[ad_1]
If you own a Dachshund, chances are you’ve experienced this at least once:
- You walk your Dachshund and suddenly he stops dead and refuses to continue
- You pull gently, then perhaps more firmly, on the leash to encourage them to continue
- Your Dachshund resists this pressure and pulls back on the harness
- Your dachshund pulls and wiggles until he gets out of his harness
It’s frustrating at best and scary at worst (your dachshund could run into traffic or run away. Ouch!)
I have owned dachshunds for almost 20 years and have seen many dachshunds in our club come out of their harnesses.
In this article, I’ll explain why it can happen and tell you what you can do to stop it.
Why is my dog getting out of his harness?
Dog harnesses are designed so that a dog can walk alongside or in front of the owner without leash pressure (if your dog is walking on a loose leash) or back pressure from the dog (if your dog is in front of you and on the pulling).
If you are in a situation where you are in front of your dachshund and your dog pulls, the pressure becomes opposite to what is intended – forward pressure.
When this happens, it can become easy for your Dachshund to back out of their harness.
Some reasons why your Dachshund may pull backwards on leashes and harnesses are:
- Your Dachshund does not like to be kept on a leash
- Harness is uncomfortable or feels weird for your dog
- Your dachshund is nervous or fearful and feels uncomfortable continuing to walk
- Your dachshund is tired and signals that he wants to stop and go home
The solution to preventing your Dachshund from recoiling from a harness is to train more, find a different harness, or both.
Why not just use a collar instead of a harness?
You might be wondering why you shouldn’t just use a collar for your Dachshund instead of a harness?
Well, first of all, using a collar won’t automatically prevent your dachshund from escaping the leash.
A well-fitting collar should be loose enough for a dog to get out of it if it gets caught in something (you should be able to slip two fingers under the collar).
This extra space can allow your dachshund to slip out of the collar, especially if he pulls hard.
Second, a harness is safer for a Dahchsund.
In summary:
- A collar puts pressure on your dog’s throat if he pulls, increasing the risk of collapsing the trachea or other neck injuries.
- A harness distributes the pressure more evenly across a dog’s chest so that all the pressure is not concentrated in one place
- Pressure on the neck can injure the spine (and dachshunds are already prone to spinal problems)
For more information, please read my article explaining why a harness is safer than a collar for a dachshund.
In addition to the above, switching to a collar won’t necessarily be more comfortable for your Dachshund and won’t solve any underlying behavioral or fear issues.
How to choose an anti-escape harness for your dachshund
There are several things to look for and watch out for when choosing an anti-escape harness for your dachshund.
What to look for:
- High quality materials – so that the straps do not break with the pressure and the buckles do not break
- Secure straps – more than one back strap or wider straps
- A good fit – ideally snug but not too tight
What to avoid:
- Harness with a wide “chest plate” or strap between the legs – it may be too wide and cause chafing or cuts on the inside of your Dahchsund’s legs
- No-pull harnesses – these are intended for a dog to stop pulling in a forward motion and may slip if a dog pulls backwards
Owner Recommended Leak Proof Dachshund Harness
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon Associate or other programs in which we participate). As an affiliate, I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
While I can’t guarantee these harnesses will work equally well for all Dahchsunds all the time, these are harnesses that I know will be very difficult for your dog to pull off.
I know this because I have tried them and/or people with escape dachshunds have recommended them to me.
Ruffwear Flagline Harness
The Ruffwear Flagline Harness has an extra back strap that most dog harnesses don’t have.
This extra strap fits my dachshunds on the part of the rib cage where it starts to get smaller.
This means that the strap is smaller than the widest part of the ribcage, so if a Dahchsund pulls backwards, they literally won’t be able to slip their ribcage through this loop.
Shop the Ruffwear Flagline Harness HERE.
One important note though!
You will notice that my dachshunds are fit and their body shape resembles that of a deep chested dog – the abdomen tapers back behind the rib cage.
If your Dachshund is thicker and more tube-like, it’s likely that the back strap will be closer to the diameter of the maximum rib cage circumference.
This might make it easier for your Dahchsund to get out of the harness but in my opinion is still unlikely.
Two chest straps will always be safer than one.
Hug-a-Dog Harness by Dachshund Delights
The Dachshund Delights Hug-a-Dog Vest Harness is called a vest style harness.
With these harnesses, the shoulder straps are wider than a traditional harness.
This wider strap on the neck distributes and exerts pressure more evenly.
The wider back panel and chest strap make it harder for a dachshund to back off.
How to Stop Your Dachshund from Recoiling from a Harness
Using a more secure, better-fitting harness can physically help prevent your Dachshund from backing out of their harness, but it won’t solve the underlying problem (unless the only problem is that your Dachshund has found their harness previous uncomfortable)
This will require investigation – actual observation and consultation with a dog trainer if necessary to find out what causes your Dahchsund to do this – and training.
As stated above, there are several reasons why your dog may try to pull out of his harness.
One of the reasons is that your Dahchsund doesn’t like to be leashed.
Maybe they’re a rescue and haven’t been leashed before.
Maybe your dachshund is a puppy and isn’t used to the feeling of being tethered to something (you) with a leash.
Either way, you may need to start from scratch and teach your dachshund to walk comfortably in a harness and on a leash.
Your dachshund may stop walking and pull back on the leash because he’s nervous or fearful.
Your dachshund may hate or not know how to walk on a leash.
Instead, the cause of your dog’s resistance may be that he’s unsure of his surroundings and afraid of what’s around the corner.
If you think this is the case, you may need to work on socialization (it’s more than just exposure to other dogs and other people) and boost your dog’s confidence.
If your Dachshund is overweight, not used to regular exercise, or is a young puppy who is being asked to walk too far too soon, your Dachshund may stop and try to slip out of his harness to communicate that he is tired and wants to go home.
While it may not be remedied by obedience training or building their confidence, a “training” program to improve your dog’s physical condition can help (in other words, start with slower, easier walks and build on them).
What to do if your dachshund slips out of its harness
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your Dachshund can slip out of his harness.
That second when you realize your dachshund is no longer attached to you and may be running off to get lost or run over by a car is scary.
So what can you do?
If your dachshund is an escape artist, you’ll want to make sure your dachshund’s ID is up to date before you even leave the house.
Consider attaching this ID to a collar (but not the leash) instead of the harness so your dog still wears it even if they pull out of the harness.
This way, if your dachshund runs away, the person who finds your dog can contact you.
Second – although it may be a challenge – don’t panic.
Don’t try to chase or catch your dachshund quickly. This can frighten them and scare them away.
Instead, try to outrun them. Chances are your dachshund’s natural prey drive will kick in and he’ll follow you, thinking it’s a fun game.
You can crouch them down, let your dog run into your arms, and praise them in a cheerful voice.
Carrying treats to bribe your Dachshund can also help bring them close enough for them to grab.
If the worst happens and your dachshund goes missing, follow these tips to help bring your lost dog home.
Final Thoughts on Dog Harness Escapees
It can be scary and dangerous if your dachshund gets out of its harness.
The quickest solution to prevent this from happening is to buy your dog a safer harness.
But don’t stop there.
If your Dachshund keeps trying to escape from the harness, find out why.
This may be due to fear or simply because your dog has never been properly trained to walk on a leash.
If you can’t get your dachshund to stop walking and back away, consider consulting a dog trainer or animal behaviorist who can help you find the root of the problem and suggest solutions.
[ad_2]
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.