Going for a walk with your furry canine is wonderful and an amazing feeling altogether. You get to spend some quality and much needed time. But unfortunately, it can get a tad frustrating at times, especially when your four-legged pal tries to hurry you forward. Chances are, you may lose the leash and your furry buddy runs free. And try getting him back because it would then require a herculean effort to do so. Thus, for dog parents that faces such a problem while walking with their tail wagging friend, using a harness is perhaps the best solution.
Tips to Harness Train Your Dog
Before you use a harness, it is important to first harness train your dog. So make sure you go through these essential tips that will help you immensely in harness training your munchkin.
Tip 1: Pick the Right Harness
Hop over to your local pet store, and you will realize that there are two types of harnesses available. One is the front-clip harness, and the other is the back-clip harness. Ensure you go with the front-clip one because it prevents your dog from pulling his weight forward.
Tip 2: Follow Proper Instructions
Once you’ve picked the perfect fitting and correct harness, it’s time to make your pal wear it so that you can begin the training. Carefully read and follow all the guidelines related to how one can make their canine buddy wear the harness. And remember, at first, it might be difficult to put on the harness because let’s face it, your dog never wore such a thing before and could show signs of being uncomfortable. Slow and gradually though, he will get accustomed to it.
Tip 3: Training Begins at Home
Dog training of any sorts should always begin at home (which includes your yard). The simple reason behind this is that things could go south while training outside. Seldom do things go according to plan, and you do not want to risk any injuries or anything as such. Hence, harness training should begin at home because that is undoubtedly the safest place to train your buddy.
Tip 4: Eat and Drink Before Training
A dog can get distracted very easily, and it may be difficult to harness train him if his mind keeps wandering here and there. One of the main reasons for their minds to wander is food. Before commencing their harness training, make it a point to feed them properly. Give them their food and water, then wait for a while and only then start their training. They will focus a lot better, for sure!
Tip 5: Keep Dog Treats Ready
Even after providing your pooch food and water, their minds may still wander, and their concentration power may well take a beating. To avoid that, keeping their favorite treats ready is advised. Toss a treat when your doggy listens to your instructions during training and let him know that the treat given is only for good work. This will help him to stay focused.
Tip 6: Don’t Stop, Keep It Going
Practice makes it perfect. Thus, keep the training going on, and even if your Fido has started to get the hang of it, do not end the training. Keep practicing even though the morning or evening walks seem to be going smoothly. Until your buddy has thoroughly mastered it, we suggest you to continue the harness training. Some dogs may master it sooner than others, so be patient on those dogs that take more time.
Once you’ve managed to successfully harness train your canine pal, you will realize how easy it is to go out for walks with him. Life will become a lot less hard, for sure!
Good luck harness training your dog!!!
