We have a 35 pound terrier mix rescue who tends to pull on walks. We've done quite a bit of training and she is an obedient dog overall, but her common sense can be overpowered by her nose and her prey drive! She needs constant reminders not to rush on walks, and the stop-and-go game has really grown old. And heaven forbid a squirrel cross our path! She had neck trauma before she was rescued, so correction collars aren't a good pick for her. We've tried a couple of different no-pull harnesses. One (Chai's Choice) did nothing at all and actually made the pulling worse. The other (Freedom) worked better but constantly needed adjustment for a good fit. We were drawn to the Weiss Walkie because of the simplicity of it. It is a basic lead that can be quickly transformed into a pull deterrent. We've taken a few walks with it so far. Here's what we like: -Easy to put on and take off. Nothing to measure or adjust! It would be easily usable on different dogs, if desired. -It works! Pulling decreased significantly, almost immediately. -Doesn't seem to distress the dog. She sort of hunkered down and seemed worried the first time it squeezed, but within 2-3 minutes her tail was up and she had a doggy grin on her silly face. When it tightened, she would pause and look at me like, "C'mon already!", then move forward cheerfully as soon as it loosened. She seems happy and well balanced after walks, too. -At no time does the leash seem to get tight enough to effect movement of the legs/shoulders, compromise breathing, or cause pain. I worried that it could over-tighten if she got overly excited, but it really doesn't seem to. A few minor quibbles: -The hardware on the large size - recommended for dogs over 25 pounds - is pretty heavy and clunky. Wish they had a medium size. -I worry about rope burns on our short-haired dog from the slick, synthetic rope. We haven't seen any yet, but I would be hesitant to use the leash for long walks or on uneven terrain. Wonder if they'll make a fleece cover? -When she shakes, which she does every time her feet get wet (silly dog!), the hardware shifts to her side and has to be readjusted. -It seems harder to "steer" with this leash on. We seem to bump into one another more often, and correcting her when *she* stops and needs to move on is tricky. You don't want a pull correction on a stopped dog, so I end up "herding" her with my body or reaching for her collar. A few tips for users: -Don't try to transport your dog in the car with the leash wrapped around them. It will slip and slide. Just clip it on like a regular leash and wrap it when you get ready to walk. -Don't pull or flick the leash to correct the dog. This device is self-correcting. Just keep walking at normal pace, with your hand relaxed. If needed, slow your pace or stop. The leash will do the rest. -If you don't want to forever have to use a no-pull leash, add a correction word, like "with me!" or "easy" when the leash begins to tighten. Praise when the dog self corrects and slows her pace. In time, the dog should begin to comprehend what you want when you use the correction word. All in all, it is a fantastic, common sense product for dogs and their owners!
