How to get your dog used to walking with a harness

Today, both dog trainers and veterinarians recommend harnesses for dogs, as a harness creates a cleaner pull than a collar, and therefore causes fewer injuries to the dog.

The first time the harness is put on

It is quite unnatural for the dog to wear a harness or collar, and therefore it must get used to it. Therefore, it is also important that you start practicing with the harness as early as possible, so that the dog learns that a harness is part of everyday life.

Many dogs may feel a harness is an assault, as they don't like having anything over their heads. That's why you should train with lots of treats and a good mood, says dog trainer and behavior therapist Merethe Børgarth.

Crouch in front of the dog so that you meet it at its height and do not appear threatening.

Lure the head through the harness with a treat so that the dog has to take the initiative and put its head through.

Remove the belt correctly

When you take off the belt, you also need to make sure that this does not become an assault on it, like if you were to take off a tight t-shirt.

Therefore, you simply need to open the harness and let the dog pull its head backwards while you hold on to the harness. That way, the harness will just slide off.

Read here about which harness you should choose for your dog.

Practice makes perfect

When the dog is a puppy (or you have just brought it home), practice this plenty of times, and let the dog walk around with the harness on at home before you go for a walk.

Practice putting the harness on and taking it off a few times, and remember to praise and reward.

The more times the dog experiences success with it, the better it will come to terms with the need for a harness. And the big reward is of course getting out and experiencing the world once the harness is on.

Learn how to best accustom your dog to walking with a harness or collar in the course Driving License for Dogs.

Walk nicely with a harness

Harnesses are not an excuse for not teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash, although many people forget that part of the training because it can be easier to control the dog when it is wearing a harness. But it is neither nice for you nor for your dog to not pull; your dog can get back injuries – and you probably don't think it is fun to have your arm torn in half.

….Avoid the following if the dog pulls

• Do not train your dog to walk nicely on a flexline. It is impossible for the dog to know how long the leash is, and it will quickly learn that the leash gets longer when it pulls.
• Avoid having the leash constantly tight. When the dog is walking nicely or sitting and waiting, it is important that you have the leash loose, so the dog knows that it is the reward for “walking nicely.”
• Avoid going in the direction the dog is pulling. If there is a bird, cat or scent that the dog insists on WANTING to go to – then change direction and go the opposite way.

….Good advice for teaching your dog to walk nicely

• Always start by having the dog's focus. Before you start the walk, spend 1-2 minutes doing some contact exercises or similar that will get the dog's focus on you.

See here how to do contact exercises.

• Have plenty of treats and only train when you have the time and patience yourself.
  
• When the dog pulls, stop and stand still. Wait for the dog to make contact with you (look or walk back towards you) so the leash becomes loose again and continue the walk. Be prepared that you may only move a few meters at a time for a period of time.
• Turn around or change route if the dog is too interested in scents or other things, and thus loses focus on you.
• Remember to praise the dog when it walks nicely, and remember that the leash should always be loose.

Get more good advice in the course Driving License for Dogs.