Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Article on a simple, interesting dog walking aid
This article appeared in my paper today. I can't recommend it never having used it but it sounds like a simple alternative to some collars and harnesses.
Walking the dog with the Weiss Walkie
Saturday, December 19, 2009
BY DIANE MCCARTNEY
The Record
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
Emily Weiss invented the Weiss Walkie, but she did not name it. "It's a horrible name, but it's now stuck," said Weiss, a certified animal behaviorist from Benton, Kan., who designed a no-pull dog-walking device that has become a hit with humane societies.
Weiss said she and her husband, Mark Wasserman, designed the combination leash and halter in response to a plea from staffers and volunteers at the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee.
"They were having problems with dogs pulling," Weiss said. They had tried pinch collars, harnesses and Gentle Leaders — a harness that wraps around a dog's nose — but "it was difficult, especially for the volunteers, to successfully take a dog out on a walk."
Harnesses and other no-pull devices can be effective, Weiss said, but they may feel unnatural to a dog or may require adjusting a lot of buckles and fasteners.
The Weiss Walkie — basically a rope that attaches to a dog's regular collar and then loops around its chest — is "no fuss, no muss, and that's the biggest difference," Weiss said. "There's no fitting. You just put it on and go."
The Weiss Walkie works using a combination of doggie physiology and psychology, Weiss said.
When a dog pulls, the Walkie applies slight pressure around the widest part of the chest, and the dog's natural response to that is to slow down or back up, Weiss said.
"Learning is instant because he's doing it himself," she said. "All you are doing is holding the end of the leash. By simply not pulling, he's successful."
Weiss said she got the idea for the Walkie when watching her husband participate with his German shorthaired pointers in field trials. The dogs get excited while waiting to compete, Weiss said. But she noticed that when her husband would wrap the leash snugly around the widest part of the chest, they would relax and wouldn't pull nearly as hard.
Staffers and volunteers at the Kansas Humane Society have been using the Weiss Walkie for a couple of years. It also is sold in the shelter's retail shop and online (emilyweiss.com).
Dog walkers like it because it's easy to put on, instantly effective, safe and comfortable for the dog, said Kelsey Callaway, an adoptions counselor.
"It directs pressure away from their neck and airway so it's safer for the dog," she said. "They're not going to choke or accidentally hurt themselves."
Maybe most important, Callaway thinks the Weiss Walkie helps dogs get adopted.
Instead of pulling all over the place, dogs wearing Weiss Walkies "look partially trained," Callaway said.
And that means they're more likely to walk out of the shelter with a new owner.
Weiss, who also is senior director of shelter research and development for the ASPCA, said her ultimate goal in creating the Walkie was to "keep dogs in homes."
People and dogs that go places together form a stronger bond, Weiss said, and a dog that goes for regular walks is a happier, healthier pet.
Walking the dog with the Weiss Walkie
Saturday, December 19, 2009
BY DIANE MCCARTNEY
The Record
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
Emily Weiss invented the Weiss Walkie, but she did not name it. "It's a horrible name, but it's now stuck," said Weiss, a certified animal behaviorist from Benton, Kan., who designed a no-pull dog-walking device that has become a hit with humane societies.
Weiss said she and her husband, Mark Wasserman, designed the combination leash and halter in response to a plea from staffers and volunteers at the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee.
"They were having problems with dogs pulling," Weiss said. They had tried pinch collars, harnesses and Gentle Leaders — a harness that wraps around a dog's nose — but "it was difficult, especially for the volunteers, to successfully take a dog out on a walk."
Harnesses and other no-pull devices can be effective, Weiss said, but they may feel unnatural to a dog or may require adjusting a lot of buckles and fasteners.
The Weiss Walkie — basically a rope that attaches to a dog's regular collar and then loops around its chest — is "no fuss, no muss, and that's the biggest difference," Weiss said. "There's no fitting. You just put it on and go."
The Weiss Walkie works using a combination of doggie physiology and psychology, Weiss said.
When a dog pulls, the Walkie applies slight pressure around the widest part of the chest, and the dog's natural response to that is to slow down or back up, Weiss said.
"Learning is instant because he's doing it himself," she said. "All you are doing is holding the end of the leash. By simply not pulling, he's successful."
Weiss said she got the idea for the Walkie when watching her husband participate with his German shorthaired pointers in field trials. The dogs get excited while waiting to compete, Weiss said. But she noticed that when her husband would wrap the leash snugly around the widest part of the chest, they would relax and wouldn't pull nearly as hard.
Staffers and volunteers at the Kansas Humane Society have been using the Weiss Walkie for a couple of years. It also is sold in the shelter's retail shop and online (emilyweiss.com).
Dog walkers like it because it's easy to put on, instantly effective, safe and comfortable for the dog, said Kelsey Callaway, an adoptions counselor.
"It directs pressure away from their neck and airway so it's safer for the dog," she said. "They're not going to choke or accidentally hurt themselves."
Maybe most important, Callaway thinks the Weiss Walkie helps dogs get adopted.
Instead of pulling all over the place, dogs wearing Weiss Walkies "look partially trained," Callaway said.
And that means they're more likely to walk out of the shelter with a new owner.
Weiss, who also is senior director of shelter research and development for the ASPCA, said her ultimate goal in creating the Walkie was to "keep dogs in homes."
People and dogs that go places together form a stronger bond, Weiss said, and a dog that goes for regular walks is a happier, healthier pet.
Comment
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Comment by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on February 3, 2010 at 5:53pm
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My daughter bought a Weiss Walkie look alike for her lab and it broke!
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Comment by Nancie & Gracie Doodle on February 3, 2010 at 10:13am
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I have the same problem. I prefer to use the handle type leash but the Weiss Walkie is working really great with Gracie. No more pronged collar. I don't see any way to convert the handle or attach a new one because the loop handle is what you thread through the big "O" ring to create the loop around their chest. When I am in the heel mode I hate having a long leash all bunched up in my hand. I am very short so my hand automatically rests right on the clip to the collar. That is why when we are out in tight public situations I like to have a very short lead handle. I guess we could always shorten the Weiss Walkie and custom make it just for ME!!! That means buying another one.
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Comment by F, Calla & Luca on February 3, 2010 at 7:39am
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Maybe you could attach a flt handle to the leash.
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Comment by Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom on February 3, 2010 at 4:40am
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We have now been out in public with Lucy on the Weiss Walkie. I think that I will proclaim it a success. We have been to Lowes as well as on a therapy visit. I have to say that I prefer a flat leash vs. the round one that it is made out of (think bungie cord but not stretchy) because it just doesn't fit my hand that well, and it is slick and a little too thick, but is much better than her gentle leader.
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What you can do with Lucy's leash is to just clip it on her collar when you first start out and not loop it under her and through the big ring. Gracie usually takes a few houses and sniffing before she will go potty. So during that time you could let her have her leash long and once she is done, loop her up!!!
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The reason that I thought it was a little short is because normally on their walks they have to potty, and Lucy particularly has this thing about you being too close to her when she potties ..... she likes a little distance if you will. I know what you mean about the color showing .... Sophie wears a beige Gentle Leader and people generally don't notice, but Lucy's was red and people always thought she "bites"! With Lucy's long hair though and the black walkie, you don't even notice it. Haven't been in public yet though with some good distractions. DH tried looping the leash around her belly one day at the Veteran's home when Lucy was having a fit over her Gentle Leader and it even seemed to calm her down some .... that's why we decided to go ahead and try the walkie .... she just really hates the gentle leader.
Our girls will walk ok on a regular color if we each have one dog and we are just walking in the neighborhood, but not out in public where there are so many distractions and there is no way I can walk both of them myself on just a regular color (which I can on their gentle leaders, with one hand).
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Oh...here I am...yes, I use the Weiss Walkie on Gracie Doodle. We were using the prong collar before and I hated being seen in public with it on her. She behaved beautifully when her "halo" was on and then when I would try walking with just a regular collar on she would pull. She knows how to heel perfectly too and will do it with the Halo on. She is doing fine with the Walkie and I don't mind the length because I normally walk her with just a handle short lead. I am very short and she is supposed to heel by my side so there is no need for a long leash. My husband likes a long leash and hence, she doesn't heel with him! Bad man he is!!!!! I have her perfectly trained and he un does everything every morning on their walk. Anyway, we no longer use the prong collar!!!!!!! Though the Walkie does look sort of funny on her. She is Apricot and it is turquoise.
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Nancie Casey bought one for Graciedoodle at the end of December. We should check with her to see if she likes it. I took a leash and looped it around Gordie and back through his collar. It made the "yank" effective but did not prevent him from surging ahead. Gordie suffers from ADHD - he knows how to behave on a leash but gets so excited that he forgets and pulls - maybe not ADHD but short term memory loss??? Gordie also hates the haltie around his nose but it works pretty well because he spends his walk trying to get if off and not surging ahead!
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Ok everyone ...... I bought the Weiss Walkie for Lucy. We used it for the first time today and hopefully, if it continues to work, and works out in public, I will proclaim it a success. Lucy hates her Gentle Leader Head Halter. I've tried the Harness type and it doesn't work so well. We made it all the way around the neighborhood without DH going crazy with Lucy rubbing her face on his knees trying to get the gentle leader off her face (which is what usually happens). I can actually walk her on a regular collar (if I only have her and not Sophie also). However, she has a couple times decided she didn't want to go in the direction I did and pulled her head right out of the collar. This system prevents her from being able to do that as well. Also, because I bought black you don't even see it on her. My only complaint is that by the time I put it around her belly, it makes it probably a 4' leash, and I like a 6' leash. You guys are dead on though that it would be very simple to make your own. I bought the nylon, not the leather version. I'll keep you posted.
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I took Latin - no accent marks. Thanks for the correction Ms. Dictionary! As to that wild man, Spud, backwards is good - kind of.
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