Chin Harness

[whooch]

My wife and I saw a Chin harness that you put around the Chins body. It has a leash to it. I guess the idea is that you can take your Chin outside and it wont get loose from you. Anyone used one of these? Is it a good idea?

[Kev Rob]

Who makes it?

With regular exercise your chin will be happy never leaving the house. Sounds boring to me and you, but to a prey animal like a chin, leaving an environment with established escape routes can be stressful!

Going outside, even with a harness, is too dangerous. An escaped chin is enough trouble inside, outside, you have almost no chance of getting him back again.

[Karin]

harness's are a great way to keep control of most pets in any environment.. with chin's, you got to be really careful.. to know the harness is snug enough... not so it cuts into the chin, but enough to make sure chinnie isnt slipping through..

several members on here use them.. chin's ride in cars with them, they go to pet store's, etc... we have to get one for our's..
sure, being in outside environment may be stressful and chin's wary... but depending on your chin's personality and behaviour? they might be perfectly content on going out..

[JBBinTex]

No harness...PERIOD. The chance of escape and/or injury are to great...IMO. Why would your chin need to go outside?

[tunes]

A chin does not "walk" it hops. A harness is not made for a chinchilla's natural movement (just like those incredibly stupid and dangerous runabout balls). Also, taking a chin outside makes for a dangerous situation. Unless the temperature is juuuuust right, your chin is going to overheat. You also risk exposing them to myriad illnesses that they won't be exposed to in your home.

I see people who take their chins to pet stores all the time - I prefer to keep mine healthy and safe.

[#1CHINFREAK]

I had a bad experience with a harness about a decade ago when I was a new owner. The chin survived, but barely!! I wouldn't in a zillion years put another chin in a harness.

I also wouldn't take my chinny outside. Your little guy might be on a leash, but can you guarentee every other animal you come in contact with will be? The neighbors dog may be sweet and never hurt a fly, but there is always a first time. A chinny would be a perfect dog/cat toy-they're fuzzy, they squeak, they are small-but big enough for a decent meal...... If I hear, "But, Spot's never done anything like that before!?" about an unleased pet, I'll explode.

[CHINCHILDREN]

absolutely no harness. as mentioned, they hop not walk and over heating will kill them.
they do not need to 'go outside.' they need good air circulation and excercise but not back yard time.

[Riddick]

I think a harness and leash for a chinchilla is the worst thing you could ever do...Let me tell you a true story.

My best friend bought a chinchilla and insisted on buying a leash to take it everywhere with her. I told her no, chins bodies are not set up to wear any kind of harness. Their little front legs can slip through anything and their necks are not long enough to put something around it. Also, their ridcages are so delicate and small...that the strap that goes around their belly is probably very umcomfortable. Also, the velcro on the harness will get caught in their fur and then you will have to painfully rip it out. Those Harnesses with the mesh around them are very hot to a chinchilla becuase their fur cann't fluff out and breath.

Well, anyway...my friend bought a harness and leash for her chin and put it on him and took him outside. She thought it was going very well...although he did not look happy, (I was there) Well...a bird landed on the grass in the chins eyesight...and the chin freaked out. He ran away and wrapped the leash around the patio furniture very tight...now that he cannot get away, he starts freaking out even more and wraps the leash around his neck...which freaks him out even more...the leash tightens and his neck snaps, he dies instantly.

If you think it cannot happen to your chin...all chins will act with a instinct to run if they see something that looks like a predator. Even the most mellow, laid back, well trained chin. If you want to take your chin out...put it in a carrier...