I was excited when I opened up my package, of two DogReins No-Pull Harnesses, a medium and a large, one with a bright red cozy and the other with a yellow cozy.
The color of the harnesses was all black and came with the “reins”, a long multi-functional leash that clipped on to the rings located on either side of the harness. I liked this leash since it was light weight, thin width (which fit a woman’s hand nicely) and the length adjustable from 4’ to 7’. Another feature that I liked about it is that you can attach one clasp to the two rings on the harness and clip the other clasp onto a D ring, making a handle for you to hold it as a single leash.
DogReins are Incredibly Easy to Use
I decided NOT to read the instructions that came with it, to see if I could figure out how to put on the DogReins No-Pull Harness, since most are a bit complicated. Yes, it was VERY easy to do. First indicator was the tag that said “Point To Tail” with an arrow, that’s the Top Strap you put over the shoulders/back. Then the cozy with the DogReins embroidered, that was the Front Strap that went across the dog’s chest, and the last piece went under the girth, behind the elbows of the front legs called the Belly Strap. It was also easy to adjust to fit.
DogReins in Action: How Well Did They Work?
The first dog to try the Medium Harness was approximately 60lbs, an adult Rottie mix female, who never had a harness on in her life. With her prior history of obedience, it was hard to get her to break position and pull. But she responded beautifully to a slight finger squeeze and steering using the reins in one hand as well as in both hands on the leash to change direction.
I then tried the Large Harness on a 1 ½ year old Mastiff mix, 100+ lb male, who was a puller, the owner was using a choker, but the dog was still dragging his owner around. So I said, let’s try this harness instead. He got used to it quickly and while still pulling a bit, his owner found him a lot easier to manage, to stop and to turn. We are still working on loose leash walking with him though. But the owner felt much better about using the harness to walk with him rather than choking his dog and possibly damaging his trachea.
I’ve tried the harnesses on a variety of doggie clients, most having not had much time to get used to a harness, they adapted quickly and with no fuss to it at all.
When I took off the cozies on both harnesses, I found that the front straps were both crossed; this is how they are designed. They should lay flat not twisted. There is no other way to make the two front straps go to the opposite sides without crossing them. But they covered more surface area on the front of the dog and the moveable part of the strap lay on top of the stationary strap and it kept the straps on the outside.
All of the metal and plastic hardware is strong; the nylon webbing and stitching is smooth, no rough edges, no chaffing. The cozy is easy to put on and take off too, kept in place with Velcro.
Final Thoughts on the DogReins No-Pull Harness
I like how it helps to control dogs easily, that you can walk your dog next to you or in front of you on a loose leash, easy to use the reins in one hand or two, comfortable for both dog and handler, easy to adjust, put on and take off, fits a variety of different shapes and sizes of dogs. And most importantly, the DogReins No-Pull Harness does not restrict nor confine a dog’s movement.
This is a well made piece of equipment and it does work well.
My clients and I are very pleased with it and I’d definitely recommend it!
I am sure that we have all encountered at least one client, whose green-eyed monster has made an appearance when another client’s dog performed exceptionally well in class. What are the signs and how do we handle the situation?
Jealousy may be conveyed by:
Smirking or making sarcastic comments
Downplaying the success of others
Lack of support (not complimenting or congratulating others)
Backhanded compliments (“Oh your dog did very well, despite your messing up”)
Tearing down others (Caustic or derisive remarks or open antagonism)
Jealousy is a normal reaction, especially when someone feels insecure about their abilities; however, we don’t want them taking it out on their dogs or making others uncomfortable.
Strategies To Address The Jealous Client
How can you as the trainer, help minimize jealousy in your class? Below are some strategies that have worked for me:
Just as we tell our clients to ignore their dog’s bad behavior, we do the same with jealous people – ignore their behavior, NOT them.
Look for their strengths, what they and their dogs do well, and point them out to everyone.
Praise them for their successes and achievements (big or small).
Encourage them when things don’t go as planned, and remind them of what they have accomplished.
Focus your attention on their efforts (everyone can reach their potential through practice).
Help them to improve in the areas in which they feel inadequate, you may suggest that they stay an extra 10 minutes or request a private session to catch up and feel more confident.
Encourage a group atmosphere where everyone encourages and applauds each other and their dogs’ achievements.
Let the group know that skills take time to learn, and through practice these skills will become second nature.
People need to understand that like us, some dogs learn faster, while others take longer to grasp things.
And as the saying goes, no one is perfect and that includes our furry friends. So encourage them to enjoy the process of training instead of focusing on who’s achieving their goals first.
What are some of the ways you have dealt with jealousy in your class?
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After thorough surveying throughout online communities, we discovered the five most popular dog harnesses for training.
The first three harnesses are front attachment harnesses which have a ring on the back across the shoulders and another ring in the middle of the chest piece of the harness. A double ended leash can be attached to one or both rings. This gives handlers better control of the dog, so when a dog pulls he is turned sideways which reduces or prevents pulling.
Please note – this is not an inclusive list nor is it necessarily an endorsement; these are some tools I personally use and have heard from other trainers they use and like. Additionally, some of the links here are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase through them, helping us continue offering great advice for your dog training business; we only recommend products we believe in, and we value your trust.
Some trainers say that this is the best harness they have used since they like the 2 stainless steel rings. This harness is also very adjustable so it fits well and the chest strap is lined with velvet, which helps prevent rubbing and chaffing. It has a control loop on the back of the harness, which tightens gently around the dog’s chest to discourage pulling. Some trainers don’t like this martingale effect though. 2 Hounds Design is the exclusive manufacturer of the Freedom Harness and is made in the USA.
This is another highly recommended harness, which was invented and made in the UK. It has three pieces – top, front and girth which clips together and can be swapped out so that any combination of size or colors can be used. What is also nice is the high quality soft, washable fleece padding which helps prevent rubs from the webbing straps. Another great feature is that this harness can be customized to fit front legged amputee dogs.
Made in Great Britain, this is another 2 point harness, (chest & back) which is adjustable within the size range and comes in a variety of colors and a padded double ended lead. Some people think that the vertical strap behind the front legs is a little too close to the front legs/elbows though.
This harness is different from the three above in that it is a side attachment harness and comes with a protective sleeve for tummy strap, a leash and instructional DVD. When the dog pulls forward it is guided round to face you.
This harness is made by a company which specializes in high-end Schutzhund products. The Julius-K9 IDC Powerharness comes in lots of colors and adjustable sizes. It is well-known for it s comfort, fit and quality. There is a neat handle on top which can be used to lift dogs. The chest belt, edges and the Julius-K9 tags are reflective. There is also a loop on the top to attach a mini flashlight for those walks at night.
Whatever you choose, make sure the harness fits the dog properly and does not restrict his movement, rub or chaff him. Harnesses are a better option than a regular collar because it won’t damage a dog’s throat when he pulls. But the best way to get a dog to stop pulling is to train him using force-free loose leash walking training techniques.
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