Was the same with my Taco. He'll grow into it, literally
But I also tried it early to just make him familiar with it. Just put it on his back without closing it, and then after a while I closed the harness. Was still too big, it literally fell of from his body but now it fits.
How would you all reccomend training an older dragon with the harness? My boy is around 5 (we think). I'd love to be able to take him outside, but don't know if that is something I'm able to do since his previous owner never exposed him to a harness or being outside as a baby.
What I did was just "gradually introducing it", as also recommended for other animals:
(Step 0: I made my dragon comfortable with being touched everywhere I would have to touch him when putting a harness on, and where the harness would be. So, dragon has no problem with touching his back, reaching under his belly and such.)
Step 1: I put the harness next to him and I touch it, play with it.
Step 2: I touch him with the harness.
Step 3: Harness is just put on his back (not wrapped around, not closed, it just lies there).
Step 4: Harness is put on, leash attached.
Each step only when he's absolutely relaxed with the previous one.
There are various kinds of harnesses; I have the one from Nectarlee that has a faux leather thing on the back and straps going around the belly. This way I don't have to pull it over my dragon's head.
What I did was just "gradually introducing it", as also recommended for other animals:
(Step 0: I made my dragon comfortable with being touched everywhere I would have to touch him when putting a harness on, and where the harness would be. So, dragon has no problem with touching his back, reaching under his belly and such.)
Step 1: I put the harness next to him and I touch it, play with it.
Step 2: I touch him with the harness.
Step 3: Harness is just put on his back (not wrapped around, not closed, it just lies there).
Step 4: Harness is put on, leash attached.
Each step only when he's absolutely relaxed with the previous one.
There are various kinds of harnesses; I have the one from Nectarlee that has a faux leather thing on the back and straps going around the belly. This way I don't have to pull it over my dragon's head.
Also in addition to this you obviously want to make sure he feels safe in a closed room (and with the harness on) before taking him outside.
He probably won't like going outside at first and you don't want him to connect the harness with a negative experience.
Absolutely! Generally, I followed the rules for leash-training a dog where one also starts with the harness indoors. First for the reason you mentioned, and then for the reason of making sure it really holds securely. Getting a harness securely around the typical beardie body shape (widest part is in the middle, can flatten or puff up, short strong legs...) IMHO is always a bit more cumbersome than with a typical mammal's body shape.
What also helped: For putting on the harness, let the dragon sit on a flat, hard surface where the claws can't dig in. I simply put him on a table (or his branch he has now in the room), so I can lift his legs easily when putting on the harness. Having him sitting on fabric, i.e. on me on my clothes, it's much more difficult.
Thank you guys for your feedback! So far I've taken him outside twice, and he did well. We brought out some of his rocks and hides and put a baby play pen around him. He seemed to like it, even though he was only out there for about 5 minutes each time.