Houdini dog - fireworks, harnesses.

halfone

My dog is a 17 month old beagle pug cross – I've had him for just over 4 months now. He's a friendly little lad, loves his cuddles. He was naughty and wilful quite a lot of the time at the start but with routine and training is making slow but steady improvement; he's doing so well.

(TLDR: recommendations for keeping a dog calm on fireworks night and escape proof harnesses, please).

Details...

We were out walking on Sunday when someone had fireworks in their garden and he went into an absolute blind panic; I did manage to calm him down a bit and get him walking again but then more fireworks went off and he crouched down low and tugged/wiggled backwards out of his harness then ran off. (The harness was securely fitted but he's strong and persistent). It was horrible to see how scared he was, so I'd like advice on a couple of things, please:

1) I know it's only two months till bonfire night but I'd like to do what I can to try to lessen his distress when he hears fireworks. Obviously we'll be in the house rather than outside (I think part of the problem the other day was that he could see the fireworks as well as hear them) so they'll be a bit quieter, but just in case they do frighten him I'd like to be prepared. There seems to be quite a lot of different sorts of advice on this and I'm not sure where to start, so any hints/links would be much appreciated.

2) He learnt this backwards wiggle escape method with his first harness (dogs trust harness), so we got his current one (ezydog chest plate harness) which has been fantastic for the past three months until the night of the fireworks. Now he knows he can get out of it, he has tried to quite a few times since (not out of terror; more like situations where he sees a dog and wants to go and play with them). I've just about managed to keep him in it but was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a harness which is harder to escape from. He is barrel shaped around his chest, with shortish legs. I was thinking of something that would loop round his hind legs, but I'm not sure if such a thing exists or if it's even safe. Again, if anyone has any recommendations I'd be grateful.

I'd ultimately like to use the harness less, but he came to me with virtually no recall at all and if he sees another dog, or a person, or a bird etc he just wants to run over and chase/play; we have been working hard on this and now I am able to let him off for a run about to do his own thing in some situations (when he's with a doggy mate, for example, or in quiet fields) – but on harness he can go from being a calm relaxed dog to twirling madness in half a second, so I really need to be able to control him properly when that happens.

Many thanks in advance.

doglover86

Have you thought about a Gencon instead of a harness? They're really good for keeping dogs under control without hurting them as long as they're used properly (I wasn't fully convinced until I was at last resort point with a German Shep who thinks that horses are the best playmates, but they're great).

If you have specific worries for bonfire night, a Thundershirt or some kind of herbal calming remedy could be a big help. I'd consider something like this, a de-stressing diffuser, that you can plug in in the room your dog spends most of his time and leave plugged in through the bonfire night period (should leave you covered from blind panic attacks through the whole bonfire weekend).

halfone

Thankyou doglover86 – I hadn't come across the gencon before – like you say, it does look a bit alarming! Would it stay on him if he reversed really quickly with his head down, as that seems to be his preferred method of escape? His neck is really thick. The ezy dog one I have at the moment is great if he lunges forward etc. but not when he goes backwards.

That diffuser looks like it might be really helpful– I want to get him calm and relaxed that night just in case. I'm not sure how he will react in the house yet – the thundershirt might be good if he gets properly freaked out but I'm hoping to avoid that if I prepare properly.

Thank you again – much appreciated.

lincroft1710

Bonfire Night??

I think a more appropriate term is Firework Fortnight, because for a week before and for a week after Nov 5, fireworks are being let off. If there is more than one organised display in the area, there bound to be held on different nights.

doglover86

No problem at all Halfone!

If he's particularly enjoying bolting out of the harnesses backwards, I'd say get a clip to collar one rather than an all in one - a clip to collar works the same way, but beacuse it attaches to his collar it does give extra security for reverse escape attempts and he should have no way out. They do look alarming and I was a bit reluctant at first but they're well designed and the pack comes with instructions and there's videos online to fit them properly, and I've never had a dog in a Gencon that's been unhappy in it.

The diffuser is probably the first thing I'd try - hope he's not too freaked out for you though, like lincroft1710 said, it does turn in to Firework Fortnight - then you have all the fun of New Years Eve in December too!

halfone

Yes, lincroft1710 'Firework Fortnight' is probably a more accurate description. At least this year 5th November is on a Sunday so hopefully most people will choose the Saturday night for their displays.

halfone

doglover86 The clip to collar version seems like a really good idea - an added thing to make it harder to escape might be just what I need. At the very least it would give me a bit longer to get his rope lead on him (I usually carry one of those with me specifically for those sorts of situations). Cheers

doglover86

No bother at all, hope you can sort one out and that it helps!

sheramber

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walk-r-Cise-Nylon-Harness-Medium-Black/dp/B004S6ZAES/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427047285&sr=8-2&keywords=walk+r+cise+harness

A member of another forum with a houdini dog uses these. It is the only harness the dog has not escaped from.

mtbbuxton

The very best escape proof harness you'll ever buy is the Ruffwear Webmaster http://www.ruffwear.co.uk/dog-gear/harnesses/web-master-harness-ss17 They're expensive, but you'll never need to buy another harness as it'll last for years and years - I know people who have been using the same one on reactive hounds for 15+ years.
The 2nd strap fits around the narrower waist of your dog and means they physically can't back out. Shop around to get the best price, but if you haven't shopped with Fetch before, they have a code for 15% off your first order :money: https://fetch.co.uk/ruffwear-webmaster-harness-twilight-grey-376562011

M x

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Katiehound

You can also try a CD which replicates the noises of fireworks, guns etc- just google it- several Cds available.
I can't say it worked for mine but some people swear by them making the dogs less sensitive.