains and prong collars are, and they generally aren't used as force training devices designed to give a painful correction. Still, I have no doubt that a dog running to the end of the leash will feel actual pain when it comes to a sudden stop. For this reason, I would not use a string harness on a reactive dog like Brisbane (Edit: Apparently they just make pulling kind of weird and awkward rather than painful, as Annie helpfully demonstrated by flying to the end of a leash on one)

Photo by Erin Koski

So how does it work? The Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull harness consists of a nylon strap collar or chest strap, and a pair of rounded cords that attach to the front of the collar, run under the dog's front legs, and then come up behind the front legs. The cords run through a ring in the back of the collar and then attach to a leash ring. When leash pressure is applied, the cords pull through the ring and tighten across the dog's armpits. A plastic toggle adjusts how loose the cords can fall when slack. Ideally there should not be a lot of slack, the dog should feel the cords tighten when any leash pressure is applied. If the cords are too loose, the dog can build up a bit of speed before the cords tighten, making the correction more harsh.

Older style string harness, photo by Erin Koski.

When these harnesses first came out in the early 1990's, they consisted of an adjustable collar and cords that could be unclipped and removed altogether. The harness on Ru is by Four Paws, but is identical to the Sporn harness I used on Sid the weimeraner down the street when I was a kid. The idea was that the collar portion could be used as an actual collar, and the leash could be attached to both the pull cords and the collar as a way of transitioning from the harness to walking on a normal collar. The Yuppie Puppy harness seems to have abandoned this concept,  I like to think it's a simpler design for simpler people. Still, it works. The red and black Yuppie Puppy harness on Brisbane is a little out of date, the current model is the Mesh Anti-Pull harness, but the concept remains unchanged.

I consider string harnesses to be more aversive than the Premier Easy Walk harness, but less aversive than prong collars and choke chains. It's a great way to get the attention of large and insensitive dogs, and can allow a relatively small person to control a very large dog. I think Sid and I were the same height at the shoulder. There was a particularly wild Labradoodle in Ru's puppy obedience class that did not seem capable of learning to chill out and stop jumping on people until the trainer put a Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull harness on her. Kirby never came back to obedience class after the harness apparently solved all of her behavioral problems.

Pros: Works well for control of large dogs, and helps insensitive dogs learn when they are actually pulling on leash. I would recommend this for people who are small, fragile, or recovering from an injury where they can't handle any leash pulling at all. The fleece sleeves on the Yuppie Puppy harness also make it more comfortable and less aversive.

Cons: While not terribly aversive, this harness still works by making pulling hurt. I would not use it on a sensitive or reactive dog, and I would be watching my dog to see if any of their manners worsened on leash.  A lot of people seem to forget or not realize how this harness works, I see dogs running in them at the off leash beach, and I cringe every time I see someone try to encourage their dog to jump into the car by pulling up on a leash that is attached to one of these. It's also more complicated that a lot of other no-pull solutions, and that makes it less useful for people who get confused by masses of cords and straps.

Bottom Line: Good for stubborn, insensitive dogs, and dogs that don't even realize they are pulling. Works as a decent band-aid for pulling and I think it is less likely to cause behavior problems than a prong collar. 

Product Review: Premier EasyWalk Harness

The Premier EasyWalk is a front-clip harness designed to discouraged pulling. It comes in eight sizes and seven colors to fit dogs with chests 12"-46" around. Premier also offers a reflective version of the harness that comes in five sizes and two colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

Right now I think this is my favorite band-aid for dogs that pull on leash. Like most no-pull solutions, the Easy Walk is meant to be used as part of a training program with the intention of eventually walking the dog on a flat or martingale collar. Like most no-pull solutions, the average user expects to put it on the dog and instantly solve the problem with zero training. I like the Easy Walk harness because it does that pretty well. It makes pulling annoying or difficult by removing all leverage rather than causing pain or discomfort.

That said, there is some concern that the Easy Walk harness reduces shoulder range of motion even when there is no leash attached. According to veterinarian Dr. Christine Zink, the front strap of the harness sits right above an injury-prone area of the front legs. Dogs wearing the Easy Walk put less weight on their front legs, and for this reason it is recommended to avoid using this harness on dogs that compete in high-impact dog sports like agility and flyball. It is also recommended that handlers avoid running with their dogs in this harness. Now I cringe every time I see a dog running on the off-leash beach in one of these.

Photo by Erin Koski

When properly fitted, the Easy Walk harness should be relatively difficult for dogs to back out of. Still, it's a very good idea to use a martingale collar as a backup, especially the first few times the harness is used. Clipping the leash to both the collar and the harness ring works really well.

The first time I saw an Easy Walk harness was ten years ago, on a husky. The dog was pulling so hard that one of her front legs was completely off the ground, but she continued to haul along on three legs and pull like a proper sled dog. I know now that her Easy Walk harness was not properly adjusted. It was likely too loose, the front strap should never have been low enough to pull her leg completely off the ground like that. Still, this product does has some fitting quirks.

The instructions say that the harness should make a T-shape when viewed from the side. The red harness in these pictures is a size Medium, adjusted with every strap at its maximum length. The front strap is so short that it pulls the top and bottom straps into a Y-shape. Premier makes in-between sizes that are not usually sold in stores, but one of our local spots carries them and was nice enough to let us play with it. Here is Brisbane wearing a size Medium/Large, the next size up. It is adjusted with every strap as short as  possible. The front strap is much too long and sags well below the breastbone where it belongs, at the same time it still pulls the incredibly snug top and bottom straps out of line. The guys at the store referred to it as the "mythical T-shape". Until we tried it out, I was convinced the Medium/Large size would be a perfect fit, but the Medium is actually a lot closer to ideal. Still, it's a good thing I don't actually need this product or I would be out of luck.

I'm not in love with the way the martingale loop on the front of the Easy Walk harness works. I have also used the SENSE-ation harness on dogs that pull, and it doesn't have issues with sagging like the Easy Walk does. I also have yet to use a SENSE-ation harness that had obviously slipped and loosened with use, while I have tightened many an Easy Walk.

Pros: Pretty much idiot-proof, minimal potential to cause harm when used by the average human on their average dog. Works pretty good as a band-aid for pulling as well as a training aid. Lots of sizes, and fun colors to match different doggy ensembles. Also doubles as a Norway harness when someone inevitably puts it on backwards, not sure if this has the same effects on shoulder movement. Ridiculously easy to put on.

Cons: The effects on shoulder movement are currently being studied, but this harness does alter a dog's gait even when a leash is not attached. The directions for fitting this product were apparently written by people who had never actually attempted to fit the Easy Walk on a real live dog. Apparently there is no size that will fit Brisbane in the prescribed manner. A lot of people get really confused about how to put this on despite its simplicity. Come on, there's only three straps, people! They're even color-coded! (Apparently I have superb spatial reasoning that is limited almost exclusively to understanding how dog tackle works.)

Bottom Line: Less aversive than a prong or choke collar, less obnoxious and potentially dangerous than a head halter, more effective than a flat collar. This makes a good training tool, and it makes a good crutch for those that can't be arsed to train. It's a decent way for a small person to control a large dog. I didn't think very much of them when they first came out, but they've grown on me over the last decade.

All About Prong Collars

A prong, or pinch, collar can be a useful training tool in certain situations. It can provide "power steering" for large and insensitive dogs, and allow powerful dogs to be walked safely. That said, there are some downsides to this device. Like most training tools, prong collars are often used incorrectly. Even those who know the basics are unaware of some of the different ways to alter the action of the prong collar to make it more or less severe. Even at their most severe, prong collars are less damaging and make far better training tools than choke chains.

I have used a prong collar on Brisbane in the past, when I was walking both of my dogs along with my roommates dog and often at least one foster dog. At the time, I needed something that would allow me to stop the entire pack when they spotted something chaseable, so Brisbane and the roommate dog got prong collars. In retrospect it wasn't the best choice because prong collars do cause pain or discomfort. Today I would not put a prong collar on a sensitive or reactive dog because I don't want to teach them that seeing a trigger makes their neck get pinched.

Size

Photo by Erin Koski

Prong links come in three different sizes. Bigger prongs are for bigger dogs, right? Wrong! Any size prongs can be used on any size dog, the difference in size just changes the level of severity.

The bigger the prong links, the more harsh the collar. It is perfectly acceptable, and actually preferred, to get a tiny prong collar and just add links until it fits the dog. This is ideal for dogs that are easy to handle on their own, but get difficult in groups. Walking multiple dogs is tough, they tend to feed off each others excitement.

If a small prong collar, properly fitted, isn't enough to control a large, insensitive, not-reactive dog, a medium or large collar is an option. I just hate to see giant prong collars on large, well-behaved dogs just because people think that the size of the prongs should be determined by the size of the dog.

Fit

This collar is too loose and sitting too low. Photo by Erin Koski

The fit of the prong collar dramatically alters the effectiveness. Unlike a choke chain, a prong collar should not hang loosely around the dog's neck before it is pulled tight. Prongs work like a martingale collar, with a small loop that pulls the big loop tight, but limits how tight. If the prong collar is loose enough to tighten all the way up, it's not going to be very effective.

That said, a loose prong collar with giant links is going to be less severe than a properly fitted one. I see a lot of labradors and golden retrievers wearing huge, floppy prong collars. Not very effective, but probably kinder to the dog.

This collar is properly fitted. Photo by Erin Koski.

A properly-fitted prong collar should in the middle of the neck, halfway between the shoulders and ears. It should be so tight that it stays up there, tight enough that it's slightly difficult to put on, but not tight enough to actively cause discomfort until leash pressure is applied.

The correct position is the one shown here, with the prongs around the back of the neck where the muscles are, and the leash attachment at the front or to the side. Again, the collar should be adjusted small enough that it remains in this position without sliding down or rotating.



Leash Attachment

Photo by Erin Koski.

The chain loop on a prong collar has two rings. Most people attach the leash to one of these rings, so that the collar tightens when leash pressure it applied. However, the collar can be made less severe by attaching the leash to both rings. This prevents the collar from tightening, so that the dog feels less of a correction. I always used Brisbane's prong collar like this, he is sensitive enough that he didn't need the collar to tighten.

The collar can also be made less severe by putting rubber tips on the prong. The kindest, gentlest prong collar is one with small links and rubber tips, with the leash clipped through both rings.

The most severe prong collar is one with large links and bare metal tips, with the leash clipped only to one ring. This collar would be the most effective on a strong, insensitive dog. I would not use it on a reactive dog, or one with behavior issues rooted in anxiety.

There are better training tools out there, and I don't really use prong collars anymore. Still, they probably have their place. I believe them to be most effective on big doofy gun dogs like labradors, golden retrievers, and weimeraners. Any handler using this type of collar needs to be aware that is an aversive tool that can make fear and anxiety issues worse, or even cause issues if the dog learns to associate the pain of the collar with certain stimulus. This should be a training tool that is eventually eliminated. I think that head halters work better as a safety measure for a small handler walking a large dog.

Safety!
Anyone who uses a prong collar needs to be aware that they can pop open suddenly for no reason. I always used a slip collar or martingale with the prong collar. The leash clips through the ring on each collar, so if the prong fails the martingale still safely contains the dog. It's a little bit bulky and a little bit inconvenient, but if will be worth it if it prevents my dog from getting away from me at the worst possible time.

Yuppie Puppy vs. Sporn: The Battle of the Simple Control Harnesses

Wait a second, did I really do two different reviews of the same Simple Control harness? Kinda. The Yuppie Puppy and Sporn brands are owned by the same guy, Joseph S. Sporn. This is the guy that invented the original Sporn no-pull harness back in 1992, when I used it to walk the neighbors' oversized Weimeraner. He also opened the first dog daycare in the United States back in 1987, I like his style. (I will someday do a review on the original Sporn harness as I do own one...in just-barely-big-enough-for-Ru size. Every time I see it laugh.)

Photo by Erin Koski

At face value these products are incredibly similar. Actually, the same picture is used for both products on the Yuppie Puppy and Sporn websites and packaging. The Yuppie Puppy harness is also packaged and sold as the Sporn harness, and it's possible that this design has replaced the earlier Sporn design. At any rate, here is a side-by-side comparison of the two products.

The red harness bears the Yuppie Puppy logo on its neoprene sleeves and tag. It has bright stainless steel hardware and a plastic quick-release buckle. This harness has a martingale-style loop that tightens both the neck and chest straps when pressure is applied. The buckle is placed down on the side by the dog's elbow.

The black harness bears the Sporn logo on its tag and buckle. It has brushed metal hardware including one half of the quick-release buckle. The chest strap of the Sporn harness tightens by pulling part of the chest strap through a ring attached to the neck strap. The neck strap on this harness does not tighten at all. The buckle is located up high by the leash ring, well away from the dog's elbow. The tightening action on this harness is not very smooth or quick due to the end seams on the strap.

I acquired both of these harnesses from thrift stores. If I ordered the Sporn Simple Control Harness from the Sporn website, I am not certain which product I would receive. I suspect that the red harness is the current design, and the black one is an older model. It doesn't seem to work as well.

As neither of my dogs pulls on the leash, I have sent these to a friend with small but mighty dogs. They may not be fancy or fabulous, but they're about as simple as harnesses come.

Product Review: Sporn Simple Control Harness

The Sporn Simple Control Harness is a back-clip no-pull harness designed to discourage pulling without choking or causing pain. It comes in two colors and four sizes to fit dogs with chests 11-42" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is a very easy to use harness that discourages pulling without being horribly aversive. It does not tighten around the dog's neck whatsoever, and the only part of the harness that does tighten is the strap that goes around the chest behind the front legs. The neoprene sleeves help distribute force over a wide area while protecting coats and delicate skin. The buckle on this harness is place up high, right beside the leash ring, where it is least likely to chafe or rub.

This is a very simple design, it's basically a Norway harness that tightens around the middle. I'm not a huge fan of the way this harness tightens. This one is a size small, and the mechanism probably works better on a larger scale. Basically, there is a short length of strap that is pulled through a ring to tighten the strap when the dog pulls. On the small harness, there is perhaps an inch of single-thickness strap, and half an inch or so on either side that is doubled over and sewn to attach it to the rest of the chest strap. This means the strap does not slide smoothly or evenly through the ring, and it often gets stuck when four layers of nylon are jammed in there. The harness does not tighten without a good tug, you can see in the picture that it is lifting away from Ru's back with leash tension.

Pros: This harness is easy to put on, and definitely won't tighten around sensitive necks and collapsed tracheae.

Cons: The harness does not tighten easily or smoothly, and does not loosen immediately either. This may work better on the medium and large sizes, but since the harness is not that aversive I wouldn't rely on it to control a really zealous puller or a pony-sized dog.

Bottom Line: This would be an easy solution for a mild or moderate puller, but I am not impressed with the no-pull feature. That said, it would still be my choice for an easy everyday harness if avoiding neck pressure was paramount.

Product Review: Yuppie Puppy Simple Harness

The Yuppie Puppy Simple Control Harness is a no-pull harness where the leash attaches in the back. It uses a martingale-style loop that tightens both sections of the harness when the dog pulls. The Simple Control Harness comes in two colors and four sizes to fit dogs 11-42" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

I like the Simple Control harness because it is exactly as advertised: simple. This is basically a Norway harness with an anti-pulling feature that causes the harness to tighten when pressure is applied. It super easy to put on even a squirmy, excited dog. Since it is such a simple design, it is easy to use even for the spatially-challenged and those with limited mobility.

All no-pull devices are aversive, but this is one of my favorites because it is one of the least aversive. It does not pinch or choke, does not need a long slow introduction to have a hope of being accepted by the dog, and causes no anatomical discomfort or limitation. It's comfortable, look at those big neoprene sleeves! The force is distributed over a large area. The Simple Control Harness functions merely by making pulling feel kind of funny, that's it. It's a good way to get the attention of a dog that is accustomed to pulling in a regular harness.

That said, this device also does not discourage pulling very much. I would not put this on a giant breed dog and expect it to prevent him from dragging me into traffic to see a dog on the other side of the street. However, I would put this harness on a smaller dog to take some stress off an older handler. One of my friends has a very bad back and can't really handle any pulling at all from her 15-pound dog, this is a simple and easy way to get the two of them out walking again.

This is a size Small harness for dogs 15"-20" around. Ru is actually 13" around so this one is slightly big on him. Adjusting it as small as possible was a little tricky because the neoprene sleeves take up most of the strap length and must be slid to one side or another while adjusting the size. Once sized properly, it is effortless to put on and take off.

Pros: Comfortable and extremely easy to use. Minimally aversive. Tightening feature could be exceptionally useful with escape-artist dogs that back out of equipment.

Cons: Does not discourage strong pullers, particularly large and physically insensitive dogs. May ride up and choke dog if the fit is poor.

Bottom Line: I have some concerns about this harness, primarily that it will ride up and tighten around the dog's neck. As Ru does not pull, I have not been able to test this theory. I am sending this harness to a friend with small but enthusiastic dogs, so hopefully I will have a field test report in the near future. I like the quality of this harness and wish I had had it back when I was fostering a dog who could escape from everything.