[password123]

My little French bulldog is pulling my arms out of their sockets.
He is 2 and a total beefcake. We have obedience trained etc etc but the pulling continues - bulldogs are the most stubborn creatures to walk the earth.
Anyway... does anyone have advice as to a suitable harness that might help? I currently use a rogz harness. In the past I have used /recommended "gentle leaders" with pullers, but with a frenchie there's kinda no nose to hook it on, so I'm sort of stumped! (No pun intended).

[MissingInAction]

The choker chain makes walking my kelpie puppy bearable... just.

There is a huge difference when he's wearing the choker to when he's not.

[JRA]

I would never use a choker in today's day and age

We use/used a halti. It is brilliant

[Flibbertigibbert...]

I am a harness convert, I have an Amercian Bulldog and he is great to walk so that wasn't the issue. But gets a little boisterous around other dogs and due to breathing issues I have learnt that throat type devices like collars and choker chains are not good for them I bought a harness and I was really surprised at how easy it is to manoeuvre a 50kg dog in the direction you want him to go. I am going to get one for DH's dobie this week, she is a PITA to walk so I will let you know how she goes.

[FiveAus]

Try a front attaching harness. I use one on one of my Aussies as she's a puller. It works, I snap the lead when she surges ahead and it pulls her slightly off balance, so she stops pulling. It takes the muscle out of their pulling, it's not so hard on your arms.
Or try a limited slip collar (martingale) and pull it high up around his throat, then hold the leash taught so it doesn't slip back down his neck. This is really uncomfortable for him and he won't pull, but it's difficult to keep up for long.

[Lou-*]

I second the front attaching harness. Seen them work fantastically.

And the other thing I would say is if you can, persist with training. My pup was a terrible puller, and it took months of frustrating training (where it felt like I was getting nowhere) and then one day it just clicked and now she walks on a loose leash beautifully. I carry treats in my pocket to get past irresistible distractions without pulling, but rarely need them. So worth the effort in the end.

[*Spikey*]

There are head collars designed for Bulldogs. I think the Infin8 series is likely to work. Take your dog along to a decent pet store, and try a few on for size.

A martingale is an alternative to a check chain (they are not choker chains people).

I don't love harnesses, especially on dogs with low centres of gravity and a lot of strength across the chest - that would be a bulldog. Basically, because if it comes to a pulling competition, they will win every time.

[password123]

Thanks for tne responses. I'll head out today and look into some of the suggestions. The harness we use attaches across the shoulder blades, and to be honest I mostly feel like I'm helping him build muscle!

This post has been edited by Mrs_Snorks: 11/02/2013, 07:44 AM

[FiveAus]

There are head collars designed for Bulldogs. I think the Infin8 series is likely to work. Take your dog along to a decent pet store, and try a few on for size.

A martingale is an alternative to a check chain (they are not choker chains people).

I don't love harnesses, especially on dogs with low centres of gravity and a lot of strength across the chest - that would be a bulldog. Basically, because if it comes to a pulling competition, they will win every time.

Have you had any experience with a front attaching harness though? They are a whole different item to a traditional harness and work beautifully to stop pulling, whereas a traditional rear attaching harness encourages them to pull into it.
My first Aussie was a world champion puller, I tried everything including months and months of consistent reward based training. Only two things worked (that he didn't absolutely hate). One was a front attaching harness, the other was a Sporn harness which had straps that tightened under his front legs when he surged forward. It worked but if he could ignore those straps being tightened, he would still pull.
He absolutely hated head halters and many a time I had to drag him off the middle of the road when he decided it was the best place to stop and paw at his nose. In the end, it was too cruel to continue with one because he'd scrape his nose raw on the road trying to get it off.

[password123]

I will get a front attaching one first to try I think because he hates having his face fiddled with so I suspect he will spend most of his time pawing at his face.