My retired father watches our 13 month old girl during the day while we are at work. We put up a run for her so that she can be outside without him if he is busy. She has been out on the run every now and then for the past few months but recently learned how to squeeze out of her collar and escape. She has really thick fur around her neck and I don't want her collar to be too tight, I don't even think we could tighten it enough to prevent her from getting out once she sets her mind to it. My question is, would a harness work in this situation so that she can't escape and if so, what would be a good type of harness? Thanks!

try a martingale collar - if she pulls on it, it will tighten.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=martingale+collars+for+dogs&tag=googhydr-20&index=pets&hvadid=39916058090&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11861639793763167026&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_6paqjr2i13_b

We keep Ami on an overhead trolley when we leave the house - he learned to undo the snap shackle on the tether So I just put an extra snap shackle on his lead - once he gets one undone and he's not loose, he gives up. I considered a harness but decided against it because I thought he might chew his way out. We currently use a metal buckle collar, it is tightened to the recommended "2 fingers underneath". I don't think he could ever back out of that BUT he has never tried. And Ami has a LOT of fur. I do believe people here on the forum have occasionally mentioned dogs backing out of harness - with recommendations for harnesses that can't be backed out of - maybe do a search on "harness" or "dog backing out of harness" (if you haven't already.)

I also try to make life interesting when he's on the trolley - he never gets put out there without some sort of treat. And if we are leaving the property, he always gets a bone (we've watched him enough with bones to know he's not an aggressive chewer and I only leave bones that are too big to swallow whole.) I rotate the toys - sometimes a soccer ball (or what's left of it ), sometimes his squeeky toy or a tennis ball or a kong stuffed with kibble and peanut butter. Or sometimes, I'll take his kibble ration and sprinkle it all through the grass.

And finally, if he's going to be out there alone for more than a bit, he gets a walk before I leave - minimum of 2.5 miles and an hour. Then the big boy takes a nap. Also, when he used to be mostly tethered, I moved the tethers around to various trees to give him variety - front yard, back yard, side yard - and always on a high spot with a view.

Thank you for the suggestions! I don't think she has ever been out there by herself for more than an hour but she doesn't like being left alone. My father is right inside the house, but she can't see him. I bet she would like it if she had a bone, that is a good idea. Something to keep her occupied could be very helpful.