I've used these two harnesses for years. While watching one of the videos I got the impression that I should not use them for training. However, THESE harnesses say that they are for training and - they are an extension of horse training concepts.

Has anyone else used these harnesses? If so, when?

thanks

Use whatever tool gives you the best results. If this style harness works well for you and your dog, who cares what anybody else says?

In the other thread, you mentioned that you've recently purchased prongs. Try those too and see what works best. There's no single right answer. The only wrong answer is to continue trying something that isn't working.

(I have not used either of these harnesses. I've used an ordinary harness for herding training--but I discovered prong collars for walks, liked the results, and never tried anything else.)

I've used the Sensation harness a lot, and I really love it. It is not a training tool in that you cannot give any kind of correction with it, but it has LOTS of useful applications.

I spent a lot of time with this harness, teaching my dog to yield to pressure and walk on a loose leash and I love it for long walks in med. to low stimulation areas, but due to the size and strength of my dog, I still turn to my prong in high stimulation areas.

It's a good tool for agility, when you need a little more control outside the ring and prong collars aren't allowed on the grounds, and it's a good alternative to a collar when there are concerns that a collar may interfere/get caught on something.

I also really like it for a reactive dog. Often, the pressure of something tightening around the neck or the discomfort of a prong collar can really amp a reactive dog up. This harness doesn't create this sort of tension, and in fact with training can really minimize a dog's natural oppositional reflex.

If my dog were smaller or a bit less intense, I would probably use this harness exclusively unless I was working on formal obedience in a high-distraction area.

The issue I have with them is they seem to impede movement. Yes, they do help control/stop pulling, but any harness that has a chest clip for the leash could affect a dogs movement if there is any tension. Thats only me though.

They aren't supposed to. Unfortunately, most people adjust it improperly so it's way too low and tight around the dog's chest preventing the full range of movement, and much too loose around the dogs' body, allowing it to pull forward over the shoulders. Adjusted THIS way, it does interfere with movement.

I spoke on the phone to the woman who developed these harnesses, and she was really clear about proper adjustment and how important it is. The chest piece is supposed to be loose enough to hang down a bit when the dog is standing, and it should have enough room to be comfortable when the dog sits (leash not attached). The back strap should be adjusted so the chest strap sits high enough on the dog's chest to have some 'sag' without interfering with the shoulders and front legs. The girth strap should be LONGER than the back strap. The leash pressure should be up and to the side, never straight back.

The "Premier" version of this harness (Easy Walk) has a martingale kind of loop in the front that pulls the harness tighter across the chest when there is tension on the leash, which, in my opinion, can interfere with movement also. And the idea is to teach the dog to give to pressure. A light pressure on one strap to the side is pretty clear, the whole chest getting tight isn't. That's why I prefer the Sense-ation and Sense-ible designs. They have nothing on them that pulls tight.

I've seen these used incorrectly more often than not to the effect of 'hobbling' the dog, but used correctly they shouldn't interfere with the dogs movement at all.

THANK YOU for clearing that up! It makes so much more sense now. I've always seen them improperly adjusted, and therefor interfering with the freedom of movement. I've never used one, so have not read directions on them.

The Easy Walk is the one i really haven't liked, seeing it on other dogs, and they are always set just opposite of what you said. Long back strap, short girth. Huh.

I suppose it's just like the people that slip a prong over the dogs head, letting it sit at the bottom of the neck, and wonder why it's not so effective. The tool is only as effective as YOU are.

All so true. Poor doggies! I feel so bad for them when I see them all cramped up because of ill-fitting equipment

"I've seen these used incorrectly more often than not to the effect of 'hobbling' the dog, but used correctly they shouldn't interfere with the dogs movement at all."

Kristel, I betcha you would do a huge service to many people (and their dogs, especially) if you could link us to a picture sometime.

Okay, I totally suck at this but I'll try
photo 1 shows, more or less, how the harness is supposed to fit. It's hard to tell how loose the chest strap in the photo is (and in fact it should hang more loosely) so in photo 2 I tried to pull the strap out a bit.

A certain party has put on a little weight since he's worn this harness . It should be looser in the chest, but at least shows where on the chest that the strap should fall.

When the dog sits, photo 3 shows about where the strap should sit.

In photo 4 , I tried to show how most people improperly adjust the harness. It's easy to see how restrictive it is adjusted this way. My dog is even standing a bit awkwardly in the pic because of the fit.

I'm really bad at the whole "photo" thing, so I hope this helps

 Quote: kristel smart

In photo 4 , I tried to show how most people improperly adjust the harness. It's easy to see how restrictive it is adjusted this way. My dog is even standing a bit awkwardly in the pic because of the fit.

I'm really bad at the whole "photo" thing, so I hope this helps

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Thanks for the pictures!!!

I've even seen it worse then that.... unfortunately it's on a Beautiful young black working line GSD. Next time I see him I'll ask his dad if I can snap a picture. He's a stunning dog. Would be even better looking if he had freedom of movement in his shoulder/front legs.