Hi, we just had our GSD who was a rescue also put to sleep after 14 years with her.We always always love to help the rescues.

We strongly believe in adopting GSD since we do not breed. But I have always owned one my whole life. I know this is the wrong area most likely of the board but I was unsure where to put it. So I am sorry for my mistake but I really need some help on this.

We took two wonderful dogs in last week. One has a problem and I thought this board would be the best place to ask. She was born without a hock. So in her hind leg it is just straight but she gets along fine!

Here is the problem. I know she can not heel like other dogs since she must keep up a certain pace for her to be walking fine. It is a slow jog for me. But she is quite strong and I really think if we could find the right harness it would be easier on her and us.

I have tried the nylon ones and no luck on the fitting. I am open to any and all ideas about this. She is not pulling but she does have to lean into the collar which starts her gagging.

Any ideas out there? Please be kind about this she is a wonderful dog that someone just got ticked off her and her brother for blowing their coats and having to much hair. So I took them in.After a great GSR took them in.

Emma, I'm not clear on what exactly the problem is?


Can you please describe in more detail what you want and what the dog is doing that isn't what you want?

Also the problem with a harness? Was it too large, too small. . .or what?

Thanks


BTW, I deleted the other identical threads for this same topic. One is enough, most people will check the daily active topic section and reply to new posts. No need to post in multiple areas.

Emma,

It sounds like the dog has you buffaloed. There is no reason that the dog shouldn't adapt to your pace. What most dogs would consider a comfortable walking pace is a lope for us. That is how they are designed to travel. To let this dog drag you down the street sets all kinds of problems up for the future. The goal with all dog training is for the dog to adapt to you. If you don't do that then the dog is training you, and we all know where that goes.

I'm sorry I'm trying best I can to explain this. Her bad leg sticks straight up under her.The whole hip area and down is evolved. So she does a lope to get anywhere.

I am quite small so her natural stride is longer than mine.*Yes I know I am vertically challenged*

All the nylon harnesses I have tried on her dont seem to fit right. So I was thinking of more of leather one that can that can be adjusted more. But have been out of luck trying to find one.So that is what I am trying to find.

She will be starting training along with my other dog next week in Grayslake and they suggested for me to find a good leather harness to buy before we start.

I hate to sound hard, but ......

Of the 3 dogs we have now, 1 has a gate that is similar to my normal walking speed. That is the Mini Schnauzer. She is about 10 inches tall. The natural gate for every dog that is much bigger than that is much faster than I walk.

If you are going to take this dog on as "project", stop makig excuses for her and treat her like any other dog. If she is going to make a good pet she needs to learn to operate like any other dog. Based on the physical description of the dog, my geuss it is not from the greatest lines, but you still risk many problems if you allow the dog to control the relationship. A dog like this will learn to adapt to what ever handicap it has. It is important to allow her to just do that. With a breed like the GSD, you are loking for dominance problems with the dog if you don't control the relationship.

Originally posted by Emma Harrison:
I know she can not heel like other dogs since she must keep up a certain pace for her to be walking fine. It is a slow jog for me. Am I picturing this right - she's three-legged essentially, the other is just dead weight? So she hops in the rear on the one good leg? I've seen some amputees without a rear leg and their hopping gait was rather quick; it appeared momentum made it easier to keep moving than going slowly where it required more power from the one good leg to push off. If she's in your house and just wants to go from room to room, does she exhibit a slow gait then? What if she is outside loose - does she ever show a slow gait or almost never?

Lee, Thank you. That was was much better your explanation. No she does not have a slow gait. Her slow gait is the same one in the house as on a walk that I am referring to.

She is able to move much better the faster she goes. In the yard she is very quick. That is why the harness also came into play. ives me a little more hold at a much quicker pace.

Thank you for explaining it much better than I could.

My husband and I just looked at the harnesses that are sold here. The tracking one and the agitation one. These are more on the line of what we are thinking of getting. Maybe we should just order both and see what one works the best. Since they are both leather we can easily punch a few holes in them as needed.

I'd say if she never demonstrates a slower gait on her own, then she finds it too difficult to do and shouldn't be expected to accommodate herself to you. Totally off topic, but just wondering if the leg is totally useless, wouldn't the dog find it easier to get around if she didn't have that dead weight to lug around? I would think it would require much less effort and strain on her back and good leg if the deformed leg were amputated.

Originally posted by Lee Baragona - Sch3FH2:
I'd say if she never demonstrates a slower gait on her own, then she finds it too difficult to do and shouldn't be expected to accommodate herself to you. Totally off topic, but just wondering if the leg is totally useless, wouldn't the dog find it easier to get around if she didn't have that dead weight to lug around? I would think it would require much less effort and strain on her back and good leg if the deformed leg were amputated. Lee, Thanks you so much for understanding your are 100% correct. I know she can not adjust her gait to ours. That is the main reason we thought a harness would be more acceptable for her.

I guess I had worded incorrectly. She is not trying at all to buffalo us. She is more than eager to please. We are looking for idea's to help us help her. We are trying to adjust to her. Your wording was perfect.

I also thought about the leg being removed. She does use it to push off. The orthopedic that saw her saw no reason to remove the leg. At least at this point. She has no scuff marks even on it. But it is an option in the future if it needs to be.

Do you think the harness would be easier for her? That way she can have her pace and we all can be comfortable.

I know many people don't agree with us taking her but we have a great time with her and saw no reason to not take her. We also have her brother.I completely believe that rescue dogs have their place and our home is one of them.

We just are trying do the best for her. I am more than happy with a animal that not any one wants. Does not make her less of a companion dog.

Thanks again. I hope you can give us your insight on the harness.

Emma

I'm not sure how the harness will help a whole lot - if her pace is considerably quicker than yours, either way she is going to get out ahead of you (unless you're into jogging!). You don't want to be holding her back physically on either a collar or a harness - that would be a strain on both of you. I would probably use a normal collar with a 20' flexi. If I were just walking her for exercise around the neighborhood, I'd let her go her pace til she's at the end of the flexi, then she has to stop and wait for me to catch up, then go again. Otherwise aren't you still going to be physically trying to hold her back, albeit with a harness instead of a collar?