Halti Brand Head Collars?

[Elizabeth Tasmania]

I would love to own a rotty and mastiff in a year (one at a time though) and got a whole heap of large dog stuff from the pet store, $188 worth;"

I bought two Halti head collars for training ($30 each!).

My mum's whippet Caz has one and I find she does sometimes back out of it, but other than that I find them very suitable for her.

What are your ideas on this collar?

Do you think they hurt a dog's eyes and mouth?

You can't use them in the show ring, but I'm talking about regular walks and things...

[Erny]

Head-collars in general can place a lot of strain on your dog's neck. Like any style of equipment - it's not the equipment itself but how you use it and you should know how to do this properly .... not only to best be able to train but also so that you can work to avoid having the head collar cause injury.

Personally, I find training occurs more quickly using other tools for training .... but in the end it does come down to your own personal choice. However, that choice should be made for what works best for your dog. Whippets have long necks though and given the leverage you have over the head, I worry that injury could be caused even more readily than usual.

I am also concerned that your dog is "backing out" of the head-collar. This would indicate that it is probably too large for her and if you wish to persue training/walking her in this, you would be best to select a more suitable size.

One thing with the "Halti" brand of head-collar is that the neck strap has the potential to slip as you are working it. This is acknowledged also by the manufacturer of the "Halti" and therefore they recommend that once you have correctly adjusted and fitted the "Halti" to your dog, that you put a stitch through the neck strap to prevent it from slipping.

Head collars can hurt the dog's eyes and mouth. Once again, it comes down to not only proper use, but also to being aware of what is occurring whilst your dog is wearing it (ie is it twisting etc.) Even when used properly and when the head-collar is fitted correctly, 'twisting' can occur if you are using it on a dog that *fights* you.

If you are showing her, then IMO you would be best to train so that walking can be achieved without the use of the head-collar, seeing as it isn't allowed in the show ring. Also IMO, ANY time you have the lead on a dog you ARE training. Whether people are training for the right thing or not is often another question.

Have you tried using a martingale training collar on your Mum's Whippet instead of a head-collar? In my experience, Whippets are considerably sensitive and light and I would not expect that you would require the leverage of a head-collar to achieve control or loose lead walking.

Edited October 28, 2007 by Erny

[t(AD)pole]

Erny!

I would like to reinforce though, that you are better off training your dog to walk on a loose leash then using a halti strait away. A halti (or any form of head collar) should only be used if you are having a lot of trouble training your dog to walk on a loose leash. Also, from my experience the halti does not train a dog to walk on the lead with out pulling, it simply makes it uncomfortable for the dog to do so. If a halti is used on a dog all the time and there is no effort being made to train the dog, as soon as it is removed the dog will pull again. Some dogs will still pull with the halti on.

[Erny]

ET : I've included some links to martingale collars (as well as one about collars in general) just in case you are not familiar with them. Please note that I've provided the links only so you can see some pictures and gain a basic understanding of them. Not because I concur with any of the text (which I haven't taken the time to read properly myself). Nor do I know of the stores in those links that are selling the collars.

Martingale dog collars

Martingale Dog Collars

Dog Collars - Wikipedia

Edited October 28, 2007 by Erny

[Cazz]

Teaching them to walk on a plain old leash and collar's best to start with.

I always kept the leash on the collar and the halti, even on trains. My old dog couldn't walk nicely on just a collar, he listened fairly well on the halti, but he had a tendency to destroy them.

[Elizabeth Tasmania]

Thanks.

I also agree that with a properly trained puppy/dog you don't need a Halti (training device).

But my concern was what is best for walking and training anyway? Just a plain old collar? They don't damage a dog's throat?

I would never use a check as they could damage the throat.

I just wanted to know about comfort, looks like its the collar then;)

I bought (for my future dogs, in a year):

A large purple suede collar

A large blue suede collar

Two blue Haltis

Two blue leads

for almost $200!!

I will use the haltis and collars, but not as a training device but on a trained dog, for comfort when walking. That's all. But if they are really bad I'll just stay with their collars.

[Guest Steph & Bam]

Thanks.

I also agree that with a properly trained puppy/dog you don't need a Halti (training device).

But my concern was what is best for walking and training anyway? Just a plain old collar? They don't damage a dog's throat?

I would never use a check as they could damage the throat.

I just wanted to know about comfort, looks like its the collar then;)

I bought (for my future dogs, in a year):

A large purple suede collar

A large blue suede collar

Two blue Haltis

Two blue leads

for almost $200!!

I will use the haltis and collars, but not as a training device but on a trained dog, for comfort when walking. That's all. But if they are really bad I'll just stay with their collars.

I love this article about head collars, it explains why they don't work, even though they look like they are.

Click Here

[Elizabeth Tasmania]

Thanks.

I also agree that with a properly trained puppy/dog you don't need a Halti (training device).

But my concern was what is best for walking and training anyway? Just a plain old collar? They don't damage a dog's throat?

I would never use a check as they could damage the throat.

I just wanted to know about comfort, looks like its the collar then;)

I bought (for my future dogs, in a year):

A large purple suede collar

A large blue suede collar

Two blue Haltis

Two blue leads

for almost $200!!

I will use the haltis and collars, but not as a training device but on a trained dog, for comfort when walking. That's all. But if they are really bad I'll just stay with their collars.

I love this article about head collars, it explains why they don't work, even though they look like they are.

Click Here

HAHA LOL

"They cure aggressive dogs" - leaflet inside packaging {WARNING: Do not let your dog bite another person]

rediculous!

Our whippet slipped out once and ran accross the road, thank god we caught her.

[Erny]

I would never use a check as they could damage the throat.

I would prefer a martingale over a head-collar AND over a standard flat collar. Any pressure that is applied (even simply by the action of the dog, if not yours) is spread more evenly around the dog's neck. With a flat collar, the pressure is directly on the dog's throat.

[huski]

Thanks.

I also agree that with a properly trained puppy/dog you don't need a Halti (training device).

But my concern was what is best for walking and training anyway? Just a plain old collar? They don't damage a dog's throat?

I would never use a check as they could damage the throat.

A check chain, like any training tool, if used correctly will not do any damage to the dog.

I have used checks when training my beagle and I have had no issues. IMO a check chain is safer and more preferable to use than a halti!

ETA: My preference is for martginales.

Edited October 28, 2007 by husky87

[Gayle.]

I love the head collar, but my dog hates it so I don't use it much any more. I just couldn't get control over him with a plain collar and lead, the head collar at least gave me immediate control, so I would use positive reinforcement, then went to a webbing training collar which was absolutely useless. Now I use a correction collar (check chain) and it's wonderful. I have a means to correct him without hurting him amd with a collar that he likes to wear.

For a leisurely stroll or a day out with the dog where I want control but don't want to be continually correcting him, I use a Sporn harness. It's comfortable for him and he can't pull my arm off.

[Erny]

... I use a correction collar (check chain) and it's wonderful. I have a means to correct him without hurting him amd with a collar that he likes to wear.

For a leisurely stroll or a day out with the dog where I want control but don't want to be continually correcting him, I use a Sporn harness. It's comfortable for him and he can't pull my arm off.

Hi GayleK .... how long have you been training in the check chain? If training is occurring, it shouldn't be that you need to continually correct him. I use a check chain where appropriate (mainly because the use of prong-collars is banned in Victoria), so my design for asking you this is not because I'm trying to attack the proper use of a check chain.

Do you take lessons to help you train your dog using the check chain? If not, a few lessons from a good trainer would help you out .... and before long you may find you won't feel the need to use a Sporn harness.

Edited October 28, 2007 by Erny

[Gayle.]

Erny, I've only been using it a few weeks and use it under the guidance of an instructor at the local club. On our regular walks, Benson is fine and mostly walks on a loose lead, but in new places, he's off here, off there....new smells, lots of distractions, and I find I'm correcting him more than on our normal route. Which is why I now use the harness for an unsual outing.

At training, he pulls to get closer to the other dogs. He's a big happy-head and wants to be friends with everyone but I have to keep him at heel because most dogs don't like a big waggly-tailed adolescent puppy bouncing all over them, and a quick check with the correction collar keeps him by my side.

ETA, I don't mind at all using different tools for different situations. My 13 yo daughter prefers walking him on the head halter (Gentle Leader brand) and he's just fine with her. He paws at his face when I use it, but he doesn't do this for her. For a quick walk to the local shop, I just clip his lead to his everyday flat coller but that's useless if we go somewhere different as I don't have much control.

I also use different lengths of leads for different situations, and that suits me and suits Benson.

Edited October 28, 2007 by GayleK

[Erny]

Thanks for your response GayleK. Apologies for the question - just concerned it wasn't being used properly as a training tool. Glad things are in progress for you.

[StaceyB]

I use a SPORN Training Harness for my dog - http://www.sporn.com/product_info.php?products_id=28 . It is great, so easy to walk her now. She is an APBT X Bull Arab and at 6 months is very strong, with the sporn hatler everytime she pulls the harness tightens around her front legs and hits pressure points and she stops straight away.

These halters are a lot safer for dogs that the Halti Head Harness and they are also quet comfortable for the dog to wear.

[cavNrott]

Elizabeth, why not wait until you have your dog before you buy things. Halti's in particular must be the correct size and the recommendations on the packaging are not much of an indication IMO. If my memory serves me correctly they recommended a size 4 for a Rottweiler and I found to get a perfect fit a size 3 was better and my dog had a head like a basketball. So their sizing is way off.

I did use a Halti for some time on my energetic, strong and totally silly Rottweiler when she was young. She weighed just a little less than I did and she was certainly stronger than me. I could not control this pulling dog at all and in order to train her I first of all had to be able to gain some control.

Under the guidance of a brilliant trainer we started off with a Halti. It was magic. I could control my dog and we were able to progess with obedience training. We have been using a chain loop martingale now for years.

Edited October 29, 2007 by cavNrott

[Tonymc]

Elizabeth,I am no fan of Halters for Dogs.Halters are terrific for Horses but Dogs of course have a totally different structure.

Many people wack a Halti on a Dog and think he or she due to their response is trained.In my view all the Halti does is provide a source of discomfort to the Dog.Take the Halti off and go back to a Flat Collar for a while and there is a big big chance the dog will revert to old behaviour.

An analogy would be this.You have a cut on your left arm which is bothering you.Somebody comes along and tells you they can fix your problem.So they put a much bigger cut in your right arm.The bigger cut in your right arm certainly takes your mind off the cut in your left Arm, but really does nothing to solve the real problem. Tony

[Erny]

Elizabeth, why not wait until you have your dog before you buy things.

My thoughts exactly, last night .... after I closed down the PC.

Equipment type should be chosen to suit the dog - not only for the size factor but also for the response factor. You may well find that with good tuition and training from the get go, you won't feel the need nor inclination to use a head-collar.

Edited October 29, 2007 by Erny

[percyk]

i never buy anything ahead of time

id get the dog and take it to a store and have it fitted

are u sure that u will have a mastiff even ?

i never even bought baby stuff ....not for my first anyway ..cos i didnt know the sex and i wanted to be sure that all would go well..im just like that

i knew of a girl who had two suitcases of stuff for the baby she was going to have....took her so many years to fall pregnant ...it was like she jinxed herself...and then she had a huge beautiful boy who didnt fit into the 000 sizes anyway

same with brides who collect stuff...

i say ..get the dogs...then go nuts at the store...save the money for now and let it be part of the doggy trousseau later