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 F, Calla & Luca on December 20, 2009 at 9:04am
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At least walking backwards should slow him down.
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So, did Spud sputter to a stop?
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Voila`, Nancy FYI. accent should be over a. Some of us were silly enough to take French way back when Lots of good it did us!
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Comment by Joanne ~ Spud* on December 20, 2009 at 9:00am
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Maybe when he is 2 or 3. Maybe I don't have a dog but a Yeti or a White Buffalo. I swear I have the wildest dood on this site. Out of control with happiness.
I placed my hand on his chest and he walked backwards. We are working on the "Back" command for dancing and that is all he does is walk backwards now.
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Okay drum roll........... Spud is flying through the air in the living room. I am going to place my hand on his chest. BRB
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Comment by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on December 20, 2009 at 8:44am
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When I was growing up, we had Samoyeds. My mom told me that if I put my hand on their chest they would hold still because they were sled dogs and instinctively they would think they were in-harness. This explanation for a 10 year old may have been simplistic or faulty, but the fact was right-on. When I brushed them or wanted them to stand still, I just put my hand on their chests and voilla (however you spell that1) those dogs stayed perfectly still. I like the picture of the Weiss Walkie. It looks even easier (if it works) than the Halti harness. Hmmmmm, Christmas coming..... my daughter's lab...... present..... Yes!
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Yes I have seen those type of prong collars. I have the same complaints are you do; discoloration, hard to get on and off, and my collar is weak on the quick release I had never used a prong so I started with a " starter collar" if you want to call it that just to see if it would work for both of us. Although expensive it probably would have saved a lot of money in the long run. I'll take those suggestions to heart. I really think that is the best solution for Mr. Wild Man Spud.
Lace--well when I first got her I thought she could heal. I was amazed she walked so well. She was just being submissive. She has no idea how to sit or heal let alone walk nicely on a leash but I don't have the heart to go to the prong with her just yet.
KAREN: hahahahaha I am laughing. I have the visual and I think it matches mine! It is just a joke and yes people do slow down for some reason and stare and smile --then they just drive off :)
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You could shave a band around his neck which some of the breeders recommend in their grooming sites. I think the band really wouldn't be visible since the rest of the hair would cover it. The reason I got special prongs is that the regular ones discolored Luca's fur and I found them very difficult to get on and off. Mine have an easy open close mechanism similar to the cloth collars only it is metal not plastic.
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Comment by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on December 20, 2009 at 8:25am
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It does sound a lot like the GL Easy Walk harness that I use for Jack. People keep getting confused between that and the GL head harness.
Joanne, when I first got Jack, all the drivers on their way to work would slow down and watch me trying to walk him in the mornings; almost everyone was laughing. One person told my daughter that Jack and I were providing comic relief for the whole neighborhood.
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Yes, I purchased a prong and I like it on most occasions although Spud I truly believe has the thickest doodle hair I have ever seen on a doodle. TRUTH. The prong might as well be a piece of string. It does not phase him when his hair is long.
For Lace I got a gentle walker and for rambunctious Spud I use the gentle leader. I do walk the dogs a lot. I had no idea how hard it would be to walk to untrained dogs. If you could see a video you would laugh.
The muzzle--well I get comments but as long as he and I are both safe and comfortable --Okay.
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