What to Do if Your Dog Hates Their Harness
Many dog breeds hate the harness, so many companies are redesigning harnesses to be more adaptable and comfortable for Fido. There are ample reasons why they hate it, such as: not liking to stay still, being touch-sensitive, past negative experiences, being too tight, feeling a loss of control, or a combination of all. Below is a guide to harness training or how to positively retrain with harnesses.
Desensitization
Desensitization is the act of exposing your pet to the triggering stimulus multiple times a day or week to get them more used to the object or experience they dread. Using desensitization by having your pet wear the harness around the house for a few hours is a great way to get familiar with the feeling of having the restraint.
Counterconditioning
Counterconditioning with your pet is using positive reinforcement to trigger a positive reaction from the stimulus. For instance, giving your pet a treat before putting on the harness is a great way to keep them happy or distract them.
Touch Sensitive Dogs
For our furry friends that do not always like to be touched, the best way to harness train them is to use the desensitization from above. This repetition lowers the effect of the stimulus and gets them used to the impact. Harness training with sensitive pups aims to gain that comfort around the harness and have it on them. Make sure to have them either wear it in the house or the backyard for potty breaks.
Rowdy Dogs
Teaching your dog how to “stand-stay” versus “sit-stay” can be beneficial for harnessed dogs because it can be easier to stand in the harness than sit or lay down. Having them practice standing still or waiting still inside while wearing the harness before going outside is essential for them to have prior experience. “Stand stay” is simpler to teach Fido if they already know how to stay or sit.
Dominant Dogs
Dogs that refuse to give up control and want to dominate their owners hate being restrained. These pups wish to control the walk and the pace, but pet owners must avoid letting their furry friends take the lead. Humans naturally need to be the dominant head of the household, or doggos will run wild. Dogs need instruction on where their place is and how to obtain that submission to their owners. When walking your pup in a harness, keep the leash pulled taught right at your hip. Keep pulling Fido back to walk in line with you and give that positive reinforcement if they listen; this process will be frustrating and repetitive for a few weeks.
For more information and help with dog training, check out these articles!
Training Your Dog to go Off-Leash