Easy Walk Harness question

[dal]

Hi, I just bought the easy walk harness this morning.  We have been leash training for a few months (he's 6 months old) and he knows how to walk properly, he just doesn't want to when there are distractions.  I was skeptical of the harness but wow, does it work!!  We had the most pleasant walk this morning.  My only question is that while he doesn't pull with it on, he still stops and plants himself from time to time.  Should I be pulling on the leash to get him to walk again?  I do say heel and let's go but when he's got his mind made up sometimes the only way to get him to restart is pulling on the leash.

Thanks!

[SoSa]

My puppy is six months old too and we share the same walking issues. On the leash/collar, Ace is good until a biker or another person/dog passes by and then he becomes puller dog. He's a dream in the harness, but he HATES it. We usually have to chase him to get it on (as soon as he sees it come out, he takes off) and then after a while on the walk, he will plant himself. I have to bribe him with treats to get up. I'll actually throw them down the sidewalk so that he has to get up a walk to it. I try pulling when he plants himself, but I feel like that may not be comfortable for his legs.

I don't have a solution, but I can say, I empathize. :-)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would just keep right on walking...the walk stops when YOU say so.

[Katie]

Bonnie has got used to the harness now. I am sure your dog will too. SoSa, I wouldn't chase your dog with the harness. I would call and catch ace first, give a treat, then whilst holding his collar firmly, put the harness on, and treat again. Very mater-of-fact. No yelling. Otherwise this is going to be such a cool game.......

I used to pull if Bonnie stopped, often running on cheerfully myself, crying "come along, this way" as if there was the most exciting thing in the world down the street! I didn't often have this problem though. She pulled more than stopped and planted.

Katie

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree with Katie--act like something exciting is going on right down the street--look ahead, not back at the dog and do not coax or cajole the dog--that is positive reinforcement for "planting"--just keep going and ignore the behavior. I was thinking about SoSa's answer--the dog plants themselves and treats appear!  So, maybe that is why he is stopping? 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

We love the Easy Walker- word of caution, though.  Quincy ate through two of them.  He was able to get his mouth around the strap under his neck and had it chewed through in no time.  Once on a walk! once at the groomer.  The company will send a new one at minimal cost so keep the packaging.  

[Wynnie & Jim]

Yes, our Wynnie ate through 2 or 3 of them when we forgot to take the harness off. Fortunately, she has grown out of that phase and she now grudgingly accept the harness when first put on but forgets about it out on the walk. Dal, your puppy seems to be doing great. Keep up the good work.