Comments on: Why Your Labrador Puppy Needs A Harness

By: Maggie tynan

Maggie tynan — Fri, 24 May 2019 21:37:12 +0000

My puppy 9 wk old what age should I use a harness from

By: Russel

Russel — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 01:58:16 +0000

>we live in Sweden and recently met a breeder who stated she wouldn’t let her pups go to a home if she knew they would use a harness as she feels they restrict the weight distribution and can effect joint development

Well for one, that’s completely absurd. And for two, she “feels” that they restrict weight distribution and effect joint development?

It’s just crazy, a harness is so obviously better than a collar in pretty much every way, and still there’s someone out there who will claim that it’s somehow bad. Why would a harness be bad on joints? It makes no sense…

By: Mark crowther

Mark crowther — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:25:29 +0000

the article and comments all very interesting. We started to use the harness front coupling and ‘OscarWilde’ is making good progress (5 months old and 22kg) we live in Sweden and recently met a breeder who stated she wouldn’t let her pups go to a home if she knew they would use a harness as she feels they restrict the weight distribution and can effect joint development and she says she “just trains the dog not to pull” ! I have seen some (one) supporting research document suggesting unbalanced weight and potential joint issues with harnesses but perhaps this would refer to constant use. We like the result with the harness just don’t want to cause additional problems….any thoughts or updates here?

By: Michael Mason

Michael Mason — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 14:34:47 +0000

The first thing I bought Luna was a harness and what the guy in the store referred to as a “Police lead”. Best purchase ever. However, I was using it wrong.

I attached it at the back and she pulled so I got a slip lead but she pulled even more and it was clearly uncomfortable.

I switched back to the harness and notices that there was an additional D ring on the chest and also at the front of the harness on top.

I attached one end of the lead to the chest ring and the other to the back D ring on top and hey presto.

Now don’t misunderstand me, she still pulls and even at 10 months old I have my work cut out when she absolutely must catch that cat or chase that dog but with that lead attached at the front I get an immediate jerk on the lead that I can react to and with the other end attached to the back of the harness I get additional control and she responds.

most times now i use the two top D rings and she’s quite good but I’ll be spending some time on long lead training with her over the coming weeks to help her focus.

Also, the harness had one unexpected bonus. She fell off a wall the other day, a high one, and I managed to get a finger or two on the harnesss. Not enough to hold her but enough to correct her position for the fall and although she was quite visibly shaken the vet confirmed no breaks and I’m happy to report she’s in great spirits.

If she’d have had the slip lead on she’d probably be dead or at best have ended up with a pair of broken hind legs or a bad spinal injury, simple.

By: Pippa

Pippa — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 18:06:01 +0000

In reply to Sandy.

The leash attaches to a D ring on the chest Sandy. There is a review of the top three harnesses here – https://www.thelabradorsite.com/top-three-harnesses-for-labrador-retrievers/

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:20:08 +0000

What brand do you use? I am in the US and have a 6 month old male yellow lab. He’s very “active” and I am willing to try a harness as his nylon “choke” collar doesn’t stop him from pulling me down the road! Where does the leash attach to the harness. Not clear from the photo at the beginning of this article.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 10:40:42 +0000

I’ve been using a front-attaching harness for two years now. I wish I’d known about them from the beginning. Our Lab is now 3.5 years old and, as a puppy, he had so much power that he could — as you say — tow me along. I had absolutely no control with a collar. The dog school insisted on a head harness, which he hated and which caused him great anxiety — with the result we didn’t really progress at dog school because he focussed solely on rubbing his face on the ground or between my legs to get the harness off his face. The next class insisted he wear a choke collar. I am so upset I followed their advice, but I was a novice dog handler. Thankfully we found a force-free school that insisted on the front-attaching harness, and we never looked back! It became a joy to walk him on a lead, and over time he has learned to walk on a loose lead.

By: Susan Dillard

Susan Dillard — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 00:01:52 +0000

I am so glad to learn of this type of harness. I bought one for my 8 month old lab and the pulling has all but stopped with no struggle for either of us! Now our walks every day are something we both truly enjoy and not a frustrating experience! Thank you so much!!!

By: Pippa

Pippa — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:35:57 +0000

In reply to Connie. Glad you found it helpful Connie

By: Richard Faure-Field

Richard Faure-Field — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 08:23:28 +0000

I had problem of our 14 month lab pulling me all over the park when he sees another dog. I tried the head harness which certainly works but he repeatedly will lie on the ground remove the band over his snout.