I’m sure many of you have encountered the problem of putting an harness on your dog. It can be a very frustrating task, especially if you’re trying to dress your dog in a harness multiple times a day for each walk, and he refuses to cooperate. With each new attempt to force it on, the negative association with the harness strengthens, making it harder for us and more stressful for the dog.
However, I believe that we shouldn’t give up on using a harness as a piece of equipment because it is much safer for the dog than a collar. Instead, we should invest a little extra effort to try and acclimate the dog to it. Of course, at his own pace, even if it means temporarily going for walks with a collar until he accepts the harness.
To make it easier for the dog, all our harnesses an option of neck buckle so they don’t have to be pulled over the head. But that alone is not enough for the dog to accept the harness if he is afraid of it.
I asked Lana Glavan from Spirit Canine Zagreb about how to approach the gradual acclimation of the dog to the harness:
“Dressing dogs is not natural, so it is actually quite normal for a dog to feel stress and discomfort with a harness if he is not gradually introduced to it with positive associations. To avoid negative associations with the harness, when you get it, make sure to take time to introduce your dog to the new piece of equipment. Let the introduction start with a completely neutral harness that you will associate with something pleasant for the dog – using pieces of cheese or sausage will surely work. Continue with small steps by gradually changing the position of the harness, allowing it to lightly touch the body during play, and create a habit of touch from both the upper and lower sides of the body. Only when you are sure that your dog feels comfortable, proceed to fastening the harness, and make the process short, sweet, and heavily rewarded. Important! Dogs who have already developed negative associations with equipment require more patience and understanding, and therefore more time to accept and wear the previously hated piece of equipment.”