This is a specific conversation about Dog training — equipment and tools that help — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A 13-month-old Leonberger jumping up is one of those situations where good intentions from the dog create a genuinely dangerous problem — we're talking about an animal that's already probably 50–60 kg of pure affection. Good training tools amplify good technique rather than replace it, but the right equipment makes a real difference here, especially while the training is still in progress. To point you in the right direction: what exactly are you working on — is this greeting strangers on walks, visitors at the door, or both? And what have you tried so far?
It's mainly on walks and when people come to say hello. He's just so excited to greet everyone. We've tried saying 'off' and turning away but he just barrels into whoever is nearby instead. He's a big boy, already about 55 kg.
inparticular.ai
Right, so the 'turn away' method is running into the problem that at 55 kg he doesn't need your engagement to complete the jump — he's got plenty of other targets. Before we talk equipment, one quick question: are you currently walking him on a collar, a back-clip harness, or something else? That'll determine exactly what I'd suggest.
He's on a back-clip harness at the moment. A Julius-K9, actually. We got it because he was pulling, but honestly it hasn't helped much with either the pulling or the jumping.
inparticular.ai
That makes complete sense — back-clip harnesses actually give a big dog better leverage to lunge and pull, so they can inadvertently make both problems worse. For a Leonberger at this stage, I'd strongly recommend switching to the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It has a front chest clip that redirects him sideways when he tries to lunge toward someone, which naturally interrupts the jumping motion and brings him back to you without any harsh correction. It also has a back clip so you can use both points if needed. Crucially, it's padded well enough for a dog this size to wear comfortably for long walks. The front clip gives you the mechanical advantage to back up your 'off' cue with something that actually works while he's still learning — which at 13 months in a Leonberger, you're realistically looking at another year of consistent work. It won't train him on its own, but it stops the rehearsal of the unwanted behaviour while training sticks.
Does the front clip actually hold up to a dog his size? I've seen cheaper ones where the ring just gets pulled loose.
inparticular.ai
Yes, the Ruffwear Front Range is built for exactly this kind of load — the chest clip uses a welded aluminium V-ring that's genuinely robust, not the pressed-metal rings you see on budget harnesses. Ruffwear design for working and outdoor dogs, so the stitching and webbing are rated well above what even a large Leonberger will put through it. Make sure you size it carefully — measure his girth just behind the front legs. For a 55 kg male Leonberger you're almost certainly in the XL, but check their size chart because fit matters a lot for the front clip to work properly. A loose harness lets the ring migrate off-centre and you lose most of the redirecting effect.
That's really helpful. Should I still carry on with the 'off' training at the same time?
inparticular.ai
Absolutely — the harness is the management tool, not the solution. Keep working on a solid 'four paws on the floor' cue rewarded heavily with high-value treats the moment he chooses not to jump. Ask people who want to greet him to only give attention when all four feet are down, and keep greetings very calm and brief at first so you're not flooding him with the excitement that triggers the jump. Leonbergers are bright and they genuinely want to please — the enthusiasm that causes the problem also makes them very trainable once they understand what you want. The harness just stops him practising the jumping while that understanding builds.
