Please Read Need Help With Getting Puppy to Wear Harness - YorkieTalk.com Forums

sbarker13 · 10-08-2005, 06:06 PM

Hi everyone. I have an 8 week yorkie mix that so far has been doing great. She is already litter box trained and is starting to have fewer and fewer accidents. She already understands her name, knows "sit", "come", "place", and almost knows "down".

However, I've done all this training off leash. I just reveived her package and went to put on her harness to get her used to being walked, and she absolutely hates it. She doesn't really bite it too much but she will not walk in it. She just lies down and sulks. I'm not really sure what to do. We've tried treats, and encouraging playing, but it doesn't work very well.

At first we were leaving it on for a couple minutes at a time, but she'll just lay down and then go start playing when we take it off. I'm wondering if I should just try leaving it on all day while I'm with her until she eventually gets used to it. Any advice would really be apreciated, especially if you had a similiar experience.

Thanks you,
Sondra & Goober

jenstals · 10-08-2005, 06:10 PM

Your baby is ADORABLE!!! For 8 weeks, you are doing great! I think that as long as you are with the puppy, I would leave it on as long as you can, eventually she will get used to it!!!

Jo-Jo · 10-09-2005, 02:25 PM

We got the step-in harness for each of our boys and they love them. At first Riley didn't like it at all but then I realized it was a little snug under his front legs so he would also lay down and refuse to walk. Now that I have it adjusted properly he loves to go for walks. Riley was 4 months old when we put his on for the first time but I don't know how he would have reacted to it if he were younger. Keep trying...your puppy should get used to it in time.

mustangbee · 10-09-2005, 04:19 PM

8 weeks is young, it's going to take her time to get used to it.
I do have a question. If she's only 8 weeks why is a harness
so important? As they shouldn't go out for walks until all
shots have be given.

Bella0722 · 10-09-2005, 04:24 PM

Yes, I would let her stay in the harness a little longer just at first, and take along her favorite toy, maybe a ball that you could throw and she could go fetch while you were outside.

Your baby is adorable by the way. It sounds like you're doing great with training!

sbarker13 · 10-09-2005, 06:18 PM

It's for sociolization purposes so she can play with other dogs and puppys while I can superviser her on a leash and also for her obedience class. She'll need to be used to being on a harness and leash. She is able to start her classes at 10 weeks.

I decided to try putting a collar on her and she seems to be more ok with wearing the collar than the leash, so maybe I'll just use a collar for now and wait a little longer and try the harness again later.

lil'dude_norman · 10-11-2005, 08:37 AM

I'm picking up my 6mo old yorkie today so I might not be the best source for advice but...

I read in another thread that colars aren't the best for yorkies because their bones are so brittle. Even though your pup hates the harness now, I'm sure he'll get adjusted eventually! Since my dog is older, he's already used to it and walks (well, more like runs and pulls...) along great!

Good luck!

And, by the way, GREAT job on potty training so quickly! I hope we can do it that quickly!

Dudley's Mom · 10-11-2005, 09:14 AM

We got Dudley at 12 weeks. We put him in harness on day one to help hold onto him. He was very small and it made it easier to keep ahold of him. We left it on him all day and he got used to it very quickly. Now he gets upset when we take it off, he knows his walks are over for the day.

We were told not to lead him with a collar because of the collapsing trachea problem that are common in small dogs.His halter is also a step in, as he gets really fiesty when the other had to be pulled on or off over his head. This step in one is lots easier on him. Hope this helps.

sbarker13 · 10-11-2005, 09:37 AM

Thanks=) Regardless of the harness problems we are extremely happy she was litter box trained so fast, let me know if you need any help=)

The harness is used was a step in also, we put her in it for the majority of the day and she would barely move. We put the collar on all day and eventually she was fine with it. For now since we aren't doing any leash training I think the collar should be fine just to introduce her to the outdoors so she can play with other puppies and meet more humans. I am more concerned with helping her get sociolized since it's most importants around 8 weeks- 14 weeks. I'm hoping to give it another try with the harness in a couple weeks, maybe we she gets a little bigger she'll be ok with it.

I've had 4 dogs but we rescued them all and never got one as an early puppy so I'm not really sure what to expect them to achieve at different ages.

I think the fact that she is already litter trained, and knows the commands sit, come, place, and she just learned "go room"...so eventually I can say "go room" and she'll know to go to her room. Know that she is litter box trained we no longer keep her in her crate, we turned one of our storage rooms into her own little doggy room. Although at night we put her in our room in the crate, so she can still use the litter box at night.

I have another questions, at what age do you think it will be ok to just let her sleep in her room? My boyfriend has slight allergies to her she we wont let her sleep in the bed, and right now we are enstilling the "alpha dog" so we make sure she sleeps in her bed.

Thanks again for all the great advice I'm so happy I found this board!!
Sondra & Goober

Bella'sMom · 10-14-2005, 10:18 AM

Well Bella is now 9 wks 4 days old and i just bought her a collar and harness The collar is for her dog tags and the harness is to walk her in. The moment i put it on she sratched alittle and then she seen i had the leash and she went crazy. She loved her walk, first walk we went on since i have had her and she did pretty good. No laying down not wanting to move she just walked and tried getting the leafs.

I also just bought dog liter and a tray so now i am trying to train her to go in there and when i place her in it she shacks and whins. any help would be great, i am home all day so i have the time to train her. Also i personally don't think 7 hours in a kennel is long. since that dog is used to it by now, if he or she wasn't they would go in it. Bella isn't in a kennel she sleeps with us and our bed is pretty high so she can't jump down and she doesn't wake us up nothing she sleeps in one spot and thats it. I am a soft sleeper andy movement on the bed i wake up. Since i have a fat cat that weights 25 to 30 lbs so when he jumps on you it hurts LOL. Bella has the run of the house i close the bedroom doors so really she has the bathroom where her new liter box is (before newspaper) and the living room and kitchen. She has accidents. but i am pretty good at catching her before she has to go. But if any one can tell me what to do with this problem.

I ahve caught her eating her poo right after she has gone, any way to get her to stop. And i no pick it up right after and i do, but there is times when she goes and iam not to close to her and when i do come around she is eating it. YUCKY

any suggestion why they do this as well. i haven't changed her diet and she has lots of toys to play with. I heard they do that when they are bored. She gets lots of excersize, my girls chase her around.

So any help with this would be great

thanks

Angie

10-08-2005, 06:10 PM	#2
jenstals YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 397	Your baby is ADORABLE!!! For 8 weeks, you are doing great! I think that as long as you are with the puppy, I would leave it on as long as you can, eventually she will get used to it!!! __________________ Jen Deb and Maya

10-09-2005, 04:19 PM	#4
mustangbee Donating YT 9000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: California Posts: 9,814	8 weeks is young, it's going to take her time to get used to it. I do have a question. If she's only 8 weeks why is a harness so important? As they shouldn't go out for walks until all shots have be given. __________________ Friends are God's way of apologizing for our relatives. "Love & Support Our YT Members" Gina, Princess & Katie Bug Member of the SSLS

10-09-2005, 04:24 PM	#5
Bella0722 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 940	Yes, I would let her stay in the harness a little longer just at first, and take along her favorite toy, maybe a ball that you could throw and she could go fetch while you were outside. Your baby is adorable by the way. It sounds like you're doing great with training! __________________ ~Bella, General Patton, Lipstik, Darwin, Sizzle and Maria~

10-09-2005, 06:18 PM	#6
sbarker13 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10	It's for sociolization purposes so she can play with other dogs and puppys while I can superviser her on a leash and also for her obedience class. She'll need to be used to being on a harness and leash. She is able to start her classes at 10 weeks. I decided to try putting a collar on her and she seems to be more ok with wearing the collar than the leash, so maybe I'll just use a collar for now and wait a little longer and try the harness again later. __________________ Sondra Barker Essential Skincare www.essentialskincare.1hwy.com Essential Skincare Ebay Store

10-11-2005, 09:37 AM	#9
sbarker13 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10	Thanks=) Regardless of the harness problems we are extremely happy she was litter box trained so fast, let me know if you need any help=) The harness is used was a step in also, we put her in it for the majority of the day and she would barely move. We put the collar on all day and eventually she was fine with it. For now since we aren't doing any leash training I think the collar should be fine just to introduce her to the outdoors so she can play with other puppies and meet more humans. I am more concerned with helping her get sociolized since it's most importants around 8 weeks- 14 weeks. I'm hoping to give it another try with the harness in a couple weeks, maybe we she gets a little bigger she'll be ok with it. I've had 4 dogs but we rescued them all and never got one as an early puppy so I'm not really sure what to expect them to achieve at different ages. I think the fact that she is already litter trained, and knows the commands sit, come, place, and she just learned "go room"...so eventually I can say "go room" and she'll know to go to her room. Know that she is litter box trained we no longer keep her in her crate, we turned one of our storage rooms into her own little doggy room. Although at night we put her in our room in the crate, so she can still use the litter box at night. I have another questions, at what age do you think it will be ok to just let her sleep in her room? My boyfriend has slight allergies to her she we wont let her sleep in the bed, and right now we are enstilling the "alpha dog" so we make sure she sleeps in her bed. Thanks again for all the great advice I'm so happy I found this board!! Sondra & Goober __________________ Sondra Barker Essential Skincare www.essentialskincare.1hwy.com Essential Skincare Ebay Store

10-09-2005, 02:25 PM	#3
Jo-Jo YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 397	We got the step-in harness for each of our boys and they love them. At first Riley didn't like it at all but then I realized it was a little snug under his front legs so he would also lay down and refuse to walk. Now that I have it adjusted properly he loves to go for walks. Riley was 4 months old when we put his on for the first time but I don't know how he would have reacted to it if he were younger. Keep trying...your puppy should get used to it in time.

10-11-2005, 08:37 AM	#7
lil'dude_norman Yorkie Talk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4	I'm picking up my 6mo old yorkie today so I might not be the best source for advice but... I read in another thread that colars aren't the best for yorkies because their bones are so brittle. Even though your pup hates the harness now, I'm sure he'll get adjusted eventually! Since my dog is older, he's already used to it and walks (well, more like runs and pulls...) along great! Good luck! And, by the way, GREAT job on potty training so quickly! I hope we can do it that quickly!

10-11-2005, 09:14 AM	#8
Dudley's Mom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Ca Posts: 121	We got Dudley at 12 weeks. We put him in harness on day one to help hold onto him. He was very small and it made it easier to keep ahold of him. We left it on him all day and he got used to it very quickly. Now he gets upset when we take it off, he knows his walks are over for the day. We were told not to lead him with a collar because of the collapsing trachea problem that are common in small dogs.His halter is also a step in, as he gets really fiesty when the other had to be pulled on or off over his head. This step in one is lots easier on him. Hope this helps.

10-14-2005, 10:18 AM	#10
Bella'sMom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 56	Hello Well Bella is now 9 wks 4 days old and i just bought her a collar and harness The collar is for her dog tags and the harness is to walk her in. The moment i put it on she sratched alittle and then she seen i had the leash and she went crazy. She loved her walk, first walk we went on since i have had her and she did pretty good. No laying down not wanting to move she just walked and tried getting the leafs. I also just bought dog liter and a tray so now i am trying to train her to go in there and when i place her in it she shacks and whins. any help would be great, i am home all day so i have the time to train her. Also i personally don't think 7 hours in a kennel is long. since that dog is used to it by now, if he or she wasn't they would go in it. Bella isn't in a kennel she sleeps with us and our bed is pretty high so she can't jump down and she doesn't wake us up nothing she sleeps in one spot and thats it. I am a soft sleeper andy movement on the bed i wake up. Since i have a fat cat that weights 25 to 30 lbs so when he jumps on you it hurts LOL. Bella has the run of the house i close the bedroom doors so really she has the bathroom where her new liter box is (before newspaper) and the living room and kitchen. She has accidents. but i am pretty good at catching her before she has to go. But if any one can tell me what to do with this problem. I ahve caught her eating her poo right after she has gone, any way to get her to stop. And i no pick it up right after and i do, but there is times when she goes and iam not to close to her and when i do come around she is eating it. YUCKY any suggestion why they do this as well. i haven't changed her diet and she has lots of toys to play with. I heard they do that when they are bored. She gets lots of excersize, my girls chase her around. So any help with this would be great thanks Angie