Question For Harness Users

Lucy is a very laid back dog...but she continually challanges my place as the alpha. She was fantastically trained before we adopted her;  the command "dress" means to come to me and allow me to put her halter/leash/raincoat on her. She sometimes balks and just lays down right out of my reach, when I give the dress command. I considered leaving the hallter on all day, but decided to exert my "alpha-ness", instead. So far it's working, marginally,  that is. Luckily, it dosn't rain very often in Southern CA.

Oh no, her fur is naturally very short. Its the pug in her.

That's good[] Less work! LOL. When you posted pics of her, she looked like she might fuzz out some, but she's probably getting in her adult coat, now.

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

Oh no, her fur is naturally very short. Its the pug in her.

That's good[] Less work! LOL. When you posted pics of her, she looked like she might fuzz out some, but she's probably getting in her adult coat, now.

She does have stray little wisps of fuzz on her head, her feet are a teeny bit fuzzy (I LOVE that), slightly fluffy around her neck, and her tail is a teeny bit bushy, but thats it.  In general her coat is very short.  I didn't think her coat will change at this point but could it?  She is almost eight months old.   
I decided to take off her harness just because she looks better without it and shes easier to cuddle that way.  I do still leave her collar on at all times just cause you never know and even though I got her microchipped I still feel a lot better with the info right on her collar.

In general her coat is very short. I didn't think her coat will change at this point but could it?

Probably not, unless you shave it. Shaving changes some coats. Others, it doesn't bother. You can't tell, until after you do it. Eight months should be just about adult form for a small dog (she might grow another inch, and fill out a bit, but nothing much). She's got her grown up teeth, and her grown up coat, and she'd likely be old enough to breed, if you'd left her intact. She's basically done[]

My dogs are not chipped, and do not wear collars, but that's a personal choice. They both have nasty allergies, and I'm afraid that the chip would have to be surgically removed. I've seen horrible things happen to dogs wearing a collar and tags. One day, I might buy them cat collars that are completely flat (no d ring) and put a flat tag on them, but I doubt it. I don't live in a high traffic area, and both dogs have good recall (Emma's is perfect, and Teenie's is pretty darn good, at this point).

We had a harness for our first dog Shelby.
 
Shelby was very mellow smaller black lab and around the house she was easy and mellow. but on walks, she would pull, pull, pull. to the point of choking sounds all the time.
So we got her a harness just for walking then took it off otherwise. no more choking, etc.much better control of her.
BUT, with our new gal Henrietta, we used the harness for a while, then we watched Cezar Milan (the dog whisper TV show) talk about how to properly walk. they do NOT pull you along and they NEVER walk in front of you, only at your side and behind you.
So we got a gentle leader and that is the best thing in the world!
Henrietta walks perfect! and like Cezar says, good dog behavior starts 1st with a walk, training and discipline then reward.  Works great for our now 10 & 1/2 month pup Henrietta. had it for 4 months now.
I see others with their dogs pulling them down the street and just shake my head.
I'd suggest to them the gentle leader, but you know how people get when you try to tell them how to "parent".
 

ORIGINAL: Kozmo

We had a harness for our first dog Shelby.

Shelby was very mellow smaller black lab and around the house she was easy and mellow. but on walks, she would pull, pull, pull. to the point of choking sounds all the time.
So we got her a harness just for walking then took it off otherwise. no more choking, etc.much better control of her.
BUT, with our new gal Henrietta, we used the harness for a while, then we watched Cezar Milan (the dog whisper TV show) talk about how to properly walk. they do NOT pull you along and they NEVER walk in front of you, only at your side and behind you.
So we got a gentle leader and that is the best thing in the world!
Henrietta walks perfect! and like Cezar says, good dog behavior starts 1st with a walk, training and discipline then reward.  Works great for our now 10 & 1/2 month pup Henrietta. had it for 4 months now.
I see others with their dogs pulling them down the street and just shake my head.
I'd suggest to them the gentle leader, but you know how people get when you try to tell them how to "parent".

I like watching my dog walk in front of me.
I have read some not so good things about the gentle leader about how it makes the dog really uncomfortable and it really hates it and it just gives up.  I won't try one of those (I don't have a need to anyway luckily).  I have also read they are only to be used for training and not as a permenant tool for walking dogs.

ORIGINAL: Lilea
I like watching my dog walk in front of me.

Well, as long as there are no other behavior issues with your dog. As in distructive at home, biting, lashing out at other dogs, seperation anxiety, etc then that is fine. however, when a dog is having problems or behavior issues it all starts from improper walking/bad pack formation as well no rules limits and bounderies. When dog is ahead of you, they take the lead the relationship. they become the pack leader, the master, they bear the concern and burdon of protecting the rest of the pack - You, your spouse, kids, etc.
 

ORIGINAL: Lilea
I have read some not so good things about the gentle leader about how it makes the dog really uncomfortable and it really hates it and it just gives up.

First, let me say, I do not sell these, I have nothgin to do with the comapny or owners, etc.
When you buy the gentle leader, you not only get instructions, but a DVD video. it is VERY important to watch the DVD Video.
I just read the instructions and thought this or that, but when you watch the video, you understand more why those issues you discribe happen.
First, the leader is designed to train and control the dog, not to be worn for anything else but a walk. the first 10 or 15 minutes they will paw at it and try to get it off, etc. but over a short time they get used to it. As with any collar or even a kennel, etc you do NOT sort of suddenly attack them with it to put it on, but to slowly and gently get them to wear it. once on, lots of praise and some treats rewards immediately. never use as a punishment for bad behavior.
Most every being, human or animal's natural reaction to limitations, obedience, training, etc. is to dislike it. they want to do what they want. but that is not reasonable. just like you can not just let a puppy roam free around house cause they will chew up everything, eat things bad for them, etc. or a child who does not want to go to school or adult who does not want to wear a seatbelt, go to work, etc.
Too often parents of children or animals are like "oh no they are unhappy, they don't like it", then you end up with bad behavior unruly spoiled child, adult or animal.
 
The Gentle leader HAS to be put on the Correct way. they show you in the instructions, but the DVD video makes it much better to understand. if people are having problems, it is 99% because it is too loose or improperly installed usually because they never watch or read how to properly use it. then they say, oh I tried that and the dog hated it, it didn't work. when it was the owner not using it or installing it correctly. most problems with dogs are due to owners doing the wrong thing. not that the owners are bad, but they just do not understand how dogs work/think and relate.
 

ORIGINAL: Lilea

I have also read they are only to be used for training and not as a permenant tool for walking dogs

Yes, only used for walking/training, not to be worn when thte dog is unsupervised. all on the video.
And yes, over time and depending on the dog, as they are trained with the gentle leader, you can leave it off. maybe for a walk or two or forever and use a collar or other. again it depends on the individual dog. but if behavior problems come back, or they start to walk YOU again, then you need to use it for a while till they get back to their training. kinda a refresher course.
 
There is a couple in our neighborhood walking their little dog, their dog is all over the place, running every different direction as they walk, pulling them down the street, barking agressively at my dog and all other dogs that they walk by. "They actually we silly enough to say, oh, you have they thing on her (my dogs) face, she doesn't like that, poor thing". and I had to just keep quiet as I watched their dog who was clearly out of control causing all kinds of kaos as well as a possible danger to it's self all because of no disapline, limitations or training. I just thought what a stupid thing for them to say.
All too often parnets of humans and animals are too worried about feelings so they do nothing and end up with problem animals, children and adults.