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"I thought I had to give away my dog" - How a 52-year-old woman from Eindhoven saved her bond with Rocky

After years of despair and failed attempts, Roos S. discovered a simple solution that changed her life - and that of her Labrador - forever. This is what she now recommends to other dog owners.

Dr. Emma Jansen

Editor | 38 years old

It was a grey November morning in Eindhoven when Roos S. (52) sat crying on her kitchen floor, the leash still in her hand. Her Labrador, Rocky, lay beside her, looking up with big, brown eyes. As if he sensed something was wrong.

"I couldn't do it anymore," Roos recalls. "Rocky pulled so hard on the leash that I tripped and fell. A passerby asked if I was still capable of walking such a large dog. At that moment, I thought: maybe she's right."

What Roos didn't know then was that she wasn't alone. Thousands of dog owners in the Netherlands struggle with the same problem every day, and many are on the verge of giving up.

When walks become a torment

Roos got Rocky as a puppy. Back then, everything was easy. But the bigger he got, the harder he pulled. What started as a small problem quickly turned into a nightmare.

"I really tried everything," she says. "4 different harnesses, between 20 and 60 euros. 3 dog training schools, I spent over 800 euros on them. Then those special halters that everyone talks about. Nothing really helped permanently."

But the worst part wasn't the failed attempts or the wasted money. It was the guilt.

"Every time Rocky choked because he ran into his collar, I felt like a bad dog mom. I saw the looks from other owners in the park. Heard the comments from passersby. And Rocky felt my tension. Our walks were no longer fun. Not for either of us."

The physical consequences crept in. First shoulder pain, then Roos had to go to physical therapy. She started avoiding certain routes and times. "Big dogs? Just don't run into them. I was afraid he would drag me to the ground again."

Then came the darkest moment. "I actually googled whether there are people who can get along better with Rocky. I loved him dearly, but I just didn't see a way out anymore. I was done with it."

A chance encounter that changed everything

It was a Saturday in the park when Roos met her friend Kim. Kim had her golden retriever Luna with her, and something was different.

"Luna walked completely relaxed beside her. No taut leash, no pulling, nothing. While only 3 months ago Luna was as much a puller as Rocky," Roos recalls. "I just had to ask what had happened."

Kim told her about a special harness her vet had recommended. The Alto™ Anti-Pull Harness.

She said something that stuck with me: 'It's not about training. It's about HOW the pressure on the body works. Most harnesses work against the dog's nature.'

Roos was skeptical. "Honestly, I rolled my eyes. Another 'wonder harness'? I had already spent so much money. But I was also desperate. What did I have to lose?"

Why most harnesses actually make the problem worse

What Roos didn't know then: The Alto™ No-Pull Harness was developed by veterinarian Dr. Marije van den Berg – and is based on a completely different principle than ordinary harnesses.

"In my practice, I see the consequences of incorrect harnesses daily," explains Dr. van den Berg. "From skin damage to spinal problems. The main problem is that most harnesses have a clip on the back. When pressure is applied there, it activates the so-called opposition reflex in the dog."

Did you know that the opposition reflex is an innate instinct? When pressure comes from behind, the dog automatically pulls in the opposite direction. "That's pure biology," says the veterinarian. "No dog pulls because it is naughty or dominant. It simply cannot do otherwise, as long as the harness works against its nature."

Collars are not an alternative. They can cause damage to the cervical vertebrae, trachea, and thyroid gland. "Many owners don't know how dangerous a collar can be if the dog constantly pulls against it."

But the Alto™ harness works with the dog's nature. The clip is at the front, on the chest. If the dog pulls, it is automatically gently turned to the side, back towards the owner. No opposition reflex, no fight against nature.

There is also an X-shaped pressure distribution, which distributes the force evenly across the entire chest. No chafing, no cutting, no gagging. And the breathable material ensures that the dog feels comfortable even during longer walks.

"The Alto™ harness works WITH the dog's anatomy, not against it," Dr. van den Berg summarizes.

The First Walk

Rose ordered the harness, and was nervous when it arrived. "What if it doesn't work again? What if I'm disappointed again?"

She put the harness on Rocky. It went surprisingly easy, no complicated buckles, no struggle. Rocky stood calmly.

Then they set off. And Rocky did what he always did: he pulled.

"But then something strange happened," Roos recounts. "He was automatically turned to the side, stopped, and looked at me. As if he wanted to ask, 'What was that?'"

After about five minutes, Roos noticed her shoulder relaxing. Her hand loosely held the leash. "I could hardly believe it. No gagging. No pulling. Rocky seemed... happier. As if he finally understood what I wanted from him."

After a week, their walks were transformed. "I could take him into the city again. Encounter other dogs? No problem anymore. When Rocky looked at me one morning and walked wagging next to me, tears welled up in my eyes. The bond I thought I had lost was back."

Today, six months later, Roos and Rocky enjoy relaxed walks three times a day. Even Roos' 75-year-old mother can now walk with Rocky. "I constantly receive compliments from other dog owners. And I always say: It's not training. It's the right tools."

Thousands of dog owners tell the same story

Roos is not alone. More than 40,000 dog owners in the Netherlands and Belgium now trust Alto™, and the stories are similar.

I've read through the reviews on our website and picked out a few for you:

Roos' advice for other dog owners

"If I've learned one thing: waiting doesn't make it better. The longer your dog walks with the wrong harness, the more he gets used to pulling, and the more damage is done. To his body and to your bond."

⚠️ Important: Alto™ is sold exclusively through the official webshop, not through bol.com, Amazon or Marktplaats. Products offered there as "Alto" are counterfeits, lacking the patented chest-clip mechanism.

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Roos said at the end of our conversation: "I wish I had known sooner. No one should suffer as long as we did." I can only agree with that.

I wish you and your dog all the best, and above all: finally enjoy walks again!

Kind regards,

Eva

About the editor:
Eva Prins (38) is an editor at Dogs Magazine and dog mom to Frieda, a crossbreed from the shelter. Through her own experience with leash pulling, she knows the despair of many dog owners all too well. She researches and tests products and methods that actually work. With her articles, she aims to help dog owners strengthen their bond with their four-legged friend.