When you own a Dahcshund, the likelihood is good that you may have experienced this no less than once:
- You’re taking your Dachshund for a walk and suddenly they stop of their tracks and refuse to go on
- You gently, after which perhaps more firmly, pull on the leash to encourage them to maintain going
- Your Dacshund resists this pressure and pulls backwards on the harness
- Your Dachshund pulls and wriggles until they back out of their harness
It’s a frustrating situation at best and a scary one at worst (your Dacshund could run into traffic or run away. Yikes!)
I’ve owned Dahchsunds for nearly 20 years and have seen many Dachshunds from our club back out of their harness.
In this text, I’ll explain why this might occur and let you know what you may do to stop it.
Why Does My Dog Back Out of Their Harness?
Dog harnesses are designed for a dog to walk beside, or in front of, and owner with no pressure from the leash (in case your dog walks on a loose leash) or pressure within the direction of the rear of the dog (in case your dog is in front of you and pulling).
When you’re in a situation where you’re in front of your Dachshund and your dog pulls, the pressure becomes opposite of what’s intended – a forward pressure.
When this happens, it will probably change into easy in your Dachshund to back out of their harness.
Some reasons your Dachshund may pull backwards on the leash and harnes are:
- Your Dachshund doesn’t like being on a leash
- The harness is uncomfortable or feels weird to your dog
- Your Dachshund is nervous or fearful and feels uncomfortable continuing on the walk
- Your Dahcshund is drained and signaling they need to stop and return to the home
The answer to stop your Dachshund from backing out of a harness is more training, finding a distinct harness, or each.
Why Not Just Use a Collar As an alternative of a Harness?
Chances are you’ll be wondering why you shouldn’t just use a collar in your Dahcshund as a substitute of a harness?
Well, first, using a collar won’t routinely prevent your Dachshund from escaping the leash.
A correct fitting collar must be lose enough that a dog can pull out of it in the event that they get caught on something (it is best to have the option to slide two fingers under the collar).
This extra room can allow your Dachshund to slide out of the collar, especially in the event that they pull hard.
Second, a harness is safer for a Dahchsund.
In summary:
- A collar puts pressure in your dog’s throat in the event that they pull, increasing the chance for trachea collapse or other neck injuries.
- A harness more equally distributes pressure accross a dog’s chest so the entire pressure shouldn’t be concentrated in a single spot
- Pressure on the neck can injure the spine (and Dachshunds are already liable to spinal issues)
For more information, please read my article about why a harness is the safer than a collar for a Dachshund.
Along with the above, switching to a collar isn’t necessarily going to be more comfortable in your Dahcshund and it won’t solve any underlying behavioral or fear issues.
The way to Select an Escape Proof Harness for Your Dachshund
There are several things to search for, and to look at out for, when selecting an escape proof dog harness in your Dachshund.
What to search for:
- Top quality materials – so the straps don’t break with pressur and the buckles don’t fail
- Secure straps – a couple of rear strap or wider straps
- A correct fit – ideally, snug but not too tight
What to avoid:
- Harnesses with a large “chest plate” or strap between the legs – it will probably be too wide and cause chafing or cuts on the within your Dahchsund’s legs
- No pull harnesses – these are intended for a dog to stop pulling in a forward motion and might slip off if a dog pulls backwards
Owner Advisable Escape Proof Dachshund Harnesses
Disclosure: A few of the links in this text are affiliate links (Amazon Associate or other programs we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
While I can’t guaruntee these harness will alsolutely work for all Dahchsunds the entire time, these are harnesses I do know will likely be very hard in your dog to slide out of.
I do know this because I’ve tried them and/or because individuals with escape-artist Dachshunds have beneficial them to me.
Ruffwear Flagline Harness
The Ruffwear Flagline Harness has an additional rear strap that almost all dog harnesses don’t have.
This extra strap fit’s my Dahcshunds on the a part of the rib cage where it starts to get smaller.
Which means that the strap is smaller than the widest a part of the ribcage so if a Dahchsund pulls backwards, they literally won’t have the option to slide their rib cage through that loop.
Buy the Ruffwear Flagline Harness HERE.
One essential note though!
You’ll notice my Dahchshunds are fit so their body shape is sort of a deep-chested dog’s must be – the abdomen tapers up toward the rear behind the rib cage.
In case your Dachshund is thicker and more tube shaped, it’s likely that the rear strap will likely be closer to the diameter of the utmost rib cage circumfrence.
This might make it easier in your Dahchsund to back out of the harness but, in my view, it’s stil unlikely.
Two chest straps will still be safer than one.
Hug-a-Dog Harness by Dachshund Delights
The Hug-a-Dog vest harness from Dachshund Delights is what’s called a vest style harness.
With these harnesses, the straps are wider than a standard harness.
This wider strap across the neck distributes and pressure more evently.
The broader back panel and chest strap make it harder for a Dachshund to back out of.
The way to Stop Your Dachshund From Backing Out of a Harness
Using a safer and higher fitting harness may help physically prevent your Dachshund from backing out of their harness but it surely won’t solve the underlying issue (unless the one issue was that your Dahcshund found their previous harness uncomfortable)
That can take investigation – really observing, and consulting with a dog trainer if needed to search out out what’s causing your Dahchsund to do it – and training.
As highlighted above, there are several reasons your dog may attempt to back out of their harness.
One reason is that your Dahchsund doesn’t like being on a leash.
Perhaps they’re a rescue and weren’t walked on a leash before.
Perhaps your Dachshund is a puppy and isn’t used to the sensation of being tethered to something (you) with a leash.
Either way, you could need to start out back and square one and teach your Dachshund to be comfortable walking in a harness and on a leash.
Your Dachshund may stop walking and pull backwards on the leash because they’re nervous or fearful.
It is probably not that your Dachshund hates, or doesn’t know easy methods to, walk on a leash.
As an alternative, the explanation for your dog’s resistance could also be that they’re unsure of their surroundings and are are afraid of what’s across the corner.
When you think that is the case, you could must work on socialization (it’s so far more than simply exposure to other dogs and other people) and bulding your dog’s confidence.
In case your Dachshund is chubby, not used to regular exercise, or a young puppy who’s being asked to walk too far too soon, your Dchshund may stop and check out to slide out of their harness as a method to communicate that they’re drained and wish to return to the home.
While this not be remedied by obedience training or constructing their confidence, a “training” schedule to extend your dog’s fitness may help (in other words, start with slower easier walks and construct up).
What to Do If Your Dachshund Backs Out of Their Harness
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your Dachshuund may slip out of their harness.
That second if you realize your Dachshund is not any longer attached to you and might run away to wander away or hit by a automotive is frightening.
So what are you able to do?
In case your Dachshund is an excape artist, you’ll need to ensure your Dachshund’s ID is up to this point before you even leave the home.
Consider attaching this identification to a collar (but not the leash) as a substitute of the harness so your dog will still be wearing it even in the event that they back out of the harness.
That way, in case your Dachshund does run off the person who finds your dog will have the option to contact you.
Second – though it could be a challenge – don’t panic.
Don’t attempt to chase or grab your Dachshund quickly. This will startle them and cause them to run away from you.
As an alternative, try running past them. It’s likely your Dachshund’s natural prey instincts will kick in and they’ll follow you, considering it’s a fun game.
You possibly can them crouch down, let your dog run into your arms, and provides them numerous praise in a comfortable voice.
Carrying treats to bribe your Dahcshund over to you too can help bring them close enough to get ahold of.
If the worst happens and your Dachshund does go missing, follow the following tips to assist bring your lost dog home.
Final Thoughts on Dog Harness Escapees
It might be scary and dangerous in case your Dachshund backs out of their harness.
The fastest fix to stop this from happening is to purchase your dog a safer harness.
But don’t stop there.
In case your Dahcshund contines to try to excape the harness, try to discover why.
It could be as a consequence of a fear or the mere incontrovertible fact that your dog was never properly trained to walk on a leash.
When you can’t appear to stop your Dachshund from stopping their walk and pulling backwards, consider consulting with a dog trainer or animal behaviorist who can allow you to get to the basis of the issue and suggest solutions.
