Rogue - a long time in the waiting!

[Vectis Hamstery]

Originally Posted by barley

How do you find the Julius K9 harness? My boy could do with a new harness but it's such a minefeild. I love the look of the Julius K9 but am concerned about it covering too much of the shoulder area and heating muscles/restricting movement. I guess you don't have any of those issues though? And Rogue is smaller than Alfie too (not often I get to say that!).

Rogue has more than one harness I do love the Julius K9 ones. He had the newer style one but outgrew it - that one covered less of his shoulders but I felt was too subtle in the tiny size he needs. I therefore got the older style julius harness for his upgrade because I wanted the patches to be obvious. As well as the fun patches, he also has don't touch and shy dog which I find helpful.

His other harness is a Wolters professional H-harness (Wolters Professional Harness | dapperdog.co.uk) so if it gets really hot I'd use that one instead. He mostly wears it in daycare when he's on his flexi or when we're doing canicross training.

[barley]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

Rogue has more than one harness I do love the Julius K9 ones. He had the newer style one but outgrew it - that one covered less of his shoulders but I felt was too subtle in the tiny size he needs. I therefore got the older style julius harness for his upgrade because I wanted the patches to be obvious. As well as the fun patches, he also has don't touch and shy dog which I find helpful.

His other harness is a Wolters professional H-harness (Wolters Professional Harness | dapperdog.co.uk) so if it gets really hot I'd use that one instead. He mostly wears it in daycare when he's on his flexi or when we're doing canicross training.

It's the interchangeable patches that really draws me to the Julius K9. Alfie is dog-aggressive and a ''do not touch'' type of dog so I'm all for anything that makes people stop and thinking before letting their dogs/kids approach, or try to stroke him.

He has the Feelwells Awareness harness at the moment, a soft mesh type one and its ok, but quite stretchy and it doesn't feel all that secure. We don't do very much lead walking at all, and he isn't a puller, but I still prefer him in a harness rather than just a collar when he's on lead.

[Vectis Hamstery]

I was put off the stretchy type of harness after a dog in our initial attempt at training classes wriggled free of hers in panic. The Julius K9 ones (and the other one he has) are nice and sturdy. I like the fact that the smaller ones don't have a handle on the back.

The patches are why I went with them for Rogue. I also have custom made lead wraps but haven't needed them for a little while Julius K9 do a 'NO DOGS' patch which someone on our social walk has.

I found the patches on this harness most helpful - people noticed them at the country show at the weekend. There are still people who don't look at them and need me to growl at them, but I've got a lot less polite since having Rogue

[barley]

Yeah, the stretchy mesh type definitely aren't a good idea for dogs who are likely to wriggle free. Thankfully Alfie wouldn't try and the soft design of them is a bonus for sensitive skin etc as they don't rub.

Like you say, the patches won't stop everyone but I imagine they do make a lot of people stop and think. I have positive results generally when Alfie is wearing his Awareness harness, people tend to stay away more than when he is just wearing a collar.

Thankfully we're spoilt for choice for rural walks where we don't see anyone else, so we don't need to worry too much - and Alfie has very poor eyesight so I can spot other dogs before he does and recall him!

Next time I'm at a show I'll have another look at the Julius K9 ''in the flesh''

[Kissa]

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

The patches are why I went with them for Rogue. I also have custom made lead wraps but haven't needed them for a little while Julius K9 do a 'NO DOGS' patch which someone on our social walk has.

The lead wraps I find less obvious than his harness patches, the first time I saw Rogue at a show I was too busy being excited over the cute puppy to see the lead wraps initially

He does look very pleased with himself as a security guard though

[Vectis Hamstery]

Rogue and I are off to our third scentwork workshop tomorrow. We'll also be picking up handbook for a new venture - rally. We've made a start on learning the rally signs and are mostly working on heeling at the moment.

Rogue is currently asleep after a nice big dinner. This is him a few days ago though when I offered him a blueberry. He stared at it a long time trying to work out what sort of meat it was!
Sceptic by Vectis Hamstery, on Flickr

[Ceretrea]

HAhahahahaha aww poor Roguey. His face looks so fantastic in that photo. 'But...where's the meat?'

[Coco61]

Rogue looks thoroughly disapproving at your offering!

[CharlieB]

Your girlfriend waves a paw Rogue! We have had lots of fun reading through this post, it has reminded me how fat you have come and how much improved you have made. Well done to you and your mummy for working so hard! X

[Vectis Hamstery]

Rogue and I had fun at the workshop tomorrow. He's fast asleep in his cosy nest while I'm searching for the next workshop dates! We're a little addicted to scentwork

The trainer for this workshop hadn't seen Rogue since our first workshop in November last year. She was impressed with how brave he'd got - he got right in there on the baggage searches and stuck his head in boxes and flower pots to rescue lost cheese! Here are some stills from the videos of us searching.

A great indication:
I got something! by Vectis Hamstery, on Flickr

They thought cheesy chairs were tricky for Rogue, but he showed them:
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