This week the Academy For Dog Trainers (ADT) launched Harness The Love, an educational campaign promoting the benefits of no-pull harnesses for our dogs. Most dogs don't instinctually walk easily by your side without some sort of instruction. Teaching a dog to walk with you rather than pull you down the street takes practice, commitment, and training. Having the proper tools can make all the difference and save you both frustration.

Many dogs need little to no training for a no-pull harness to work.

An immediate benefit from choosing a no-pull harness for any dog is that pulling decreases when they find themselves turned around toward their person away from whatever their destination was. I wish we'd discovered no-pull harnesses when we first had our big Shepherd Husky. You can see below that she wore only a regular harness.

I know that if we had started her with a no-pull harness, we could have avoided many frustrating moments on our walks.

Healthy Choice

I have seen people yank their dog by the collar sharply enough to cause them to cough and gag. No-pull harnesses do not put pressure on dogs' necks and throats. That's an important benefit because our best buddies can be harmed (their windpipe) from improper use of collars.

Watch Loose Leash Walking with Hazel and Lori!

ADT are big fans of the Freedom Harness, the Easy Walk Harness and the Sense-ation Harness but there are many options to choose from. See a full list of front-clip harnesses on the Harness The Love page on their website.

Learn more about the Academy For Dog Trainers, the Harness The Love campaign!

Daisy is a big, beautiful beagle that can’t wait to meet you! She LOVES everyone and has a cutest personality!

Its clear that food equaled love in her past home, so she’s ready to get back to a healthier lifestyle with lots of walks around the block and a balanced diet.

Daisy gets along great with dogs of all sizes and loves to meet new people. She does well with cats too!

There’s nothing she wants more than to find her perfect match to spend her retirement years in.

We think Daisy is between 12-14 years young, weighing about 45 lbs.

Fall in love with her at Muttville on Rescue Row in San Francisco!

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What words come to mind when you look at a dog? How about after you spend time with one? Do you find yourself coming up with the same expressive words even if you are around different dogs?

I've spent a lot of time with different dogs over the years, and more since I've been volunteering every week at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, and I realize now that the same words keep coming to my mind when I spend time with a dog.

Do you hear any of these words when you see a dog? 

Hopeful

Black Betty is a sweet, sensitive and darling senior dog that can’t wait to meet you! This cutie loves belly rubs and quiet snuggles.

Betty may seem a little shy when you first meet her, but we just think that’s due to all the recent changes in her life. 

Betty will warm up and show her silly side once she’s in warm, loving home.

A stray no longer, Betty deserves to spend her golden years getting spoiled rotten!

We think Black Betty is between 9-11 years young, weighing about 13 lbs.

Come down to Muttville in San Francisco and you'll fall in love with her!

When my dog reached her golden years she developed diabetes and slowly lost her vision. She developed dementia. Throughout her aging process we checked in with her veterinarian to make sure our dog was getting everything she needed for a comfortable final chapter. We created some wonderful lasting memories during those two years.

We had a conversation about palliative care once our dog's age, vision loss, and dementia all piled up on her. We couldn't turn back time or heal her, so we focused everything on making every day count so that she had her best day ever, every day. I can honestly say that making that conscious choice helped me from having any regrets after she passed.

It was incredibly rewarding for me to spend my time with her knowing I was writing the final chapter in her life, and our life together. What I learned about the aging process had a positive impact on my relationships with both my parents before they passed away. I also have a little better appreciation for my own mortality.