Being a typical puppy, Dante is not fond of having a leash and collar on, and will often pull backwards. It makes me nervous to give him a tug to come forward like we can do with Mina. I just don't know if that is OK to do, since he is already missing one front leg, I don't want to put too much weight or resistance onto the remaining front leg – especially since I have read on here that dogs carry their weight mostly in the front, and need more stamina and strength with one front leg than one rear leg.

Any advice, or tips would be greatly appreciated. Or even just some reassurance that I am not going to break the puppy!

I still have Coda's gentle leader from when she was little, maybe it will fit Dante. Coda hated it, no matter what we did or how we did it – it's been something I have been skeptical of ever since – but it's worth a try since it's something we already have and won't have to send more money on (if it fits!).

Coda is not a 'typical' dog or beagle, so I guess I can't use her as a good source of information for products!

Do 'normal' harnesses work with a front leg amputee? I do eventually want to get him a good ruff wear harness (they look awesome!) but would like to hold off until he's mostly full grown if I can help it. Of course we'll do what needs to be done to get him out and about, though.

A harness is the only thing that works for our beagle, Coda. We tried all sorts of collars and contraptions – but she almost acts as if she's not on a lead at all, with a harness on.

We took them for a 'walk' last night, to the end of the block and back. Dante sat twice and I had to pick him up twice. He didn't 'resist' the leash so much as just seemed tired.

I can't wait to get into the vet next week and ask a million questions, I'll feel more reassured that we're on the right path with him once I know what the vet has to say about him and his recovery. He does so well that I sometimes forget it's only been a few weeks!

I meant normal only in the sense of the kind you can buy at the pet store, VS the kind you have to order online or go to a specialty shop for (which we don't have) and also in the sense that they're 'normal' because they don't have any special features like handles or anything. They're all pretty standard.

I couldn't think of a better word that didn't sound just the same as normal, maybe 'standard' would have been a better word, sorry for not clarifying. I hadn't had my daily dose of caffeine, yet!

Oh, there is definitely some training in order for the both of them, LOL. We have been working on it. We did get to go for a walk last night, we didn't go too far, and Dante pooped out pretty quickly. But, progress. A bit of resistance from each of them, but a gentle tug to get their attention again worked most of the time. They're very much in that exploratory stage and they are not easily distracted most times – I guess all the noise at the shelter desensitized them to loud noises. Even food doesn't get attention if they're distracted, unless you put it right under their noses.

We have been using their kibble as 'treats' but sparingly – we don't typically do treats in this house. Our beagle hasn't had a 'treat' in years. She gets the occasional bully stick and such just because – but she never gets a food reward for doing something. But, they were using kibble as treats at the shelter, so we've continued it for now with the intentions to wean them out fairly soon.

We're not against treat training, just had some issues with it (combined with health issues) that make it easier for us to just not do the whole treating thing. However, we will resort to it if necessary!

Oh, Thanks Maggie! That looks great and fairly inexpensive too if we do need to buy them as he grows, then he can get a big boy ruff wear harness!

My Aussie (38#'s) is a HARD puller at times….the one I have tried EVERYTHING with…GL's, those easywalk harnesses that you attach leash to the front – those don't work either…I, too, was tired of my arm being pulled out of socket at times!  So, I started using my skijore harness belt and rigged it up so I can hook my flexi leash to that…so I'm hands free now and if she pulls hard, she is pulling me from my waist vs. my arm! 

When she gets to be too much of a fruitcake about pulling for some reason(like deer!) I just stop dead in my tracks, and 'stand like a tree'…then she sorta 'gets it'…and stops pulling so hard…and I make her come to heel position vs. in front of me and 'work for treats' to get her mind back in front brain/thinking mode vs. hindbrain/reactive mode!

The other thing that I probably shouldn't even bring up(not being a positive training thing)….BUT if I had a very hard pulling large dog, why not try a prong collar?  I've never used one but it seems to me anything can be harmful in the wrong hands…even a GL…

Food for thought! FWIW

Tracy, Maggie's Mom