harnesses (again)

I still like the Sporn -- not the mesh one, the 'original' design.  it would be pretty impossible to chew because it's actually a collar with straps that run from the front of the collar, down under the front legs  and then up through a locking slide.  The straps under the legs keep it from pulling on the throat, and there is something about the strap under the front legs that breaks the ability of the front legs to "pull".

Usually you can get them at Petco & PetSmart  -

This one:  sporn.com/.../sporn-halter

Why and when is she chewing the harness?  Maybe it doesn't fit right or is the wrong design for her body shape.  Maybe she's stressed when she's wearing it and needs some sort of appropriate chew offered so she won't chew the harness.

it fits right.  We've had 2 different ones and she chewed both, mostly the "T" at her chest.  I guess the best solution is to only have it on for walking, but I like having it on her all day.  I'd have to remind myself to take it off.  I'm not sure when she's chewing.  I think maybe when she is just resting in her bed, she'll chew on it.

Harnesses tend to be a royal pain to put on and take off -- BUT they are also uncomfortable, and that strap is just going to jump into her mouth over and over.  You also run the risk of it getting caught on something (in particular we never ever leave a harness on a dog who is crated)

Taking it off except when she needs to have it on seems like an easy fix.

Jackie -- I wish I had even PART of your "trainers brain".  I'm so serious -- I was literally awe-struck by your response above -- ALL of it something a trainer would definitely think of.  

I suspect, if she's anything like me, she sees that the dog is likely easier to control with the harness on than off.  (not that you are yanking on the harness -- but simply it is often a signal to the dog that wearing the harness or collar means "human in control";)

But the **right** thing to do - as you are so deftly pointing out -- is to better train the dog to respond well in *any* situation so you aren't using the wearing of the harness as a control mechanism.  

It takes time -- not just the passage of time, but time spent *training* to get the dog to be responsive in all situations **and** whether or not they are wearing harness or collar.  

I readily admit -- Tink is more responsive to me than Luna is.  But not only is the bond different there, but she thrives hugely on spoken praise and Luna isn't motivated that way as easily.

Charlie - surprisingly -- is another one who loves to pretend to ignore the human if there is no collar nor harness present.  But usually when "evil water coming from the sky" is an issue.  Otherwise he's definitely Mr. Almost Perfect.

Luna knows only too well that Mom isn't going to follow thru by going straight TO her when she fails to obey a command (because my mobility is so limited) *and* she knows David will.  She  tends to obey him immediately whether there is a collar/harness in evidence or not.  He never has to *do* anything negative (just being ignored by David is consequence enough).  He's far better the trainer than I am.  

Yes, I do like having it on her for some control in the house, although we don't quite need that as much as we did a few months ago.  I take her out a lot, so it's just easier to have it on.  I guess my only option though is to keep taking it off.  I think she chews it because it's just THERE.  As I said, she's not a big chewer.

Muffin the Intrepid used to do the SAME thing.  He'd also chew a leash and I swear I could see his lips move when he said "It jumped right in my mouth".  One time I was sitting at an outdoor table eating lunch chatting with someone.  Muffin leashed at right at my side.  He was pretty laid back most of the time, and he was just next to me, with me petting him while I talked.  David came out with our food, and suddenly Muffin got up and went TO David about 30 feet away.

WTH??  I looked down -- while I was talking the leash apparently was laying across his paws.  He chewed thru it as neatly as if it had been cut.  Then he reached to his left - dragged the leash back over his paws and again chewed thru the leash -- he had done this repeatedly.  There was literally a stack of 7 -8" pieces of leash (you would have sworn he had neatly stacked them!) -- ALL that was left of that leash was about 18" hanging off his collar.  He'd been "free" all that time but there was nothing worth getting up and walking away over until 'dad' came out with the food.  

My heart stopped because of course he walked in front of 3 cars trying to get TO David (McDonald's Parking Lot?? eeek!!!).  Had he been most dogs he'd have run into traffic with me not even aware he was loose.

She sounds like an opportunistic chewer and Jackie is likely totally right.  Take it off her and probably it will resolve the issue.  I learned with Mufferino NEVER to leave a leash anywhere it might jump into that mouth -- apparently thick nylon like that is an amazingly NICE chew!!  

To be honest -- it is far far more safe to NOT leave the harness on her unattended anyway -- if they are crated it's all too easy for a buckle to get caught in the wires/etc.  If they are lose in the house, it's all too easy for the harness to get caught on something that could fall on them.  

i got my two girls leathers ones they are thick and wide. would take awhile to chew though them. plus they look cool in them. you could rub them in lemon juice or pepper your dog would not like the taste so would stop chewing them