Thanks YT
 

I don't post too often, but I am on YT at least once a day reading many posts. I have read often that if your yorkie gets away from you, not to chase him, but to get them to run and follow you. That information probably saved Murphy's life today.
Murphy was on his leash outside an indoor dog park that I take him to every Saturday. Well, somehow Murphy's harness came off over his head and he was free!
Thankfully a few people were outside and they tried to call him over. He ran past them and started to go down the road. He was headed for a 4 lane highway! I remember the advise and called his name. He stopped and I ran in the opposite direction. He started to follow me! After a few more minutes someone caught him when he followed me into the dog park. Murphy is fine, but I still haven't recovered.
Murphy has been wearing this harness for 2 weeks. (He chewed through a regular harness.) I can't believe he was able to get out of it. There is Velcro and a clasp by the neck and around the waist. Any suggestions on a harness that is escape proof and he cannot grab the straps and chew?

Great work!! That saved my previous Yorkie Roxie as she took off down the middle of the street once. I'm soooooo happy it worked so well for you too.

I haven't had any trouble with Coby's harness, so hopefully someone will have some specific advice for you. Because you will want to make sure it doesn't happen again.

But I'm so proud of you for not falling into a panic. You saved Murphy's life today. :thumbup:

I have found the PUPPIA harness to be really good. Just slip in on his head and close the clasp under the chest.

they come in many colors.

Thank goodness you were able to get him to come back to you, especially avoiding 309!:eek: Have you tried something like this yet?
http://www.sassypup.net/Dog-Harness-...K-p-16671.html

Do you leave his harness on when you are not home? Chip chewed through a regular nylon one, I tried the gentle harness which works great for Harley but not too well for Chip. Now I have a Puppia Harness, I only put it on him when we are about to go out for a walk. I like the Puppia because of its soft construction, the nylon on the gentle harness irritated the skin under his armpits.

So glad that all is well! Good you DID what you read on here!!!
Did the velcro come undone?? Or did he chew through it??

I am looking at getting a good harness when Banjo is all finished growing- already had 2!
I have seen many with velcro- but I do not think velcro would hold him alone???
I am a little confused on the harness w/ velcro??:confused: :confused:

Hi. we use the gentle leader easy walk harness with the d ring in the front, not very attractive but very assuring.

Oh my goodness! I'm so glad you managed to catch him!

My Mum's Jack Russell always manages to get out of her harness, no matter what. We've taken to putting on a harness on her and also a choker chain. I know it sounds harsh, I hate the name of it, but there is method in my madness.

I clip the lead through both the loop of the harness and the choker chain. There's a lot of give to the chain so it's not at all tight. BUT, if she manages to slip her harness over her head, the choker chain is tightened and it won't slip off her head. As you've got hold of the lead, she won't be "choked" by the chain for very long at all. You'll react quickly, the dog won't be able to escape and you can pick him/her up very quickly.

Although a yorkie's neck is very fragile, it really won't be put under very much pressure for very long at all. It's more of a precaution. Better this than the poor little doggy running off and getting themselves in some big trouble!

You could also do this with a collar, but the choker chain works better I've found as there's a dangly bit that you can attach to the lead as well as the harness bit. There's more give with it, too.

Thanks for your kind words!

Amy,
It was 309 Murphy was headed for!! Every Saturday there is a rescue group at Dogtown. They helped me catch him. I was so grateful.
I only put his harness on when we are going out. He does wear it all day when I take him one day of week for daycare. Murphy does wear a quick release collar all the time, but he didn't have it on yesterday. I have to cut and sew a cat's collar to fit him. I made his new one too big and he manages to get it in his mouth. That is getting fixed today.
I think I will try a Puppia harness. I read many favorable posts last night while searching for a new harness. Do any pet stores around here sell them?
I really need to try it on him. He between the 7-8 lb. mark.

We tried the Gentle leader, but it slipped right off. We couldn't make it fit. What did we do wrong? We use a Lupine both color and harness. They are guaranteed. If anything happens to them, they will be replaced.

I am so glad you remembered what to do and that he's okay. Thanks for the reminder. :)

Thank goodness he is safe. I know how scary this is. Nolee got out of our fenced yard and was headed to the busy street behind us! Of course he wanted to place chase and not come. I was a nervous wreck, until he finally retreated to the house. It was terrible. I will try having him chase me instead. Hopefully no time soon!!! Great advice. :thumbup: Thanks!:animal36

Murphy did not chew through this harness, He only had it on for 15 minutes. We just got out of the car. I think that I did not have the velco around his waist hooked all the way. After we got home I tried different ways to see how it would come off. That was the only way it was able to get over his head.

Thank you!

Murphy did the same thing a few days before Christmas. He was able to squeezed through the fence and the gate. My neighbor fixed the problem for me. They are soooo fast and smart.

Oh I was afraid to read this post at first.:( But I am so glad that your Murphy is safe and sound and I bet you were beside yourself. Thank you for the reminder on calling their name and having them run after you because your instincts want to go after them and they think it's a game. :eek:

Again - so glad that Murphy is OK.;)

Did you get the extra small, and adjust it to the smallest setting? I would call the manufacturer and give them the pups weight and dimensions and they should be able to tell you what size and what to do.

I called around. Pabby's sell Puppia. We're on our way to get one. I'll let you know how we make out.

I was going to say that Pabby's carries them, I'm actually going to leave for Pabby's in a bit for some food.

No luck! The extra small would not fit over his head. On the small the neck was too big. When I pulled the harness came off. I tried other harnesses even stopping at Cutter Mills. They all came off. No one has a wide selection of harnesses.

I am reading up on the puppia vest again. Do you think the chest straps were not tight enough? The sales person was trying to be very helpful, but I felt like I couldn't try to adjust it myself to make it fit. I really wanted to be left alone, but can't complain since most stores nobody will help you.
Do you think a step-in puppia would be better? I just worry because it has velcro. Any suggestions.

Hi, we also use the puppia harness and love it. I use the size small on my 6lb yorkie. The neck is a bit big, but I adjust it around the chest and it won't come off.
Thank God you remembered what you had read... Way to go!!

I use the Puppia harness. Diddy is 9-10 lbs and a size small fits him good. It's the only thing I can use because he is a major puller!

I am glad your baby is ok! You must have been terrified!

Wow, I'll bet you were scared out of your mind, and you had to go against your instincts and run the other way. GOOD JOB!! At a certain age, from about 3 months up until they are fixed they will try to run for something. Car accidents are the number 1 cause of death in male dogs. I would never use Velcro for any harness. I love the Buddy Belt Harness, no way he could chew it off. http://www.metropawlispetboutique.com/1846.html# You can find better prices. Thanks for the great reminder.

I am also looking at the Buddy Belt. How safe is it? Will it come off if he pulls? Murphy is not a big puller when we go for a walk. He was pulling because he was excited to go into the dog park and not do his business. I need to find something that is very safe. Thanks for your help.

Sorry I missed you at the store. I could have used a second opinion. :)

They are really friendly at Pabby's, when I was there earlier one of the gals was helping another dog adjust a Puppia harness. I guess alot of people come in not knowing how to fit a harness correctly :confused:

How about a step-in harness from Cindy (Chattiesmom)? She makes them to the measurements of each dog.

It had to be the scariest thing! So glad you were a quick thinker and had read this about not chasing him. My daughter recently moved & her dog ran out when she opened the front door. Before she lived in a loft type apt which had security entrance and hallway before her place so it wasn't as scary. The last time it happened, she chased him, called him, treat?, wanno go bye bye?, everything. Her girlfriend was trying to help her catch him. After exhaustion & failed attempts, she finally went back inside her townhouse, crying, and said to her friend, "I'm never going to see Cole again". The door was open & in a few mins......Cole enters!:D She didn't even realize @the time. He had followed HER when she was out of sight!!:D Thank you for sharing this. It's so true & so scary when we have to make a split min decision. I wish you the best with trying to find the best possible harness for Murphy.

I use the step in's from Cindy (Chattiesmom) and they are SUPER! My Tootie is a major puller....she even made his with super stitching so he couldnt get out of it... these never give, and he is quite secure. I also love them for Hope because they do not tangle in her hair and she always seems comfortable(not to mention how cute they are)....
tks
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