Little Dogs that Run Away...

    • Gold Top Dog

    Little Dogs that Run Away...

     ...because they hate their harnesses.  I thought this was a cool video of how to train little dogs to like their harnesses (plus Em's new puppy is cute as all get out):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7edMjwEY1c

    • Gold Top Dog

     That was fantastic! I love her videos, and the new baby is SO CUTE!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Gaci is a dog that does not like "getting dressed". The other two don't care at all, but she hates the act of dressing (whether it's head halter, harness, backpack, or sweater). Once dressed she doesn't care about them, it's just putting them on, although she doesn't run away any longer.

    But thanks for the vid!

    • Gold Top Dog

     Bean is the same way. She almost always has ears back, and licks her lips, while she's getting dressed in a collar, harness, t shirt, whatever. She didn't even mind the Halti I bought for Halloween, once it was on, but putting anything on her is unpleasant, for her.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I guess I'm lucky.  My dogs will wear anything.  Sioux has been known to wear hats on occasion - baseball cap style (she wants a Red Sox hat, but I haven't seen one yet in size medium).  But, that protocol is very similar to how we introduce any piece of paraphernalia - GL's, cones, muzzles, etc.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Emma was taught, that way, to accept a basket muzzle. She wore it, and didn't love it, but accepted it, for quite some time. She wore it any time I knew she'd be stressed, and I carried it (still do, I can't bring myself to get rid of it) in my car, all the time.

     

    IDK why I never thought to try it with Bean's getting dressed weirdness. She doesn't care, once it's on, but she doesn't like the actual getting it put on part, one bit. It's not from lack of practice. It happens at LEAST twice a day.

    • Gold Top Dog

    jennie_c_d
    IDK why I never thought to try it with Bean's getting dressed weirdness. She doesn't care, once it's on, but she doesn't like the actual getting it put on part, one bit. It's not from lack of practice. It happens at LEAST twice a day.

    Same with Gaci. She's always been touch sensitive, even having her collar put on and removed, several times a day (we don't leave collars on all the time). I always pair it with good things, but she still shows minor stress signals - drops her ears, slight grimace, lowers her body a little and slightly tenses up), every time. Sometimes it's almost non-noticable, I just notice it because I know her so well.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Kirby is another one that dislikes getting dressed.  To be exact he loathes having to stick his head through stuff namely the harness.  Once it is on he could careless, but he always gives me the dejected stare ears lowered when he sees me grab it.  Collars on the other hand don't bother him in the least since I hook them around his neck so he doesn't have to tuck his ears. XD

    • Gold Top Dog

    Isn't that funny? I thought Erik was the only one that hated the process of getting his harness on. He does run away sometimes. Most of the time he cringes and his ears and tail droop as if we were making him do something truly hideous. He is a smart dog. He knows that harnesses come right before walks and trips to the park, but it doesn't make any difference. He is fine once it's on, but when you undo the clips he throws himself out of it as if it's on fire. Strange little dog.

    I guess it's a bit like his teeth. He still loathes getting his teeth checked despite heaps of counter conditioning. He doesn't fight it anymore, but he certainly doesn't like it no matter what truly amazing food he will get as soon as it's over.  

    • Gold Top Dog

    corvus

    Isn't that funny? I thought Erik was the only one that hated the process of getting his harness on. He does run away sometimes. Most of the time he cringes and his ears and tail droop as if we were making him do something truly hideous. He is a smart dog. He knows that harnesses come right before walks and trips to the park, but it doesn't make any difference. He is fine once it's on, but when you undo the clips he throws himself out of it as if it's on fire. Strange little dog.

    I guess it's a bit like his teeth. He still loathes getting his teeth checked despite heaps of counter conditioning. He doesn't fight it anymore, but he certainly doesn't like it no matter what truly amazing food he will get as soon as it's over.  

    Sounds like him and Kirby would get along great.  That is exactly how Kirby is.  He won't seriously try to run away but sometimes he will do the little slink subtly in the other direction when he sees me grab his harness.  He loves going out and hates being left behind, but that doesn't change the fact he dislike sticking his head through.  He is also the same way when I go to remove it.  As soon as it I got it unhooked he is ready to rip his head free and the happy dance of freedom as he reshakes his fur back into its proper place.

    Funny he is also the same with his teeth.  Won't fight it but he dislikes it greatly and even though he gets treats he still gives me a look like I am a dog abuser.  I figure the harness is like that.  Even if you give lots a treats, praise, and counter conditioning, the most he is ever going to do is tolerate it.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Nikon always hated having his protection harness put on.  It cued him that we were doing protection which he loves, but he would stand there whining with his ears down while I was "suiting" him up.  He had to wear it for safety because of the amount of pressure the dog is generating, but now he no longer needs it (or a cue that we are doing protection).