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deonk1 · 03-23-2011, 11:35 AM

So Harley is petrified of his harness. I don't get it. I have no idea what I did to get him like that, but he has made such a negative association with his harness that today I started at 9 to get him ready for his 11:00 vet appointment (20 min drive) I figured I'd take him for a walk cause it was nice and maybe do some training on the sidewalk by the vets if we got there early (cause we're in agility foundation classes).

I started by playing tug, then I gave him the harness on the floor. I gave him a treat and said "good" every time he walked near it. Then I touched it and lured him towards it, said "good" and got one attempted then he ran and hid. I tried letting him in the full apartment and played a few tug games and then tried a recall (the harness was not anywhere near me) and he wouldn't come near me, he ran and hid. by 10 I got frustrated, I sat down and wrote an e-mail to my trainer. I walked away and ignored him. he jumped on my lap and cuddled, but the second I got up he hid again. I ended up scooping him out of his crate and putting the harness on, so that we could go to the vet at 10:30.

Trainer suggested I video tape it, so she can see it, and suggested I buy a completely new harness. I know he really hates the act of pushing his head through it. So I think I'll try and find one that clips in the back. What do you all think?

03-23-2011, 11:35 AM	#1
deonk1 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 1,795	Training Rant, don't know what else to do. So Harley is petrified of his harness. I don't get it. I have no idea what I did to get him like that, but he has made such a negative association with his harness that today I started at 9 to get him ready for his 11:00 vet appointment (20 min drive) I figured I'd take him for a walk cause it was nice and maybe do some training on the sidewalk by the vets if we got there early (cause we're in agility foundation classes). I started by playing tug, then I gave him the harness on the floor. I gave him a treat and said "good" every time he walked near it. Then I touched it and lured him towards it, said "good" and got one attempted then he ran and hid. I tried letting him in the full apartment and played a few tug games and then tried a recall (the harness was not anywhere near me) and he wouldn't come near me, he ran and hid. by 10 I got frustrated, I sat down and wrote an e-mail to my trainer. I walked away and ignored him. he jumped on my lap and cuddled, but the second I got up he hid again. I ended up scooping him out of his crate and putting the harness on, so that we could go to the vet at 10:30. Trainer suggested I video tape it, so she can see it, and suggested I buy a completely new harness. I know he really hates the act of pushing his head through it. So I think I'll try and find one that clips in the back. What do you all think? __________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love!