Freedom No-Pull Harness

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

Hi, All!  I've never posted before, so I hope this comes out all right.  I was recently at our local mall and stopped in to a USA Dog Shop.  While talking with the proprietor about Bender, (my 90lb labradoodle who thinks he can pull me anywhere he wants while we're out walking), he told me about the Freedom No-Pull Harness (on which they have a patent) and said he was SURE this would work.  Does anyone have any experience with this and is it worth the money ($30 - $40)?  Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've been using Jack's Easy Walk harness for almost 7 years, and it's still in perfect condition,  so I can vouch for the fact that it's well-made and sturdy, too!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here are the reviews on both harnesses from Amazon. This may be helpful for those trying to decide which one to buy. They both got 4 stars overall:

Easy Walk: http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Harness-Large-Black-Silver/product-re...

Freedom: http://www.amazon.com/Wiggles-Wags-Whiskers-Freedom-No-Pull/product...

[Adina P]

Nothing beats a good training program to teach polite walking manners.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with you, Adina. JD is the first dog with whom I have ever used a harness or anything other than a collar and a 6 foot leash. I started using the Easy Walk with JD to stop the pulling when I first adopted him as a 70 lb untrained adult rescue with no leash manners, as he had too many socialization and fear issues to work through before we could start any kind of real training program. He did wear a buckle collar when he got his CGC, lol!

[Camilla and Darwin]

True true. I need to get to work. :-)

[Adina P]

I like the work more than the walking, but don't have time for either right now. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Like.

[Moe]

I have both harnesses. The Easy Walk and the Freeedom. Neither one stops the pulling. When using the front clasp the pulling is a bit less but not completely eliminated. The back clasp or using both front and back clasp on the Freedom does not work at all. It just makes the dog want to pull.

The only thing that really helps with pulling is the head harness. Gentle Leader Head Collar

My friend just got a rescue dog, a red bone coon hound. The dog is big and so strong it had been knocking her down. I let her borrow all three of the harnesses and the only one that worked for her was the head collar. She does like the double sided leash because her dog goes crazy if there are deer or squirrels around so she likes having one leash on the head collar and the other on the regular dog collar for back up in case somehow the head collar slips off or breaks.  The head collar is like power steering for dogs. It does take a little bit of time before the dog gets used to it.

[Moe]

I live pretty close to you. That lady at the dog store in the mall is really passionate about her harness. I brought the dog in and she adjusted it on the dog. I really wanted it to work. 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Adding my 2 cents.  Meg is overly sociable when meeting people and while I have always used a training collar on Great Danes and they did very well, it took the Gentle Lead Head gear for Meg to be able to meet other people in the park and I really love the way it works.

As for retractable leashes, I know a woman I worked with that used one until she actually got caught up in it and lost the end of her finger, clear to the first knuckle, they are not a great thing.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

I also have been badly cut on the back side of both knees by a retractable leash. A small dog owner with an excited dog and I was wrapped up. I have always kept my dogs on 6 foot leads and many times when i have not been able to stop an excited dog from greeting my dog, I just drop my dogs lead so the leashes are not tangled and choking my dog.