[Gnostic Dog]

Unfortunately, no no-pull harness is anything more than a management tool, it will discourage pulling but it will not teach good leash manners, that you have to do with dedication and persistence. Believe me, I have tried EVERY tool out there, and at the end of day, the only thing that stops the pulling is the dog themselves. I should also say, I am unable to out muscle my dog because he is 200lbs!

Having said that, I have tried many of the no-pull harnesses in my quest for the perfect answer to pulling, *hint it does not exist*. The most effective by far is the Larz harness with leash, it works in a different way to all the other no-pull harness systems in that when the dog pulls, it gently and without pain, takes the weight off their front legs so they have less traction to pull (60% of the dog's weight is on the front legs).

The other kind of harness I would recommend, but it doesn't physically stop pulling is the Balance Harness which like the Freedom No-pull harness has two leash connection points, front and back. The reason I prefer the Balance Harness over the Freedom is its design, and the fact it is fully adjustable for a comfortable fit.

You might also want to be aware of some research conducted by Christine Zink that the EZ harness interfered with the natural gait of the dog, even when there was no leash attached, so you really don't want to leave it on if you do get one.

In a limited gait analysis study, Dr. Zink observed that dogs wearing no-pull, front clip harnesses bore less weight on their front legs than they normally would – even when the harness wasn’t attached to a leash! In addition, the dogs bore less weight on the leg that was on the far side of where the person walked, even when there was no leash attached; when the dog had a leash attached, it was more significant. This suggests to her that the dog was reacting to the presence of the harness against the leg by pushing harder against it. In all cases, the gait of the front limbs was altered whenever the harness was on.

Dr. Zink explains that these harnesses sit on top of the biceps and supraspinatus tendons, two of the most commonly injured structures in dogs’ forelimbs, particularly in canine athletes. She asserts that, just by logic, one has to assume that the pressure this kind of harness exerts on the dog’s forelimbs in an activity where the dog is supposed to be extending her forelimbs (i.e., running, walking), is not a good idea.

The No-Pull Debate - Whole Dog Journal Article