Understanding No-Pull Dog Harnesses: A Simple Guide for Pet Owners

Do you have a pet dog that won’t stop pulling on its leash? Taming a dog into walking without pulling can be a stressful process at times, but there’s a solution. You’ll find that one of the most comfortable and easiest ways to avoid damage to your pet’s throat while allowing it to walk around is to use a no-pull dog harness.

Why Do Dogs Pull on Walks?

Dogs pull for numerous reasons. Some of them might include curiosity, excitement, anxiety, or it might have just become a habit. This need to explore with their noses always gets them to bound ahead. When the only resistance comes in the form of the normal collar or the back-clip type of harness, all the dog learns is to pull even harder. As a result, it inadvertently trains itself to do more of the pulling.

Pulling on the leash, with time, could get rewarded in other cases, as the dog will still get to go where it wants to, despite the resistance in the leash. This, therefore, creates a feedback loop that will keep strengthening the behavior of leash-pulling with time.

What Makes a Harness “No-Pull”?

A no-pull dog harness, as the name suggests, is a dog harness that has been specifically designed in such a way that it discourages the dog from lunging or pulling forward.

No-pull harnesses are designed differently from standard ones. This position helps guide your dog to the side when they start pulling, making it easier to manage walks without causing strain. In other words, it’s no longer moving forward. As a result, it takes a little time for the dog to learn that pulling is not going to take it where it wants to go.

• Padding on the chest: They have a padded chest plate, or the straps themselves are well-padded.
• Adjustable fit: The no-pull dog harness is adjustable, and this helps to ensure that there is no slipping while walking.
• Heavy-duty stitching or reinforced webbing: A no-pull dog harness should also have reinforced webbing or heavy-duty stitching. This is to ensure that the harness is durable and that it can handle very powerful pulls.

Common Issues with Traditional Harnesses

Dog Collars and other types of harnesses have the following problems:

They do not stop the act of pulling on the leash. This increases the risk of:

• Neck strain – this is brought about by lunge pulling
  Spinal pressure – This could be a result of an ill-fitting collar or harness
• Escape route for your dog – An ill-fitting collar gives a dog an easy escape route. This is mostly for aggressive or reactive dogs
• Lack of control – This is common, especially with large dogs or the very strong ones

How a No-Pull Harness Helps

A well-fitted no-pull dog harness is great as it redirects your dog without putting any stress on the dog’s neck or spine. A lot of no-pull dog harnesses also come with a D-ring on the chest. This feature acts as a great deterrent against leash-pulling.

The way it works is that, when a dog tugs on the leash, it’s automatically redirected, and it moves to a different direction. This is usually a perpendicular direction. This, therefore, makes the dog learn that it cannot pull itself in the direction it wants.

Dual-clip harnesses also work in the same way, except that they also come with an attachment on the back of the dog for easy switching.

Do note that these harnesses don’t exactly train your dog to stop pulling; it’s only an aid. As a dog owner or dog trainer, it’s you who’s going to have to teach your dog when and when not to pull. However, the no-pull dog harnesses do offer a great option, especially to dogs who are in the process of being trained. They also work well for dogs that tend to have lung issues.

Best Features of a No-Pull Dog Harness

As a pet parent, here are some of the best features of a no-pull dog harness that you should look for as you search for the perfect no-pull dog harness.

• Getting the Right Fit: The harness should sit firmly without being restrictive. It should be tight enough to stay in place but loose enough to allow your dog to move freely. An ill-fitting harness could easily cause chaffing on the dog’s skin. This is especially true during long walks.
  
• Neck and spine safety – Don’t buy a harness that’s going to put pressure on your pet’s neck. A good harness would distribute the force across the chest and shoulders.
  
• Front-Clip or dual-clip – A harness with a front-clip is one of the most effective when it comes to preventing lunging. A good no-pull dog harness would also offer both front and back clips. This allows the user to switch and use the back clip on dogs that have learnt how to walk well using a back clip.
  
• Material and durability – When shopping for a no-pull dog harness, the best materials to look for are the mesh-lined or the lightweight nylon fabric harnesses. These two materials are not just very light but also they’re very breathable.
  A harness that is going to be used frequently in all weather conditions would need to have reinforced stitching, and the material itself would need to be weather-resistant.
  
• Ease of use – A very complicated harness would discourage pet parents from using it. Look for those that have the quick-release buckles. Also, for added convenience, look for harnesses that come with simple adjustment systems.

Styles of No-Pull Harnesses

There are different kinds of no-pull dog harness styles popular around the world, including the following:

• Mesh-lined Harnesses: These harnesses are quite lightweight, and they’re also very breathable. They’re, therefore, most preferred in smaller breeds or even in warmer climates.
• Harnesses with Chest Plates: These types of harnesses also offer your pet more structure when it comes to control. These harnesses, therefore, work best for those dogs that tend to pull very hard. They also come in handy for dogs that need that extra control.
• Dual-Clip Harnesses: Dual-Clip Harnesses are the best when it comes to allowing one to switch between the two training modes. They’re also great for dogs that have learnt how to walk nicely with a back clip.
• Padded Harnesses: These harnesses have one purpose in mind, and that is comfort. Padded harnesses have been designed to be very soft on sensitive dogs and even elderly dogs. These harnesses would, therefore, also be great for reducing the irritation caused by other harnesses.

Measuring Your Dog for the Right Harness:

Dog owners need to take accurate measurements if they want to ensure comfort and function. For starters, a dog needs to be measured at the chest and the neck. The following are measurements that pet owners need to take on their dogs:

• Neck – Pet parents should take this measurement around the base of the neck and where a normal collar would be.
• Chest – The widest part of a dog’s chest should be measured. This is mostly done right behind the front legs.

Dog parents can, however, take a look at the manufacturer’s size chart in case they have doubts. A dog whose measurements fall between two sizes is, at times, a bit tricky to figure out as to whether it would be better to go for a size that’s smaller or one that’s bigger. Other factors pet parents need to consider. For example, if a dog is bigger around the chest as compared to other parts of its body, it would be best to go for a bigger size. 

Tips on Training Your Dog to Stop Pulling on the Leash

You cannot solely depend on a no-pull harness to end leash-pulling. It’s only you who would have to train your dog.

You can, however, do the following as a pet parent to try to train your dog to stop pulling:

• Come up with a cue. This could be any cue that you’d like your dog to listen to and walk calmly when you say it. It could be a simple statement such as ‘let’s go’ or even ‘heel’.
  
• You can also try to stop walking every time the dog pulls on the leash and, only after it’s relaxed the leash on the other hand, would you start walking again.
  
• Pet parents can also try giving their dogs treats and/or praise every time the dog walks calmly by their side. Doing this will ensure that the dog makes a positive association when walking nicely on the leash.
  
• Start the training in areas that have low distractions before you take your dog for walks on the streets or even in busy parks.
  
• Pet parents are also advised to use a short and padded leash during the training period. This would, in most cases, help one to maintain more control of the dog. The leash would also act as a buffer to prevent potential damage to the pet parent’s hands.

Are no-pull harnesses safe for puppies?

No-pull dog harnesses are safe to use on puppies. Many of them have been specifically designed with puppies in mind. When shopping for a no-pull dog harness, pet parents should go for dog harnesses that are lightweight, adjustable, and soft on their pet’s very sensitive skin.

Final Words

No-pull dog harnesses have proven to be a great and effective way of getting your dog to stop, or at least minimize pulling on the leash. They not only help in promoting a more pleasant walk, but they also aid in keeping both the pet and the pet parent safe.

However, it’s important to remember that they’re not a replacement for dog training. You also need to work on training your dog. You can, however, always consider looking into ways of stopping the dog from lunging on a leash.

If your dog lunges, read up and check out our article on how to stop dog lunging.

FAQs

1) How effective are no-pull dog harnesses?

A no-pull harness has been proven to be highly effective.

2) Should I get a front-clip or back-clip no-pull harness?

Front clips come in very handy, especially when one needs more control for the dog. Back clips, on the other hand, are ideal for dogs that are calm or for very casual walks.

3) Can I use a no-pull harness on my dog every day?

Yes. They are designed to be used every day.

Shop More: Dog Chew Toys | Dog Shampoo Online | Dog Stain & Odor Remover