How do I know if my dog's harness fits properly?
Sometimes a size guide and some instructions aren't enough. You receive your dog harness, put it on, and are left a little confused because it doesn't seem to fit. How do you know if a harness is right for your dog? Here are a few things to check before your first walk.
1. Check our size guide if your measurements are within the range. If they are closer to the smallest size, adjust the harness to its smallest setting. If they are closer to the next size up, adjust the straps etc. to the largest setting. This will give you a good starting point and allow you to double check your dog's measurements against the supplier's measurements.
2. If you are unable to secure one of the straps , adjust and loosen it until you can secure it.
3. Have your dog stand gently or have a friend help you by supporting the dog in an upright, natural position.
4. Examine the main adjustment areas of the harness and check to see if it is tight at the chest, neck, torso or back. If so, loosen it slightly. If it is too loose, adjust it so that it is snug, but not so tight that it pinches the skin.
5. Now walk your dog , encouraging and rewarding him as you go. If this is the first trial walk with a harness, you want it to be a good experience. If the dog walks fairly well and shows no major discomfort, the harness is probably not too tight or cutting into any sensitive areas.
6. Place your dog on his side and check to see if the straps or pads are close to the legs or if they interfere with the dog in any way. For example, some harnesses have a strap that attaches just behind the dog's front legs. Make sure this strap is not pointing forward and cutting into the crook of the dog's paw when he walks. It should be vertical or pointing backward, away from the legs, but there should be only a small gap between the leg and the strap when the dog is standing.
7. Now examine the straps on the entire harness and make sure none are too tight or too loose. A general rule of thumb is to place a finger under the strap and feel for a slight pinch. If there is hardly any pressure, the strap is probably a little loose. If it feels like there is a lot of pressure on your finger, it is too tight.
8. Attach a standard or double-ended leash to your dog and take him for a walk, reinforcing his good behavior with a reward. Now go out and walk normally to see if your dog seems comfortable. Let him sniff and do what he naturally needs to do.
9. Observe the harness movements . The movements should not be too loose, as the harness is designed to move with your dog and not independently of him - the harness should not move from side to side or be too loose in any places. Note: It may be necessary to compromise at the neck if a slightly loose fit makes the harness easy to put on and take off.
10. If your dog is very large or very small in one area (neck or chest), make sure you can adjust the harness so that it fits well in those areas and that it does not negatively affect other areas or adjustment points.
On your first walk , it is a good idea to take note of how your dog is walking. If he is not keen to sniff or explore and/or seems uncomfortable, check one last time to see if there are any obvious reasons for this before trying to adjust him one last time. Be aware that some dogs are reluctant to walk simply to get attention.
If your dog has already exhibited this behavior , distract him with something he enjoys while you walk, and when he walks well or does something well, reward him . Note that it is often best to minimize the novelty and not make a big deal out of it. Remember that dogs feed off our tone, gestures, and personality, and they learn very quickly to understand and respond to situations.
If your dog is still reluctant to walk with the harness on , take it off , put it back on briefly, and reward your dog. Take it off again and set it aside for later. Sometimes it's best to come back to it.
If you have measured your dog correctly and followed the sizing guide and instructions given by the supplier, you should have no problems. In most cases, a harness only needs a few minor adjustments to fit and provide many years of support and walking pleasure for both dog and owner.
To discover our range of harnesses and accessories for dogs, click here .
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