Iguana hip harnesses?

[Shaun]

Are they as reliable as the ones that go around the iguanas shoulders? Where would I get one?

[Tesa]

I think they are more reliable. Thrasher managed to worm her way out of the shoulder harness on 2 different occasions. The hip harness is basically just a slip-knotted leash that is locked into place by one of those slidey barrel bolts that you see many times hanging from coats. (geeeee I'm sure that makes sense to ya...duh me)
I'll work on finding a close up shot for ya......

[Tesa]

AHA! I foumd a decent picture at www.miniworlddolls.com/DritzFasten.htm#

[Lyn]

Thats funny Tesa, I knew exactly what you were talking about....lol.... Lyn

[Tesa]

I found another good pic....

community.webshots.com/photo/30948630/51774346ldtnlK

[Merlin]

The hip lead is much more secure than the harnesses. If the ig folds his arms straight back they can scoot right out of the harness. Plus with a harness, should they go ballistic (naw igs don't do that!) you have them hanging by the neck. With the hip lead it loops around the body in front of the rear legs and the legs are too thick to let it slide off. I have used one on Zok since she was little and have never had a problem. It is also much easier to get on or off. However I would use a bit thicker cord than the yarn in the second pic that Tesa posted.

[rocmills]

I don't mean to be picky here, but no one has answered Shaun's original question... which has now become *my* question, too! Where do we get one! I've never had Bailey on a leash, but Dom's recent tragedy has me worried about the future. The next time I take Bailey or Mary out for a walk, I think I'd feel a bit safer with a leash or lead... where do we find one of these hip-harnesses? Or is it something we can make at home?

--Roc

[prism_wolf]

You can easily make one. This is taken from the files of the Iguana Den yahoo group:

"REAR LEG HARNESSES

MATERIALS:

Ribbon, cord, shoe string, etc. (You can purchase these at Wal Mart, K Mart, any fabric store, etc.) I bought 3 yards of cord for $.57/yd I wanted to make a nice long leash so Eegads could graze while I held onto his leash. Make sure whatever you buy is strong enough that it won’t fray or rip easily.

Drawstring stopper (These can be bought at Wal Mart, K Mart, fabric stores, etc., as well)

Now for the hard part! LOL

1. Thread one end of your cord through the drawstring stopper (barrel clasp).

2. Tie a knot at the end behind the drawstring stopper.

3. About 6 inches away from the drawstring stopper, fold the cord in half and thread back through the drawstring to make a loop. That is what will slip over his back legs. Then use the longer cord to adjust the loop to fit tight.

Pretty simple, huh? LOL It is simple and cheap, and very safe and secure."

The one that shows in the supply pictures of this forum is mine. I actually took it from an actual iguana harness that had the leather "vest style" sling where the arms slip through the holes.


I took off the sling part and just used the leash with existing barrel clasp.


Even when Zair alligator rolls, the leash wraps around his body and tail instead of his neck and I can usually get to him and stop him before he wraps up to badly.

Making one is BY FAR cheaper than buying an existing harness and modifying...

[prism_wolf]

The link that Tesa gave that shows the beautiful cyclura uses yarn to make the leash. I strongly suggest using something much stronger...and non-abrasive. Yarn is soft, but not very strong used as a single strand. You could braid it and get a stronger leash out of it I suppose.

Heavier, soft cording would be ideal...

[Tesa]

Holy cow! That IS yarn! I didn't even loook at that....was too busy trying to get a decent example of the clasp thingy..
Good catch!!
btw....that's exactly how I made Thrasher's. lol I tore up the expensive vest leash and used the pieces to make the rear leash. I wish I'd have realized this BEFORE purchasing the vest.

[prism_wolf]

I wish I'd have realized this BEFORE purchasing the vest.

Me too...you can see how much I paid for the vest thingy! Way to much!! And by the time I was able to use it on him it was to small anyway...

[Merlin]

At our local fabric store the barrel clips are 25 cents and you can buy whatever amount of cord you need by the foot. Much cheaper than the commercial harnesses. I would suggest a cord with a very tight weave. The courser weaves will snag and quickly begin fraying.

[Shaun]

Well it worked kind of. I attached his normal harness around his back end rather than the front. I didn't put his legs through the holes, just around his torso. I felt confident about the new setup and let him walk around on the grass for the first time ever. (he stays on me or on the deck normally) Well when I reached to pick him up he began to death roll furiously and kept trying to get away. I've never seen him so against the idea of going inside. I eventually managed to get him indoors but sheesh I wasn't expecting him to get so attached to the outside.

[mar]

Yup, I know what it is like not being allowed to go inside. Rather than a scab or scar where Bob got me when I was taking his harness off I have a callus, weird.

Start to always pick him up the same way when outside and don't try to hold him back on the leash. I always walk up along side Bob and scoop him up from the side and slightly behind. He no longer minds being scooped up at all, nor does he start to walk away when I try. Remember igs are so habitual, this time you can use it to your advantage.

Mark

[Merlin]

don't try to hold him back on the leash.

That is the only time that Zok does the croc roll is when she wants to go somewhere and I stop and won't allow her to proceed. I think that where people get in trouble with any sort of leash is they assume the lizard is going to be walked like a dog. One thing I learned early on is "HEEL!" doesn't work!
You have to work with them on their terms. Sometimes for good reasons you can't let them have their way and thats generally when they get rowdy.