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I bought the Basset his first harness. He is getting old. Since he's a hound, he doesn't heel. When he pulls, it stresses his neck and he makes chocking sounds. I'm not happy at all with the harness I bought over the weekend. It seems too loose and too tight at the same time. It moves side to side, but it seems tight around his front legs. I've messed around with the adjustments with no luck.
What is a good harness for a Basset that doesn't go around the neck? Why can't stores have people who know how to properly fit harnesses on dogs. I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. I have never used harnesses. I've never known anyone who uses a harness. I tried looking up fit instructions but they're all different for each brand. When I go to the store, I won't be able to remember the fit instructions for every brand I try. I've searched google for harnesses for Bassets. It seems Basset owners like Sporn (at least owners on one form), but I looked up Sporn, and the company makes many different styles.
The Basset loves going for walks, and I want to walk too! Does anyone have any ideas on how I can solve this problem?
If your hound is not built so that he fits into a commercial harness, then perhaps you could get something custom made for his measurements. There are many leather workers who make custom gear for serious dog people.
I think that any harness will roll and pull on a dog who doesn't walk well on a leash. There is no way around that.
If the dog pulls, then a harness isn't going to solve his problem. Have you tried a halti or other brand of head collar on him? Control the head and you control the dog. If he pulls and you use a harness, he is going to tow you along like he is a ski boat and you are water skiing. You will have a difficult time stopping him.
Oh, yeah, I don't remember the brand, but there is one that has a wide breast plate and goes down between the front legs. Then two straps come up from underneath the chest and buckle on the top around the rib cage. Pressure on the dog is spread out over the chest and away from the throat. Toy dog people use that brand to prevent injury to the trachea, but it comes in all sizes.
I'm certain that one won't be in a pet store. Your dog would still pull, but the fit on the harness would be better and it doesn't roll around so much. My memory says it is spendy.
One more hint: if the dog is stout enough, try going to a saddlery and try a horse halter on him. It goes on upside down. The top strap goes around his body, and you can buy halters with adjustable nose bands. The nose band goes around his neck. There is a bar that goes under the horse's head; that will lay along his spine.
That's what I used on German Shepherds as a tracking harness, instead of spending a small fortune on a real tracking harness. You can also buy fleece nosebands that go in with Velcro to put around the straps to make it even more comfortable for the dog.
There is a very good chance that an employee in a saddlery could help you fit properly. They tend to know their equipment a lot better than a clerk at the pet store knows what is what for dogs.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. He doesn't pull with a harness hard like he does with a collar. He just walks ahead or off to the side. He doesn't take it to the edge often and when he does he doesn't pull. The harness is just not fitted well.
I loved your idea of a saddlery. I called one and he won't do it. He said they used to manufacture dog harnesses up until 10 years ago. (Notice he said manufacture, not custom.) He said they no longer manufacture and do only resale. He claims that's the case with any saddlery. I'll call around to verify. He recommended a shoemaker who makes custom stuff like this. I'm concerned a shoemaker won't have knowledge of animals and harnesses to make it accurately.
ETA: I just called the shoemaker. He'll make it, but he wants me to provide the specs. I don't know the first thing about how to have a fitted harness to guess what the measurements should be.
He is getting old. Since he's a hound, he doesn't heel. When he pulls, it stresses his neck and he makes chocking sounds.
My Basset boy did the exact same thing. We purchased the Easy Walker; it doesn't touch the neck at all. The only issue is that the leash clips in front, which may mean that (sometimes) he would trip over it (because he was so close to the ground). It wasn't often, and you just need to be more aware and keep the leash up.
My Basset boy did the exact same thing. We purchased the Easy Walker; it doesn't touch the neck at all. The only issue is that the leash clips in front, which may mean that (sometimes) he would trip over it (because he was so close to the ground). It wasn't often, and you just need to be more aware and keep the leash up.
That might work because it doesn't have straps in the front and the back of the front legs. That's the area where it seems too tight for my dude. It's too loose everywhere else and I have it as small as it can possibly go. Maybe I should try a medium instead of a large.
Drsfosterandsmith.com should have sizing instructions on the Sporn. Or you could call and talk to a live person about fitting.
My girl stopped pulling and lunging in less than a week with her sporn. I never had to use it again. I don't even know where it is. Around here somewhere, lol. It was worth its weight in gold. This is the one I got:
Drsfosterandsmith.com should have sizing instructions on the Sporn. Or you could call and talk to a live person about fitting.
My girl stopped pulling and lunging in less than a week with her sporn. I never had to use it again. I don't even know where it is. Around here somewhere, lol. It was worth its weight in gold. This is the one I got:
I don't remember her choking. I think I would remember.
I suppose if she choked once or twice, that would have knocked some sense into her head, lol.
She's not built like a Basset, though. She's just an ordinary looking mutt. She doesn't have the chunky neck and dewlaps like a Basset.
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