The Weekly Growl:

A Canine Commentary

ZubaPets DreamWalker

By Stacy Mantle

For those of you who are not aware of our current "dog" situation (and I can't imagine that you aren't given the massive amount of writing I've done on it), we have three dogs.  A rather large Coyote/Wolf hybrid (Tristan), a mix breed that near as we can tell is somewhat of a Chow, Redbone Hound, and Collie (Cheiss - short for Cochise), and last but not least, a very brain damaged Beagle/Labrador mix named Roscoe. Every single one of these dogs have individual "challenges", putting it mildly, in walking with us.  Tristan is probably the best behaved, more than likely from the rigorous training we put him through when he was younger (that was a joke).  Cheiss CONSTANTLY PULLS on his leash, acting more like a sled dog than a Chow mix, and Roscoe - well, Roscoe has his own set of problems. 

Roscoe has been terrified of any type of restraint since we got him as a rescue.  It took me nearly two years to get him to wear a collar, (something I'm certain that The Dog Whisperer could have accomplished in less than an hour), and leashes are absolutely out of the question.  The second he feels a restraint, he flips onto his back and screams, yes screams.  Not bay, not bark, not howl, scream... When we go to the veterinarian, we have to carry him in.  At 65 lbs, he is too big to be carried, particularly by me as my back was destroyed from many years of abuse breaking horses.  So in order to go anywhere, my husband has to carry him. 

I tell you this to let you know how much the DreamWalker has impacted and changed our lives.  With the help of the DreamWalker, we can now walk Roscoe with our dogs.

ZupaPets has created an innovative product called The DreamWalker. The DreamWalker is a unique system that is designed to be a "no-pull" harness system.  Oxymoron?  Probably - but, the fact of the matter is that this brilliant design is one that has solved a lot of problems for us.  Bear with me as I do my best to explain...

Working as a "no-pull harness system", the Dreamwalker is  designed to apply pressure to the dog's chest, and like a harness on a horse, it is humane and easy-to-use.  The hardest part is putting it on for the first time.  And that was an experience worth relating!  

The DreamWalker arrives in a small box, along with printed detailed directions and an instructional DVD.  The instructions state very clearly that you can either spend hours trying to figure the system out on your own, or you can read the instructions and put the harness on your dog in minutes.  Unfortunately, I didn't read that part until I had struggled with the harness for nearly an hour.  So - my first recommendation to you is to read the instructions, watch the video and you'll have it placed on your pup in no time. 

After you go through the process of putting it on your dog once, it's a cinch to get it on again.  That first time is a doozy though!  But I digress...

We tested it on the other two dogs before Roscoe, as they are more "leash-friendly".  Since our other dogs vary in size, I was concerned about the fit.  However, the DreamWalker is so easy to adjust that you can do it in seconds for any of your dogs.  Tristan was thrilled to wear it, tired of the constant EZ-Lead that used to rub on his eyes and nose.  He behaved like a perfect gentleman, as did Cheiss, who no longer pulled like a sled dog.  It gave us complete control of the dogs, and I was even able to walk them both - WITH a bad back that usually threatened me at the slightest opportunity.  But, Roscoe was our real challenge.

We placed the harness on him, which he let us do (to our complete amazement), and out of respect for his fear, we let him grow accustomed to having it on before applying any pressure.  We placed it on him for a few minutes, then removed it, then repeated.  Over the next few days, we were able to take Roscoe out into the world... 

I'm not sure if anyone can really appreciate the significance of this event, although I've done my best to explain it.  But, it was a very powerful experience.  Roscoe, our psycho Beagle, is now walking on a leash, something he has not been able to do since we got him seven years ago.  

For that reason, and many others, we love the DreamWalker.  The dogs love the DreamWalker and our vet loves the DreamWalker.  There is no pinching, chaffing, or other problems that we have experienced in nearly two months of daily use.  The cords only apply pressure across the dogs chest when it begins pulling, which eliminates strain on the dog's neck, and it doesn't prohibit any type of exercise or movement that your dog may be accustomed too.  There is no need to "jerk" back on the harness, and I can't really explain why.  I'm sure there is something very technical involved that revolves around some type of physics, but the only thing I can tell you is that it works, and it works well.  In addition to being simple to use, the dogs love it and it makes walking oh-so-much easier for everyone! 

The straps are made from tubular, nylon webbing, and there are three different ways that you can create a "handle", all of which are explained.  One size fits dogs between 50-130 lbs.  At $49.99, it's a little more expensive than some units, but I can assure you that it is very worth the initial expenditure for the peace of mind and happy walks that you will receive!  No training is necessary, other than the first time you try and figure out how to put it on, and if you watch the DVD while you are putting it on your dog, you can make both yours, and your dogs life, much easier. 

From the Dogs:

Growls:  It's much better than having any other type of restraint, but we should be able to run free whenever we want without any harnesses or leashes!   

Leaps of Joy: We like the DreamWalker MUCH better than the painful neck collar or the harness things that fit on our noses and crunch up our eyes.    

From the Humans:

Two opposable thumbs up: Absolutely wonderful, innovative and back-saving product!  I can actually walk all three of my dogs without fear of my back going out!  Not only that, we are able to take Roscoe with us for the first time in his life!

About the Author

Stacy Mantle is a freelance writer who currently resides in the southwestern deserts of Arizona with a number of cats, a coyote/wolf hybrid, and a very understanding husband. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Pacific Yachting, The Arabian Horse Times, Today’s AZ Woman, and Pets Illustrated and she currently writes two pet product review columns for www.PetsWeekly.com. Many of her stories and articles have been translated into several languages, and now reach an international audience. Quickly becoming known as "…the Erma Bombeck of animals", her writing has skyrocketed to new heights as she records the stories of those she loves, inspiring the reader to learn why we have all come to love the animals we share our lives with. She is the author of Conquering the Food Chain: Living Amongst Animals (Without Becoming One), which is available in Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide, as well as online at www.bn.com or www.amazon.com

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