Doug N Libby
Very Active Member
Obviously, Hershey won't 'go quietly' - so, any tips y'all can give on how to harness train him?
Thanks!
Libby (and NOT Hershey! ;-) )
Thanks!
Libby (and NOT Hershey! ;-) )
Harness Training Advice???
- Thread starter Doug N Libby
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Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
Good morning! 
Harness training can be done. :smile: You just have to have more patience, or is that stubborn, than the kitty.
What I did, for both cats, is place the harness on them. Sure, they either flopped like I'd weighed them down with the weight of the world, or bucked like a bronco on steroids. Leaving the harness on until they would get up and move regularly on their own is the goal. If kitty is the bucking bronco type, i'd use a room that was safe. You know the harness isn't hurting them (well, maybe their pride). I'd use a play toy to help get them moving regularly. Each session, I'd leave the harness on for an hour or so. Being sure to pet and give loving words and treats help. Laughter does not. ;-)
Once they start moving regularly on their own when the harness is placed on them, I'd add the leash. Yeah, who would have thought a soft leash would weigh so much? I'd go through the same as for the harness training. The goal is to get them moving on their own, then taking the time to teach them the limits of a leash (can only go as far as the leash lets them). I use a gentle "tug-tug" on the leash and the words "Come on" when encouraging Poopy to change directions. Do not take a kitty outside in harness and leash until they are comfortable inside their home with both. Don't want a bucking bronco turned Houdini outside, now do we?
Harness training, then leash training, won't happen over night, but it can be done. :smile: Today, when I jingle Poopy's harness, he comes to me - ready for whatever adventure we're embarking on.
Harness training can be done. :smile: You just have to have more patience, or is that stubborn, than the kitty.
What I did, for both cats, is place the harness on them. Sure, they either flopped like I'd weighed them down with the weight of the world, or bucked like a bronco on steroids. Leaving the harness on until they would get up and move regularly on their own is the goal. If kitty is the bucking bronco type, i'd use a room that was safe. You know the harness isn't hurting them (well, maybe their pride). I'd use a play toy to help get them moving regularly. Each session, I'd leave the harness on for an hour or so. Being sure to pet and give loving words and treats help. Laughter does not. ;-)
Once they start moving regularly on their own when the harness is placed on them, I'd add the leash. Yeah, who would have thought a soft leash would weigh so much? I'd go through the same as for the harness training. The goal is to get them moving on their own, then taking the time to teach them the limits of a leash (can only go as far as the leash lets them). I use a gentle "tug-tug" on the leash and the words "Come on" when encouraging Poopy to change directions. Do not take a kitty outside in harness and leash until they are comfortable inside their home with both. Don't want a bucking bronco turned Houdini outside, now do we?
Harness training, then leash training, won't happen over night, but it can be done. :smile: Today, when I jingle Poopy's harness, he comes to me - ready for whatever adventure we're embarking on.
Grayson & Lu
Very Active Member
You're not fooling us - we know that Poopy is really a dog in a cat suit! :lol:
Although I've not harnessed my cats, they sure enjoy when I "saddle up" the dogs for a walk and put their leashes on before I'm ready to go. The dogs are sometimes like the Pied Piper! Cats following them, chasing the leash!
Dom doesn't like his to drag, so he's always good about picking it up and walking around with the leash in his mouth. Jack, well Jack really doesn't care - as long as he's going for a W-AL-K!!!
I'm intrigued w/ the harness idea for a cat - partly for the outdoor adventures, but especially down the road if I may fly Grayson. I think that's the right thing to do - especially when you hear the stories about cats getting out of their carriers and meandering around the bowels of the plane for 2 weeks. Jack has to wear a harness. When he was younger, he'd slip out of the collar and take us [or my petsitters] on a run throughout the neighborhood! It took another petsitter/friend to teach me how to LET him "off leash" - as previously that meant a 50' cable!
Keep us posted on how long it takes to convince Hershey this is a good thing. I can only imagine the bucking bronco... now where did you put that video camera? :lol:
Although I've not harnessed my cats, they sure enjoy when I "saddle up" the dogs for a walk and put their leashes on before I'm ready to go. The dogs are sometimes like the Pied Piper! Cats following them, chasing the leash!
Dom doesn't like his to drag, so he's always good about picking it up and walking around with the leash in his mouth. Jack, well Jack really doesn't care - as long as he's going for a W-AL-K!!!
I'm intrigued w/ the harness idea for a cat - partly for the outdoor adventures, but especially down the road if I may fly Grayson. I think that's the right thing to do - especially when you hear the stories about cats getting out of their carriers and meandering around the bowels of the plane for 2 weeks. Jack has to wear a harness. When he was younger, he'd slip out of the collar and take us [or my petsitters] on a run throughout the neighborhood! It took another petsitter/friend to teach me how to LET him "off leash" - as previously that meant a 50' cable!
Keep us posted on how long it takes to convince Hershey this is a good thing. I can only imagine the bucking bronco... now where did you put that video camera? :lol:
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
When I take Poopy for walks in his harness and leash, folks stop me to ask what kind of dog he is. They disbelieve me when I say, "He's a cat." I have to explain he's just a large cat. It's really fun when I have one of the dogs with me and I'll say what kind of dog she is and they'll point and say. "No, the black one. What kind of dog is that?" To me Poopy looks like a cat! What do you mean, type of dog? He-llooooo! :lol:
So, do tell. How's the harness training going?
So, do tell. How's the harness training going?
Dragonfly229
Active Member
The dust mop comment needed a spew warning - good thing I didn't have a drink or my keyboard would be toast!
I'm thinking the same thing for Linus, the easiest thing to do for camping and vacations may be to take him with us, but I'm afraid he would get out of the car, so I'm thinking harness/leash also. I bought a "cat" sized harness - there's no way it will fit him and he's only 14lb +/-, so not a huge cat. How big is a "cat", anyway? Anyone have any ideas on where to find larger size harnesses, or do I need to use a small dog harness?
I'm thinking the same thing for Linus, the easiest thing to do for camping and vacations may be to take him with us, but I'm afraid he would get out of the car, so I'm thinking harness/leash also. I bought a "cat" sized harness - there's no way it will fit him and he's only 14lb +/-, so not a huge cat. How big is a "cat", anyway? Anyone have any ideas on where to find larger size harnesses, or do I need to use a small dog harness?
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
Catannc said:
I about peed my pants laughing so hard! :lol:
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
Dragonfly229 said:
Poopy's harness is a small dog harness. Cat harness won't fit him...at all! And the small dog harness was very snug before he was Dx.
Doug N Libby
Very Active Member
Thanks for all of the suggestions - keep 'em coming! I think I'm going to wait until the end of next week to start trying to harness train. Don't want to start and then be gone a few days. Between now and then I hope to find a design I like better, too.
Yeah, Oreo would definitely be the dust mop sort. :lol:
Yeah, Oreo would definitely be the dust mop sort. :lol:
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