What to Do if Your Dog Hates Wearing a Harness
Many dogs are uncomfortable wearing a harness.
Dogs can become averse to harnesses from bad experiences with them or just a lack of exposure to them. This does not mean that you should not use a harness. In fact, using a harness for training is the best means of training your dog using positive reinforcement methods, as harnesses are a benign means of guiding and redirecting your dog as you train. Flat collars should not be used for initial training as they press against the dog’s trachea when the leash is pulled, such as when a dog attempts to run to greet another dog. When your dog is reliable, even when exposed to distractions, you can attach the leash to a flat collar.
Below is a guide for how to positively retrain with a harness.
Why Does My Dog Hate Their Harness?
There are many types of harnesses, and some may be more comfortable than others. Dogs who dislike harnesses may have a unique past experience with one. It means that you should choose the brand and type of harness carefully to ensure your dog has a good experience while wearing one.
Different harnesses should not only be based on the dog’s body shape and size, but also on their purpose. For example, a front clip harness should be used when training any dog over 12 pounds. A back-connection harness is fine when training a small dog who pulls during a walk.
Let’s first consider why your dog may not like wearing a harness.
Reason #1 – It’s uncomfortable
There can be many reasons that a harness can be uncomfortable.
- The straps could be thin, causing irritated skin.
- The straps could rest too close to the dog’s neck, pressing against their trachea.
- The harness could disrupt the dog’s natural movement in the shoulders, causing muscle stress.
- The harness could be a bad fit, causing pressure in places that are sensitive.
Dogs who experience a poor fit will immediately have a negative association with the harness.
To ensure you purchase a correct fit, measure your dog’s chest, shoulders, and back. Purchasing a harness that is adjustable in every direction is also helpful, as that will allow a custom fit.
Reason #2 – They don’t like it going over their heads
Dogs can be very sensitive in certain areas, such as their ears, muzzle, loin, chest, or shoulders. If a dog is injured in those areas, they may have a negative association with harness application.
You can avoid negative experiences by using positive reinforcement training methods to acclimate your dog to harness application. By feeding treats as you put the harness on, your dog will be distracted from the process and focus on the dog treats.
Putting a soft treat on a lick pad or having someone else feed treats slowly as you adjust the harness also aids in the acceptance of harness application.
Reason #3 – The Harness Touches Parts of Their Body They’re Uncomfortable With
Some dogs who have had negative experiences in the past, or just not enough positive attention, may be concerned about being handled in certain areas. This behavior is most prominent with touching their feet to trim their nails. It also manifests in other areas, such as touching their sides, ears, or tail.
When putting a harness on your dog, you may have to lift their feet, put something over their heads, and manipulate straps as you adjust it. A dog who dislikes being handled in certain areas will not easily accept the harness either when putting it on or while it is on, especially if the harness is too snug.
How to Introduce Your Dog to Harness Training if Your Dog Hates Harnesses?
Besides a good-fitting harness, you will need to overcome previous negative experiences they may have had. There’s always a reason why a dog hates their harness.
You can initiate a positive association by allowing your dog to investigate the equipment on their own terms. Here’s a suggestion:
- Place the harness on the floor and scatter some high-value treats around it. When your dog investigates the harness and eats the treats near it, praise your dog and offer another treat.
- Repeat this exercise several times until your dog is no longer wary about being near and touching the harness.
Placing it Over Their Head for the First Time
Pick up the harness and put your hand, with a treat in it, through the head hole. Draw your dog’s head through the head hole as they follow the treat in your hand. Some dogs will require small increments of this exercise. Take your time and ensure your dog is comfortable.
Do not clip the harness around your dog, yet. Allow time for them to become comfortable having their head within the harness. Take time to praise and caress your dog as the harness remains in place.
Remove the harness slowly. You can use the treat lure in reverse, so your dog doesn’t shoot out of it backward, which would add to their stress.
Doing the Harness Up
When your dog is acclimating to being near the harness, clip the harness together and open it again several times. Your dog needs to be comfortable with this sound prior to being able to put it on him and clip the straps together.
As your dog gains comfort with the harness going over their head and the sound of the clips, you can put it on and clip the straps together. Be sure to do this process slowly, with lots of praise and treats along the way. This creates a positive association with the harness training.
Encourage Your Dog to Go for a Walk with the Harness On
Before attaching the leash to your dog’s harness, let them walk around a bit while wearing it. It can take a few hours, or sometimes days, to acclimate to the feel of the harness on their body. Be sure to always be near your dog as they wear the harness to ensure that if they attempt to chew on it, their attention is redirected to something else. If you cannot watch your dog, remove the harness.
When your dog no longer assumes a comatose position and is walking around without stressing while wearing the harness, it’s time to attach the leash and go for a walk.
Going out and about will certainly take your dog’s mind off of wearing a harness. And then you can begin the obedience training process, or merely meander out in the world, knowing your dog is secure in their harness.
Harness Training
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 lie 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!
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