Sadie goes for a walk with a harness designed to prevent pulling.
Sadie goes for a walk with a harness designed to prevent pulling. (Courtesy photo)

For many dog guardians, walking their pet companions presents a challenging endeavor as their pets forge down the trail or along a sidewalk, dragging their well-loved guardian behind them. With the vast array of training collars on the market, many guardians opt for traditional training options that have been available for decades such as the choke or prong collar. These traditional options do not provide the no-pull control hoped for by guardians, their pets continue to pull, choke and cough their way toward their adventure.

Fortunately, thanks to new no-pull harnesses such as the Sensation Harness and the Easy Walk Harness, gone are the days of being dragged down the sidewalk by your dog. With a simple fitting, you and your dog can be out the door and enjoying the summer sunshine on a more controlled and safer walk.

The aspect to appreciate about the Sensation Harness or the Easy Walk Harness is that they are specifically designed to reduce pulling. Because it is a harness, it fits around the dog's body. There are adjustments on all three straps so it can be tailored to individual bodies. The special design of the harness requires that the leash clips to a metal ring located at the front of the harness, on the strap that goes across the dog's chest.

The downfall of the standard back clip harness is that it will contribute to increased pulling. The dog presses against the harness, feels resistance, and its natural instinct to resist force encourages applying further physical pressure -- often resulting in a great sled dog.


A Sensation Harness or an Easy Walk Harness significantly reduces the pressure a dog feels when he pulls, so there is simply less pulling. This is more enjoyable for the person holding onto the leash, but also for the dog. Removing that pressure means the animal is much more physically comfortable. Because there is no discomfort, stress or pain, walks are much more mentally enjoyable, as well.

Often problematic and dangerous behavior can develop or be exacerbated when improper and inhumane tools such as choke, prong or shock collars are used. While these tools are touted as "no-pull," often their use is ineffective and damaging. If a naturally social dog experiences pain caused by a prong collar every time he or she shows interest in approaching another person or dog it doesn't take much repetition for the dog to associate them dog with pain, therefore possibly installing worry and dislike for new people or dogs.

Because the prong collar doesn't reduce pulling effectively, physical damage to the dog's throat region can also occur. The Sensation Harness and Easy Walk Harness are free of unpleasant and damaging side effects. It still prevents you, the dog walker, from being pulled all over the place, but it does so without harm.

In an effort to serve community members and their dogs, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is currently offering a special program called the No Choke Challenge. This provides dog guardians the opportunity to exchange their choke, prong or shock collar for a free Sensation Harness. Humane Society of Boulder Valley staff members will be present at selected community events this summer promoting the Sensation Harness. Guardians are also encouraged to come into the shelter's retail store to exchange their choke, prong or shock collar for a new Sensation Harness.

The staff at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is uniquely qualified to help find the best walking and training equipment for you and your dog. Our expert staff can help fit a Sensation Harness or provide support regarding behavior you see on your walk. Help can also be found in our specialty training classes, which focus on walking nicely on a leash, as well as gaining attention and focus when outside.

Walking your dog should be an enjoyable activity. It's a great way to spend time together, get exercise and enjoy the beautiful outdoors in which we live. Dogs love walks because they provide an energy outlet, mental enrichment and access to all kinds of great smells. If your dog pulls on walks, perhaps a change is in collar or harness is in order.

Shelly Brouwer is supervisor of training and behavior at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, located at 2323 55th Street in Boulder. For more information, visit