It wasn’t great, but wasn’t awful.

It was expensive ($29.95).

All-in-all Phoebe is pretty good when we go on walks, or shall I say she is good when I take her for a walk. She isn’t as well behaved when others in the house take her out (she is a Mama’s girl).

Last year – or maybe the year before – I didn’t like pulling because it didn’t jive with doggie training. Now it bothers me because when Phoebe wants something, like a squirrel, there is not a harness or collar in the world that will stop her from pulling or lunging. Without a harness, I see her collar moving up and down her throat and I am afraid she will break her trachea or something.

With that in mind I have been using harnesses, but have yet to get one that fits properly. When Phoebe realizes that a walk is imminent she goes spastic, hopping and twirling in circles. Putting a harness on a moving target is challenging enough, let alone trying to adjust it to the perfect fit. So when I saw the commercial for the ThunderLeash I ran out and bought one.

The ThunderLeash is supposedly the “no pull” answer. Their big claim is that pulling is “often cause by over excitement.” When using the ThunderLeash, if your dog pulls, “gentle pressure is applied” and the result is no pulling.  I hate to say it, but Phoebe proved their theory wrong in a heartbeat.

The amount of pressure applied is in direct proportion to how hard your dog is pulling and how well you can stand your ground.

Even though this leash did not produce the miracle I sought, I decided to keep it anyway. It is a nice replacement for, albeit no better than, a harness. I like the fact that it takes the pressure off Phoebe’s collar when she pulls so I don’t have to worry about her breaking her neck and I must admit that it is very simple to put on.

How to Use It

The core of this thing is the clasp. You hook the leash to your dog’s collar as you would any other leash. In fact, you can use it as a plain ol’ leash if you want.  After the leash is connected to the regular collar, you wrap it under and around your dog’s belly and then slip it into the special “no-pull”clasp.

Clasp for the collar and “no-pull” thingie
Wrap it around your dog and and slip the leash into the “no-pull” slot

I tried to provide a dog-free example, but Phoebe walked in and busted me (see her little paws in the pic). The good news is I now have a real dog model and a little unexpected bit of walk time.

look
See how it hooks onto the collar and wraps around? It moves freely in the “no-pull” slot. Similar to the way a choke collar tightens and loosens.

There is one think you do need to be aware of. You have to make sure you snug the leash around the upper torso and then hold the leash up so it stays in place. If you allow too much slack it will slip and end up near the lower end of the ribs, which is an accident just waiting to happen. DO NOT HEAD OUT THE DOOR WITH THE LEASH SLACKING AROUND THE BELLY! (that’s my big bold stuff. It’s not in the instructions, but it should be).  One big lunge will results in one big squeeze on the ribs and internal organs.

Does it stop pulling?

pull
She can still pull, but it does not choke her throat. You can also see how it starts to tighten around her body. It’s dog-pull-pressure, not “gentle no-pull” pressure

 

The bottom line? It is not something I would rush out and buy again.

If you are using a harness and it does not stop the pulling, this won’t do any better. Admittedly, it will make easier to get all cinched up at walk time, but that is about it.

shadowI was thinking this might be something worth trying as a precursor to a choke a collar for pups in training that only need a gentle reminders now and then. Just a thought.

The ThunderLeash is not a bad product (I can’t think of anything truly negative to say about it). It is just not the miracle cure that the company claims it is.

If you have one and it has made a change in your dog, please let me know. I would be interested in knowing if it the leash or the dog that is preventing the miracle from occurring.