Escape-proof gear for weasely weaseldogs

I'm dogsitting for an ACD/basenji mix that is an accomplished escape artist. She can slither out of almost anything, including any kind of slip collar and most harnesses. She's currently horribly obese, which just makes her rounder with less parts to help keep her in. The list of stuff she definitely can't escape is currently:

1. prong
2. webmaster harness

Anyone else have experience with extra-slippery dogs? What other gear is out there for helping keep them contained?

Is the parameters of this simply leash and dog to leash attachment? Reason I ask is that I had to re up my dog confinement ante for the latest eagle bait weasel borne ghostwalker papillon who fits through chain link fencing.

It's a general topic, stories are welcome! (Weaseldog's older brother can jump an 8' fence.)

I just double (or triple) clip the leash onto backup gear. Ex: harness attached to leash with coupler on martingale with second coupler on flat collar.

She sounds pretty extreme, though. I've dealt with collar slippers but nothing that difficult to manage.

Maybe try wrapping the leash around her waist/chest? You could do it with either a martingale or snug fitting flat collar, then the tightening action of the "harness" would prevent her from backing out. I sometimes do the leash wrap with my grandmom's dog when I walk her because I think she'd pull til her eyes pop out (plus it's annoying) and taking her with me for walks is usually a last minute thing where I don't feel like taking time to find a device to keep her from pulling. She doesn't pull at all once the leash is wrapped around, as it is an aversive, though for an escape artist, better than being ran over. I usually put it around her chest, right behind her front legs, but I've seen people use it around the waist, and depending on her shape, that might work better, though I would be reluctant to do it that way with a hard pulling dog.

Around chest
http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static...yworks.jpg?token=Ytb9hb+IWfOqFeFfZaHIyziam/4=

Around waist
http://images5a.snapfish.com/232323232fp63565>nu=3348>356>297>WSNRCG=37;9;597;7336nu0mrj

Coupling a sporn type harness with a martingale collar might work equally well, for what it's worth.

This dog laughs at martingales collars. I think everything from her shoulders to her nose is cone-shaped. Even a slip or chicken won't stay on. Wrapping the leash around her chest probably wouldn't either, I'm pretty sure she just stays in the Freedom harness to be polite.

I'm definitely familiar with the leash waist trick, but have always had some reservations. I mean, when it works it works, but what about when it doesn't? I'm hesitant to put something that tightens around the sensitive abdominal organs of a dog that sometimes gets too intense to even realize she's pulling. Maybe that's a topic for a another thread.

We have the IDC harness and I have never had an issue with it. If this harness is properly fitted there is no way any dog will escape from it. Especially if you purchase a y belt, which is a strap that you can easily attach to the barnes son the chest part. The harness also lays on the chest bones unlike other harnesses that are way up on the neck, so it doesn't bother your dog while moving around. Also, it is further back, so it will not rub the armpits. The harness has a strong handle which can be used in many different situations. It is very easy to put on too. I would recommend it anyone looking for a good quality harness.

Actually the IDC harness is made to allow the dog to back out of it in an emergency situation. Julius K9 even says so on their product page:

Head Halter? Would minimize pulling, you would want to acclimate properly. The Halti ones also attach to a collar for safety.

What about something like the Freedom No Pull harness (Wiggles, Wags & Whiskers)? For slippy greyhounds I always recommend that combined by a dual leash to a martingale collar. Better safe than sorry.

Annie-banana laughs at head halters. There's just no way to get it tight enough. I suppose I could maybe attach the Halti to the prong...there's no other collar that stays on.

I've been putting the Freedom harness on her, but I'm pretty sure she just stays in it to be polite. I have it on at tight as it can possibly be buckled, and she can still move in ways that leave it hanging loose when the loop is pulled tight.

Martingales aren't any better than flat collars. They make terrible backups for everything else.

I'm starting to think this dog's DNA may be tainted with something capable of collapsing its skull, maybe a rat or a ferret.

Not sure how she could slip out of a leash wrap? It would tighten as they pull making getting it over and under their front legs really hard...even short legs

Looks like you're stuck with the prong and the webmaster, huh?

I don't understand how a prong is better than a **properly fitted** martingale - it has the exact same action but is more rigid!

I haven't tried a leash wrap, but it's a good tool to have for emergencies. I'm sure she couldn't get out of it wrapped around her belly, but I'm a little leery of putting something that tightens around unprotected organs. She'd likely get out of a chest wrap the same way she gets out of a slip collar: dark magic.

And the leash wrap!

The martingale is less pinchy? She can get out of a choke chain and a slip lead too.

Is she on a leash when she's slipping things? I've seen big neck/little head dogs slip out of a loosened slip collar when they're running around, but never when on leash, since if they started to back up you could just tighten the slack on the collar? If she's pudgy, I'd probably skip a harness.

It wouldnt be on her belly but on her chest just under her legs.....

I am personally much more comfortable with pressure there then around their neck My houdini dog the leash wrap was the only thing I felt safe with. She had a really furry neck and multiple prongs she popped (properly fitted) and other collars she slipped.

Yep, she can back out of anything on her neck as soon as leash pressure is applied. Imagine a short, fat cone; now imagine trying to pull a collar tight on that, the tighter it gets the more it slides towards the tip. The ears and skull bones are just for show, her neck and head are actually cone-shaped.

Did you have a way of tying the leash wrap so it stayed in without tension? The ones I've seen done either go totally slack as soon as pressure is removed, or are tied with a fixed knot so they don't tighten.

Do you think you could take a quick video of her getting out of something like the martinggale or gentle leader? Just to give a better visual on how she moves her body? Might help with better suggestions.

Yes! I'll have her again in a couple of weeks and will definitely get some video evidence of her defying natural laws to get out of things.