dog harnesses

Question
I have a 3 year old retired leader dog for the blind. he was retired due to a soft trachea. when he leads it puts pressure on the trachea and it causes coughs, choking and a hoarse sound. I have several harnesses now, but none of them really seems to eliminate this issue. Are you familiar with this and can you recommend a harness?

Answer
Dear terry,
Thanks for the question. The simple answer is teach him to walk without pulling. In the meantime, you'll need a better tool than a regular harness.

Buy a Gentle Leader Head Collar or a Gentle Leader Easy-Walk Harness or a Weiss Walkie.

You can find the Gentle Leader products at http://www.sitstay.com and you can find the Weiss Walkie at http://www.emilyweiss.com

Keep in mind these are short-term tools you can use to kindly re-teach the dog how to walk without pulling. Contact a trainer in your area that can help you teach the dog. Visit http://www.apdt.com OR http:///www.synalia.com and search for a trainer near you.

Happy Training!
AT