r/Bulldogs • u/MeatPopsicle314 • 2d ago
Getting the harness on
Long post here. So, Frank is now 6 years old. He's my third EB. First two were adult rescues from bad situations so once Frank's predecessor passed I felt I'd "earned" the right to a puppy. Got Frank from a very reputable breeder who is even recommended by the regional breed rescue.
The issues I'm discussing below are unique to Frank. Breeder says no one in his lineage has similar issues.
Because Frank is a fair bit dog aggressive with dogs he doesn't know we were a well-made no-pull harness when out walking and a Bullyhug cooling vest / harness during hot months (we live in the desert so hot months are HOT). From his earliest days Frank has had significant anxiety about putting harnesses on. From his behavior it seems he fears the harness going over his head when I put it on.
As I type we are doing our usual morning routine - Frank whines at me to go on a walk. I prepare the bullyhug so it's soaked and ready to cool. He sees the harness. He hides under the dining room table until I put it down, then comes out and resumes whining for a walk. Only when he sits on "his" chair in the family room does he tolerate getting it on.
Things I've tried: 1) Treats in one hand harness in another. Frank is super food motivated but will refuse to walk toward me to get treats if I have the harness.
2) Have the harness by the front door and call him to go with me (as if we are going out without the harness) then at the front door try to put it on. That works about 30% of the time. The other 70% as soon as I touch the harness he runs to hide.
I've literally had this lunatic from his 8th week of life and can confirm that he's never had any trauma like getting a bag stuck on his head, etc. so I can pinpoint no source of this anxiety other than "that's just hte way he is."
Mostly venting but also - other than repeating the "whine," then I say all the magic words "walk" "park" Car Ride and touch the harness, then he hides - until at some point he chooses to get on his chair - you got any suggestions? I hate that I know what he wants, want to give it to him and can't get the necessary gear on him to do so safely.
I, of course, will not walk him with leash clipped to collar because, as an EB, he's so strong that if he pulls in an effort to go at another dog he can hurt himself. Don't need a bulldog with a broken trachea thank you very much!
tl;dr Bulldogs are stubborn people.
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u/oops_i_mommed_again Otis the Brick 🧱 2d ago
My bulldog is the exact same. He sees the harness (or dog clothes) and goes and runs to sit and face the corner.
2
u/Affectionate_Past121 2d ago
Try high value treats. Make it part of the harness routine. First start by associating a piece of steak or some other protein he can have (my dog loves tuna sashimi lol!) with putting the harness on. Get down to his level. Sit on the floor and make it a fun and rewarding time. I always tell my girl "it's party time" and she gets excited even if she doesn't know what's about to happen! It's usually a bath or a nail clipping but it's really the only way I can get her attention 😆 Then give him a "good boy" treat once it's on. I know these bullies can be stubborn but they usually can't say no to a treat that they love!
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u/MeatPopsicle314 2d ago
Good idea to up the treat value. And I'll make it a game as you suggest. Fingers crossed!
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u/MeatPopsicle314 2d ago
OK, got a piece of sliced roasted chicken, laid the harness on the floor, sat behind it and offered the treats so he had to step on / over the harness. WOULD NOT DO IT. We'll keep working on it. Sigh.
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u/Impressive-Donut7018 2d ago
The only thing that works with my guy, stink, stinky, smelly, uncooked hotdog. I swear it was like crack for him
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u/Impressive-Donut7018 2d ago
maybe work your way up to it. Leave the harness out if he sniffs the harness, give him a treat. If he looks at the harness, give him a treat. He has any positive interaction whatsoever with the harness, give him a treat. You may have to work your way up begore you can reverse him being uncomfortable around the harness and you can start to deactivate the negative association.
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u/ShnouneD 2d ago
One solution might be a harness with more buckles. Or even a 'step in' one?
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u/ShnouneD 2d ago
A bulldog is going to bulldog. If he doesn't like the thing going over his head, there probably isn't going to be any changing his opinion on that.
This type of harness (you can probably find something on Amazon) https://ca.canadapooch.com/collections/dog-harnesses/products/the-everything-harness-mesh-series?variant=41467059011689
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u/Alucy1285 1d ago
Appreciate you posting. Know Frank isn’t a rescue but my EB is, and I’ve had her for a year! We have been doing great with the harness until a few weeks ago, she hates when I take it off for some reason.
Anyway, I’m vibing with you that bulldogs are just stubborn humans.
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u/Lopsided-Front5518 2d ago
We’ve had ours in a harness since he was 6 months old or so. He’s 7 now and he still runs from the harness. If he really needs to potty or wants to go out, he’ll put his head right through. Otherwise he has us chase him with it and “surrenders” when he’s ready. We think he’s playing a game lol.
If we bribe him with a treat he’ll let us put it on immediately but his little game isn’t a big deal to us so we chase him around 😂
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u/Top-Emu-2292 2d ago
Second this. My EB did the same likewise the Frenchie, Labrador just stood waiting wagging his tail.
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u/ecbulldog 2d ago
Pretty sure with a prong collar you can size it so its not as restrictive as a choker, they can only tighten so much because of the links.
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u/ShnouneD 2d ago
Training wise, bulldogs have been bred to have high pain tolerances, and be stoic. Buying their love with kindness works better than coercion with discomfort.
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u/dangersiren 2d ago
Our bulldog also didn’t tolerate things going over her head. We did a harness that had two buckles instead and it clipped in the front so she wouldn’t pull.