I don't know if the dog necessarily thinks it's the boss of you if it's walking in front. It knows you're not a dog. However, you will have much better control if your dog walks by your side. Also, people are usually warned to watch out for dogs walking in front, because it indicates their owners don't have control. So I guess maybe it depends on what impression you want to give. Do you want to look cool and in control, or do you want people to leave you alone with your scary, loose canon dog? ;)

Just so you know, I tried the whole running around in circles and every which way tonight. About ten mins with each baby... and by the end, they were either walking beside or behind me hahaha I think they thought I was crazy. haha I will see how well they walk together tomorrow (on a coupler) and if I need to have "crazy lessons" I will continue it til I see greatness! ;)

Thanks, it looks like this will be JUST want my babies need! Lets hope when they get together, they do it right! :D

Good for you! Now, WHERE were you during your crazy walk?

Keep us updated on how it goes!!!

If anyone has ever had a well trained dog who walks properly (next to you with manners) on a loose leash & keeps watching you for your next move, this pulling is just totally unacceptable even for little dogs. It's driving me up the wall. Roxy does pretty good until she sees people and/or dogs. She gets sooo excited she just can't wait to get to them. I'm talking, 'hook me to a horse wagon kind of pulling'. :D She LUVs everyone. Her excitement level is so intense there is no getting her focused on me or anything else. So keep working at it even if it's doing crazy walks & looking foolish. Roxy & I will get there, but it's going to take a little more time with her excitement level. I'm getting a new harness too.

You need this leash!! No more pulling it works with our larger dog too and has amazing reviews on the website it's literally amazing Teddy does not pull and more and even if he does you can't feel it because of the bungee I can't tell you how awesome it is.

EZYDOG - EZYDOG CUJO LEASH 40" RED

OMG!! Ok, have to take out my frustrations with this here so Wookie doesn't sense it!! LOL I tried the Easy Walk harness in size Small, was too big. Took it back and tried the Petite size, too small. Saw on the package there was a Petite/Small size for in between dogs, but no one carries it. Finally found a place online that had it (for $22!) so ordered it. It came yesterday, so we tried it out last night. Still freakin came off!! I thought I had it tight enough around his mid section, but I guess I didn't. I spent some time on the phone with the company that makes them last night! (Oh yes I was ready to give them a piece of my mind!) And they lady was very nice and told me it really sounds like it is not tight enough on the anchor straps (the back strap and the belly strap). She said to make it so that you can barely get one finger under it. She said a lot of people make the mistake of not getting it tight enough cause they think it should be like a collar, but it has to be very snug. She also sent me to a website that shows proper fitting. So, we are gonna give it another go tonight.....if it doesn't work we are going to become couch potatoes!!!!!:animal-pa

A question about these different types of harnesses:

I have Thor in the standard Puppia harness, but the opening is a little too small for his head, and he doesn't like putting it on or taking it off. I do like it because it pulls across the entire chest, rather than around the neck and chest.

I have not used any type of nylon strap harness because I thought the straps might irritate his skin, and cause matting.

I do prefer the snaps to velcro, just because I feel like the velcro might not hold.

I even got the next generation Puppia harness which has an adjustable neck hole but it was way too big for Thor, even tightened all the way.

I would prefer to get Thor a nylon strap harness if I weren't worried about abrasions, because this type of harness definitely encourages pulling.

Thoughts? Opinions? Recommendations on another harness?

Louie is laying with his little head on my leg looking up at me....he KNOWS I am reading about leash training. He can walk an entire hour on his back legs: people think it is cute but I don't want a circus dog. Last night I got on my bicycle and rode around with him beside me on the leash. I could hardly keep up with him and it was the cutest thing. A little scary at first but he loved it. I am reading Cesar's books and learning so much and get so excited to try things and then Louie does his own thing and I get frustrated. Calm is something I need to work on ... maybe I should sleep with the book under my pillow.

I had the same problems with the easy walk harness.
One to big, the other to small!

The starting point is getting a harness that fits correctly
You're never going to be able to train a puppy that keeps slipping out of its harness

But the trick to leash and walking training is stance
You have to project yourself as the leader and where you go and how fast you go will be determined by you
Cesar Milan is great at this
Take in a few of his episodes you'll see how it's done

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really need them.

I didn't read all the replies, but I have the same problem with the EZ Walk harness, but I think it's cause I can't get it adjusted right on Chip.

Have you tried a gentle leader? I have one for Smokey who is a BIG time puller and it works wonders. They don't like it, but it helps a lot. I know some people get concerned about the collar part, but the hook is actually underneath the nose - the collar won't hurt them because there is no pressure on the neck. When they pull, it pulls their head down towards the ground (because the hook is under the nose) and they stop... at least for awhile. When he comes back by your side, then you can reward him for walking nicely.

I recently attended a dog expo and saw this leash called a whacky walker. I was skeptical. My dog is 6 years old and has always pulled on her leash. Well the guy convinced me to buy this leash, it's sort of like a rubber bungie cored. Every time they pull, it gives them a little correction. It has been great for us. Not sure why it works, but for us it was a miracle. Wackywalker.com

I just had to say thanks for posting this! I am adding these to my site based on the recommendation of someone else. Don't have them in stock yet but they are on the way and I can't wait to try them on my Zoe! I'm so glad to see someone else recommending them! I talked to a rep there at Wacky Walkr and he asssures me that it really does work!

Wow, cool, I'll have to check this out!

What's the different between the "urban" and the "Wacky walker"? It says they're two different sizes, I think. Should I just get the regular? Jackson is bigger at 13 pounds so I don't want a tiny tiny leash.