Harnesses and matting

[Maggie Stolle]

Can anyone recommend a harness that won't mat the hair too bad? Otis wears a rolled leather collar, which helps, but he is such a puller that he does better in a harness. The only rolled leather harness I have found look too thin and flimsy for a large dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How long does Otis wear a harness? If he is only wearing it for walks, it shouldn't cause matting; it wouldn't be on long enough. :)
I used the Easy Walk harness for Jack and it did a good job of stopping the pulling. However, the best solution was training him to walk nicely on leash with just a plain collar, which we did finally accomplish. 

[Maggie Stolle]

Thank you for your reply. He only wears the harness while walking, but we walk a lot, and it does mat his hair. I have an Easy Walk, but it doesn't seem secure at all, over the course of our walk it loosens quite a bit on him.  I agree with you about training, but after observing Otis walking, our instructor at training classes recommended the harness and he does actually seem to walk better on it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I understand. I used it until Jack was almost 7 years old and we decided to try for his CGC. Back then, dogs couldn't take the CGC test with a hanress, but I think that has changed. It does take a lot of time and practice to teach them to walk nicely on leash wearing just a plain collar, but it is so worth it. :)
Perhaps your harness needs adjusting. It shouldn't be loosening up, unless it was too tight to start with and has stretched out. If it is rubbing in the armpit areas, that could account for the matting. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Bernese were bred as draft animals...I understand the bernedoodle pulling power all too well lol.

We use a Halti with Riley and it works well.  I don't worry about her seeing a friend and dislocating my shoulder anymore.

We will revisit a plain collar when she is older and calmer.