Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
I finally have used the no pull Freedom Harness and am thrilled with it. As you may know I am not a fan of old fashioned, restrictive and physical correction based training.
It took me a long time to check this harness out, because it has a bit of a martingale type that tightens slightly around the dog's chest and discourages pulling. I didn't like that idea for my reactive dog. However, I wanted something that keeps his head free so it wouldn't trigger the opposition reflex when another dog comes near. I was looking for something humane and comfortable, in order to be able to redirect Toffee if he was being reactive and nervous and did lunge (knock on wood I am hoping it's become a thing of the past, lol). This harness was recommended by my Agility Instructor who does a lot of behavioral stuff, too. So here is my review I LOVE it
here is why:
The Freedom No-Pull Harness has four points of adjustability, it can be adjusted to fit literally any body shape or type!
It is super comfortable, Toffee even got to chase a Frisbee with it on and seemed not encumbered by the harness. It has great padding, so it won't chafe and even the nylon parts are softer than I anticipated. Once the harness is adjusted to the dog's fit it's very easy/fast to put on and take off. At first I was struggling with it a bit, but thank goodness for the Internet, I figured it out after looking at pictures
I am not the most technically inclined person 
My favourite part is that I can use either both rings to hook my dog to, one on the back one in front and steer him with the front closure, or you can just use one of the rings.
The proof for REAL pulling dog was my friend with her 'crazy' Weimaraner. That dog can pull he arms out of your sockets, once she is excited (Personally, I just think gundogs are all nuts, LOL)
My friend unfortunately always used a prong collar, which I detest!!!!!
However, she felt for her it was the only option in managing her dog at this point, since she has some mobility and chronic pain issues. She hadn't done the training she wanted to that she had with her previous dogs because she was ill for a while and she let the dog get away with it... the dog got to practice this type of behaviour for way too long now...
I won't go for walks with her if she is using the prong collar, she knows my views on this as a torture device and I told her so, your dog still pulls, anyhow, so how's that collar working out for you? ... I have been helping her a little to train her dog to not pull with positive enforcement... However, when that dog gets excited... well let's just say she's more than a handful
...
My friend was VERY skeptical of a harness, so I literally forced her into trying Toffee's, lol. I fitted it on her dog (another good example how it can be adjusted and fit to any body type, although her Weim is fit and slender she's quite a bit taller than Toffee, obviously...) I put it on her dog, handed over the leash and said, here try this
... NOW she can train and the dog won't get to practice and self reward with these horrible pulling behaviours.
She literally couldn't believe how well it worked instantly!! Yes the dog can still pull, it's not a miracle, but it has NOTHING on any other device she's ever used. She can now walk her crazy gun dog with her hands in her pocket, a feat she was never able to do!
I gave her Toffee's to try for a couple of days, she's totally sold on it and is recommending it to everyone as well.
So all in all the Freedom no Pull Harness is a great and HUMANE tool for managing AND training!
It took me a long time to check this harness out, because it has a bit of a martingale type that tightens slightly around the dog's chest and discourages pulling. I didn't like that idea for my reactive dog. However, I wanted something that keeps his head free so it wouldn't trigger the opposition reflex when another dog comes near. I was looking for something humane and comfortable, in order to be able to redirect Toffee if he was being reactive and nervous and did lunge (knock on wood I am hoping it's become a thing of the past, lol). This harness was recommended by my Agility Instructor who does a lot of behavioral stuff, too. So here is my review I LOVE it
here is why:
The Freedom No-Pull Harness has four points of adjustability, it can be adjusted to fit literally any body shape or type!
It is super comfortable, Toffee even got to chase a Frisbee with it on and seemed not encumbered by the harness. It has great padding, so it won't chafe and even the nylon parts are softer than I anticipated. Once the harness is adjusted to the dog's fit it's very easy/fast to put on and take off. At first I was struggling with it a bit, but thank goodness for the Internet, I figured it out after looking at pictures
I am not the most technically inclined person My favourite part is that I can use either both rings to hook my dog to, one on the back one in front and steer him with the front closure, or you can just use one of the rings.
The proof for REAL pulling dog was my friend with her 'crazy' Weimaraner. That dog can pull he arms out of your sockets, once she is excited (Personally, I just think gundogs are all nuts, LOL)
My friend unfortunately always used a prong collar, which I detest!!!!!
However, she felt for her it was the only option in managing her dog at this point, since she has some mobility and chronic pain issues. She hadn't done the training she wanted to that she had with her previous dogs because she was ill for a while and she let the dog get away with it... the dog got to practice this type of behaviour for way too long now...I won't go for walks with her if she is using the prong collar, she knows my views on this as a torture device and I told her so, your dog still pulls, anyhow, so how's that collar working out for you? ... I have been helping her a little to train her dog to not pull with positive enforcement... However, when that dog gets excited... well let's just say she's more than a handful
... My friend was VERY skeptical of a harness, so I literally forced her into trying Toffee's, lol. I fitted it on her dog (another good example how it can be adjusted and fit to any body type, although her Weim is fit and slender she's quite a bit taller than Toffee, obviously...) I put it on her dog, handed over the leash and said, here try this
... NOW she can train and the dog won't get to practice and self reward with these horrible pulling behaviours. She literally couldn't believe how well it worked instantly!! Yes the dog can still pull, it's not a miracle, but it has NOTHING on any other device she's ever used. She can now walk her crazy gun dog with her hands in her pocket, a feat she was never able to do!
I gave her Toffee's to try for a couple of days, she's totally sold on it and is recommending it to everyone as well.
So all in all the Freedom no Pull Harness is a great and HUMANE tool for managing AND training!
