There are ample reasons why they hate it, such as: not liking to stay still, being touch-sensitive, past negative experiences, being too tight, feeling a loss of control, or a combination of all. Below is a guide to harness training or how to positively retrain with harnesses.
This is a very common problem, and often indicates that your dog does not feel comfortable with the way in which the harness is put on. Examples mostly include, harnesses going over the head and/or lifting legs into holes.
You can start by feeding treats through the harness and slowly get them to put their head further in. Now, you can use a food lure to guide your dog to go through the harness, then say yes and treat. Then you can take it a step further and put the harness over their next quickly and then remove it and reward.
The Harness is Uncomfortable
Like humans, dogs don't like to feel discomfort and if a harness is too tight, rubs against the skin or pinches, dogs won't want to wear it. This may cause a negative association with the harness and may result in your dog biting when trying to put it on.
A Negative Experience
Some dogs dislike the sound of the clasps being snapped or may be afraid of them pinching their skin. A negative experience such as being startled by the sound or the skin getting accidentally pinched when it's being snapped on can be enough to cause a dog to dread wearing the harness.
Harnesses can be uncomfortable: Harnesses are bulkier than collars, so they can be more uncomfortable for your dog. Some dogs really don't like wearing harnesses, so it can take time for them to get used to walking with one.
If a dog is reacting or protesting, they are communicating disagreement or discomfort. If you pin a dog down or restrain them in these type of situations, its very common and normal for the dog to act out with lunges, growls, nips and if the communication is not respected, eventually turn to dog bites.
Harnesses are simply the safest, most secure, and most comfortable way to hook your dog up to his leash. A good harness will reduce pulling, increase your control over your pup, and decrease stress on his neck and joints.
Hitting or beating is thought to discourage bad behaviors when applied with the proper force, timing, and redirection. However, pain-based aversive techniques are risky. Studies show that they significantly increase stress, lower a dog's quality of life, and may even increase dog aggression.
Most dogs who don't like wearing a harness typically have sensitivity to certain areas being touched. To help combat this, pet and stroke your pup on the areas that the harness will be touching. For some dogs, it can take a few weeks for it to begin feeling comfortable.
The feeling of security when wearing a soft, comfortable & well fitted harness can encourage the dog to walk more calmly and hopefully less stressed.
Place the harness down in front of the dog's front paws, making sure no straps are twisted. Place one front paw into each opening. Pull the harness up so it fits securely around the dog's chest and shoulders, and clip the harness on the centre of their back. The lead clips through both rings on the dog's back.
Dogs pull on lead for a variety of reasons including excitement or even nervousness, and for some dogs the sensation of wearing a harness in itself can be enough to help calm them.
Pros and Cons of Dog Harnesses
The biggest benefit of a dog harness is the shift in pressure from the neck to a larger area of the body. However, it's very important to note that a poor-fitting harness can be just as detrimental to your dog's well-being as a collar with too much pressure applied in the wrong area.
Harnesses bring fewer health risks
In general, harnesses are easier on dogs than collars. For example, a good harness can alleviate back pain. They're also far less likely to pull on your dog's throat, causing injury. If you have a dog that loves to pull hard while walking, you'll want to consider a harness.
For some dogs, wearing a harness can provide a sense of comfort and security, leading to a calmer demeanor. This is especially true for dogs that are prone to anxiety or insecurity. However, this may not be the case for all dogs, as each dog is unique and may respond differently to wearing a harness.
Dog walking may contribute to increased owner and community perceptions of safety. Qualitative research shows that owners (particularly women) feel safer when walking with their dog and suggests that dog ownership and dog walking may be a deterrent for local crime [7, 9, 16, 17].
While playing tug of war, your dog might get excited and begin growling. This is normal, as the game itself is predatory behavior. However, it is important to keep your dog from becoming overly excited or aggressive, and take breaks to keep the game from getting out of control.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
Wondering why? – the answer is the behaviours that have been linked to them. For example - if your dog only wears the collar when they are out for a walk, removing the collar can mean an end to their strolling and playtime, which can in turn make them upset and even freaked out.
Every dog owner should get a harness for their dog in addition to a collar, even if the dog can already walk very well on leash. It is one of the tools I recommend for all my clients, no matter how old or trained their dog already is.
In general, to protect your pup's neck, Hodges recommends rotating between a few different collars and regularly checking that they still fit well. She also recommends letting your dog sleep at night without a collar to give your pet's skin a chance to air out.
Harnesses don't cause pulling.
These tools can be used as part of different training methods to discourage pulling AND encourage good behavior.