kandy
March 26th, 2010, 09:44 AM
I will soon be inheriting my sons dogs (long story). His SharPei, Lexi, has always had a severe aversion to wearing a collar or harness and he's never pushed that issue. The few times they've tried to get her used to a harness, her behavior changed so radically that they would take it back off her within just a few days. She becomes very nervous and jittery and refuses any kind of attention - she won't let you touch her at all, she runs away. She's been like this since he got her as a pup. He was her third home and she was only about 9 weeks old - we think she was abused in her previous home but she's been with my son for almost 5 years.
I need to get her used to wearing a harness, and letting me put it on her. Right now if you come near her with anything other than food in your hand, she runs and no amount of coaxing will make her come. It doesn't matter what is in your hand, a collar; a brush; whatever.......even if you lay the item down next to you, she won't come near you if she can still see it or suspects that you still have it. She is chipped but I need to be able to walk her. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to work walking 4 dogs but that's a whole other thing. The first problem I need to overcome is getting a harness on her. I know a collar won't work for her because her neck is so thick, it would slide right off her head if she pulled. I won't keep the harness on her all the time, primarily just for walks - I know if I leave it on her, Hazel will use it as a convenient handle to grab hold of her when they are playing. She does that to Malone if I leave his harness on him.
Any ideas on how to get her past this?
I need to get her used to wearing a harness, and letting me put it on her. Right now if you come near her with anything other than food in your hand, she runs and no amount of coaxing will make her come. It doesn't matter what is in your hand, a collar; a brush; whatever.......even if you lay the item down next to you, she won't come near you if she can still see it or suspects that you still have it. She is chipped but I need to be able to walk her. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to work walking 4 dogs but that's a whole other thing. The first problem I need to overcome is getting a harness on her. I know a collar won't work for her because her neck is so thick, it would slide right off her head if she pulled. I won't keep the harness on her all the time, primarily just for walks - I know if I leave it on her, Hazel will use it as a convenient handle to grab hold of her when they are playing. She does that to Malone if I leave his harness on him.
Any ideas on how to get her past this?