Harness Eater!!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Chelsea'sMom · 08-08-2005, 03:44 PM

YIKES!!! Just bought our THIRD harness, seems that Chelsea HATES them. Its a struggle to get it on her, she has no idea that her "big girl" toofies might hurt our hands. I wish she would accept getting one on, and walking with one, I hate to continue to support Pets Mart! I spoke with a Pets Mart dog trainer yesterday, she has no ideas how or why this happens.

Chelsea is now 9 months, 11.5 lbs, a BIG girl. She still bites, I thought this would change when her perm teeth came in, but NOPE!

Any ideas on how to discourage this behavior?

Thanks in advance,
Chelsea'sMom

mortbike · 08-08-2005, 03:51 PM

milo has chewed through more than 6 in the last 6 months, he just likes to chew!!!, have you tried a harness/vest combo or a vest w/ d-loop???
we just bought a harness/vest combo that works for in car as well , got it petsmart , also look in the rabbit/ ferret aisle for harness w/d loop
cheers
michael

Chelsea'sMom · 08-08-2005, 04:15 PM

Thank you Michael, for your quick response. Good to know I am not the only one with a Yorkie harness eater! WOW...SIX????

Do tell, whats the difference in a canine harness and rabbit/ferret harness? I do have a vest harness, but she wont allow it be put on her, I refuse to walk her with a collar/leash combo.

I dont know if I am sending her mixed messages, I do spray the new (3rd) harness with bitter apple spray. Hope this works!

DO they EVER stop chewing????? HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!

Chelsea's Mom

milliecorrales · 08-08-2005, 04:52 PM

Take the harness and take a cheap stick clear antiperspirant and rub all over her/his harness. I guarantee, she/he will take one bite and that will be the end of that. Also you can use this on anything that you do not want the pup to chew, furniture, rugs, baseboards, etc. It works and will not hurt your yorkie. Saw this on Animal Planet on "You good dog, you" and have told many this and they all swear by it. Good luck

Chelsea'sMom · 08-08-2005, 08:27 PM

Thanks, I will certainly try this...will try anything! Off to smear the harness...

Chelsea'sMom

Shanatink · 08-08-2005, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelsea'sMom

YIKES!!! Just bought our THIRD harness, seems that Chelsea HATES them. Its a struggle to get it on her, she has no idea that her "big girl" toofies might hurt our hands. I wish she would accept getting one on, and walking with one, I hate to continue to support Pets Mart! I spoke with a Pets Mart dog trainer yesterday, she has no ideas how or why this happens.

Chelsea is now 9 months, 11.5 lbs, a BIG girl. She still bites, I thought this would change when her perm teeth came in, but NOPE!

Any ideas on how to discourage this behavior?

Thanks in advance,
Chelsea'sMom

Maybe if you soak it in 'bitter apple' she will stop. Or if she is like my min pin I used to have she might actually like the stuff

Chelsea'sMom · 08-09-2005, 09:16 AM

NOPE, Bitterapple doesnt work, not on the harness anyway. I have tried this, before posting and asking for help on this forum. It seems to dry, and she continues to bite and chew the harness.

I DID try the deodorant, but I guess it isnt "cheap" enough-HAHA. I did put the harness on her 2x times this AM, with less struggle, so off to the DOLLAR store to buy a REAL cheap one, should I show her the receipt <GRIN>? After the harness was in place, I did take her outdoors for a short walk, hoping she could recognizethe harness, leash, walk as a reward.

I dont think I can put her in any obedience classes, until she will accepts the harness, am I correct?

I am trying to place the harness on her several times a day, to see if I can break this behavior, and I keep reminding her I am alpha and she is beta, but I dont think she agrees.....YET!

Any other suggestions????

Chelsea'sMOM

BRPrincess · 08-09-2005, 01:25 PM

Mine does the same thing, we soak the harness in bitter apple and she hates it!! We will also give her one of her chew toys when we see her doing it. That is what ourt trainer calls "positive reinforcement". No yelling, but throwing in distractions!!

vainchick5 · 08-09-2005, 01:38 PM

There is hope. Coco used to bite me crazy just trying to get her harness on. A member here, Sylvan, explained to me, that I need to show her I'm boss and I know what I'm doing. So I began putting their harness on and off her, for like 30 minutes a day every 2 hours. When she would bite, I would quickly flip her on her back (the way their mothers do) and say NO! so that she knew, I was dominant. I only did that for two days and now she sees the harness, she just stands still and assists me by putting her leg through the hole. No more biting or squirming or chewing on it, even if its too tight. Before it was a struggle for me to loosen it if it was too tight. Now, no problem.

Chelsea'sMom · 08-10-2005, 09:48 AM

Glad this works for Coco! Didnt work for Chelsea, she is a biggie girl, 11.5 lbs, and didnt like being flipped on her back...she bites and has BIG toofies!

I didnt want to upset her more than she is, when she sees the harness, but I thank you for your suggestion.

SIGHHHHHHHHHHH...BIG SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Chelsea'sMom

vainchick5 · 08-10-2005, 09:53 AM

Aww I'm sorry. If it gives you any hope at all, Coco would bite when I flipped her too. It just took a few times before she realized she's not hurting me and I am boss (well she was hurting me, I just wouldn't move and I would look her straight in the eyes up close). Have you tried time outs, every time she bites or doesn't cooperate? Place her in a VERY confined area that's no fun. keep putting her there until she cooperates. I don't know if this will help but worth a shot.

08-08-2005, 03:44 PM	#1
Chelsea'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 209	Harness Eater!!! YIKES!!! Just bought our THIRD harness, seems that Chelsea HATES them. Its a struggle to get it on her, she has no idea that her "big girl" toofies might hurt our hands. I wish she would accept getting one on, and walking with one, I hate to continue to support Pets Mart! I spoke with a Pets Mart dog trainer yesterday, she has no ideas how or why this happens. Chelsea is now 9 months, 11.5 lbs, a BIG girl. She still bites, I thought this would change when her perm teeth came in, but NOPE! Any ideas on how to discourage this behavior? Thanks in advance, Chelsea'sMom

08-08-2005, 04:52 PM	#4
milliecorrales YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 516	Try this Take the harness and take a cheap stick clear antiperspirant and rub all over her/his harness. I guarantee, she/he will take one bite and that will be the end of that. Also you can use this on anything that you do not want the pup to chew, furniture, rugs, baseboards, etc. It works and will not hurt your yorkie. Saw this on Animal Planet on "You good dog, you" and have told many this and they all swear by it. Good luck

08-09-2005, 09:16 AM	#7
Chelsea'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 209	I am ALPHA...I am ALPHA...I AM ALPHA!!!! NOPE, Bitterapple doesnt work, not on the harness anyway. I have tried this, before posting and asking for help on this forum. It seems to dry, and she continues to bite and chew the harness. I DID try the deodorant, but I guess it isnt "cheap" enough-HAHA. I did put the harness on her 2x times this AM, with less struggle, so off to the DOLLAR store to buy a REAL cheap one, should I show her the receipt <GRIN>? After the harness was in place, I did take her outdoors for a short walk, hoping she could recognizethe harness, leash, walk as a reward. I dont think I can put her in any obedience classes, until she will accepts the harness, am I correct? I am trying to place the harness on her several times a day, to see if I can break this behavior, and I keep reminding her I am alpha and she is beta, but I dont think she agrees.....YET! Any other suggestions???? Chelsea'sMOM

08-09-2005, 01:38 PM	#9
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	There is hope. Coco used to bite me crazy just trying to get her harness on. A member here, Sylvan, explained to me, that I need to show her I'm boss and I know what I'm doing. So I began putting their harness on and off her, for like 30 minutes a day every 2 hours. When she would bite, I would quickly flip her on her back (the way their mothers do) and say NO! so that she knew, I was dominant. I only did that for two days and now she sees the harness, she just stands still and assists me by putting her leg through the hole. No more biting or squirming or chewing on it, even if its too tight. Before it was a struggle for me to loosen it if it was too tight. Now, no problem. __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco

08-10-2005, 09:48 AM	#10
Chelsea'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 209	No Success! Glad this works for Coco! Didnt work for Chelsea, she is a biggie girl, 11.5 lbs, and didnt like being flipped on her back...she bites and has BIG toofies! I didnt want to upset her more than she is, when she sees the harness, but I thank you for your suggestion. SIGHHHHHHHHHHH...BIG SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Chelsea'sMom

08-08-2005, 03:51 PM	#2
mortbike Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2005 Location: corona,ca./lake powell,az. Posts: 43	milo has chewed through more than 6 in the last 6 months, he just likes to chew!!!, have you tried a harness/vest combo or a vest w/ d-loop??? we just bought a harness/vest combo that works for in car as well , got it petsmart , also look in the rabbit/ ferret aisle for harness w/d loop cheers michael

08-08-2005, 04:15 PM	#3
Chelsea'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 209	Thank you Michael, for your quick response. Good to know I am not the only one with a Yorkie harness eater! WOW...SIX???? Do tell, whats the difference in a canine harness and rabbit/ferret harness? I do have a vest harness, but she wont allow it be put on her, I refuse to walk her with a collar/leash combo. I dont know if I am sending her mixed messages, I do spray the new (3rd) harness with bitter apple spray. Hope this works! DO they EVER stop chewing????? HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP! Chelsea's Mom

08-08-2005, 08:27 PM	#5
Chelsea'sMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 209	Thanks, I will certainly try this...will try anything! Off to smear the harness... Chelsea'sMom

08-09-2005, 01:25 PM	#8
BRPrincess Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Blowing Rock, NC Posts: 153	Mine does the same thing, we soak the harness in bitter apple and she hates it!! We will also give her one of her chew toys when we see her doing it. That is what ourt trainer calls "positive reinforcement". No yelling, but throwing in distractions!!

08-10-2005, 09:53 AM	#11
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	Aww I'm sorry. If it gives you any hope at all, Coco would bite when I flipped her too. It just took a few times before she realized she's not hurting me and I am boss (well she was hurting me, I just wouldn't move and I would look her straight in the eyes up close). Have you tried time outs, every time she bites or doesn't cooperate? Place her in a VERY confined area that's no fun. keep putting her there until she cooperates. I don't know if this will help but worth a shot. __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco