lynnmw1208 Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 How old should a dog be before you use a harness for walking? I was just wondering because they grow so fast and I know I'd have to end up buying a bigger one when he's fully grown and stuck with a harness that's too small. Would it be okay to use the collar for now and switch to a harness when he gets older? Speaking of growing when do huskies stop? 1 year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 odin had a car harness at 3 month old i walked him on that till he got bigger then just changed to an adult one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidjk Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 with puppies, putting them in harnesses will get them used to it, but they do grow, so you would need to change it. huskies on average grow for 18 months, some can take longer some can take less. i prefer a harness, because a dog pulling on a collar sounds horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 pagan has just been given an incar harness which looked HUGE but we made it as small as it will go and fits her pefectly n probs wont need replacing unless she chews it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 we put Myshka in a harness at about 8 months, she was grown up size-wise to buy a harness that would fit her into adulthood. Up to then, we had a collar as she didn't pull much & we could let her off lead & recall her (before she realised she could run off & ignore us!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbb23 Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 I posted a site up for Harness for pups have a look- http://www.siberian-husky-dog-breed-info.com/padded-handmade-leather-siberian-husky-harness-for-puppies-h2 http://www.siberian-husky-dog-breed-store.com/ I found the harness to be better when walking Grey rather then a collar cause it gives me alot more support cause he can pull a little. If you was to start off with a harness at an early age it would get your pup use to wearing one and having one put on also if Harness is a little big at first it can be made smaller and most sites you order form will give you tips on how to measure your sibe for the perfect comfy fit. Hope Iv helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 My girls got hanesses straight away! If you like the ezy dog ones u could get away with getting a medium harness...they go really small and it will last for a while whilst grownig! U may or maynot need to get a larger one....either large or x large but i still have one girl in a med, the other 2 wear large! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 Walking harnesses you can use as soon as they will fit into one Gizmo had a car one when he was about 6 months old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 28, 2009 Report Share Posted August 28, 2009 I started both my boys in their harnesses from day one and they pull like a train LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 I don't like using harnesses for walks because I find it gives my dogs more strength and comfort to pull. You won't have a problem walking your pup on a good collar if you teach it how to walk on a loose leash and that pulling is not an effective way for him to get where he wants to go. Any dog can be taught not to pull - Micha was a habitual puller until he was about four years old, when I was taught him to teach him not to pull. It was actually pretty easy and now he doesn't pull at all when we are out on walks. Having said that there is nothing wrong with using a harness if you want to, I just prefer not to use them for walks. Siberians tend not to finish growing until they are around 18 months of age, and it's really important if you use a harness that you make sure it fits your dog properly. But like I said, they definitely aren't necessary just because your pup is a husky - you can use a collar as long as you want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnmw1208 Posted August 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 Good advice everyone! I'll consider all your suggestions. I think I might want to keep him on a collar for now since he's doing okay on it. Soon he'll outgrow his puppy collar (only a little more to let out!) and I'll possibly consider a harness after that. It just seems to look more comfortable for the dog to walk in also. Plus it'll get him used to having something on his back because we eventually want to get him a doggy backpack for walking in the parks:cool: I have seen a collar/harness mix type thing. It's a collar and you attach the parts that go under their legs to the collar. Anyone use anything like this? http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+4+12052&pcatid=12052 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 let us know how you get along. Ive not used a harness likt that before. We did have a halti harness before for Gizmo where you can connect it to the collar but it wasnt padded like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex T Posted August 29, 2009 Report Share Posted August 29, 2009 Ive used a Halti like that with our GSD - but didnt like it, so got her a harness instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bec Posted August 30, 2009 Report Share Posted August 30, 2009 Good advice everyone! I'll consider all your suggestions. I think I might want to keep him on a collar for now since he's doing okay on it. Soon he'll outgrow his puppy collar (only a little more to let out!) and I'll possibly consider a harness after that. It just seems to look more comfortable for the dog to walk in also. Plus it'll get him used to having something on his back because we eventually want to get him a doggy backpack for walking in the parks:cool: I have seen a collar/harness mix type thing. It's a collar and you attach the parts that go under their legs to the collar. Anyone use anything like this? http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+4+12052&pcatid=12052 You'd be far better off teaching her to walk on a loose leash (be that on a harness or collar) than relying on tools like that. If you do the ground work now you won't need them. Don't forget if you are going to look at getting a doggy backpack, then you will need him to be able to walk on a collar - he can't wear a backpack and a harness at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice Posted August 30, 2009 Report Share Posted August 30, 2009 shadow is 8 weeks old and has a harness, its an x-small as we cant get a collar small enough to fit him, he is wearing a kitten collar at the mo lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 30, 2009 Report Share Posted August 30, 2009 awwww - we need more pics of shadow lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephona Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 We got Kremlin a harness at about 6 months, mostly because he had already grown a little and if we got him an adjustable harness, we wouldn't have to get him a new one when he got bigger. And I don't really know why, but in the harness he did pull a lot less than with his collar, besides he wouldn't any longer choke. But it didn't solve his pulling problem completely, so we are working on this too at obedience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 lol mine wear harneses and like sarah they pull like a train choo choo lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 lol mine wear harneses and like sarah they pull like a train choo choo lol Yeah - especially when you have 4 feckin huskies on a walkin belt pmsl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 lol you wanted 4 wait till you get 6 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephona Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Well I don't know, I heard from everybody I talked to that a harness actually helps them pull more effectively, but it was weird cuz with Kremlin it wasn't like this lol. It was really nice the first time I used the harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innocenti Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Got NEO a harness at about 6 months old. Use a coller and leash for walks , the harnes and long line for runs on the field . Pulls far too much in harness on walks so use a half check collar. CULPEPPERS will guide you as to what size you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 good point Ian, added to rep - culpeppers are great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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