Anti Pull Devices - Head Collars, Harnesses

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I'm interested in hearing some success stories.

Our club has agreed that from now on the goal with anti-pull devices is to explicitly treat them as a stop gap training tool. The aim is to have all owners of dogs in anti-pull gear weaned off the devices. Dogs won't be able to pass the last level of introductory classes with an anti-pull device on.

I don't want this thread to be side-tracked into a head-collar war, I'm just keen to hear about techniques to wean people off them. We have never used them on our dogs, and I have always sent people to other trainers to get them fitted, so they are really not my department expertise wise.

[Nekhbet]

why are the dogs responding to them in the first place?

thats why I dont use them, its easier to wean down to another collar then from head collar to a whole new sensation. I say put them on a collar with the head collar still on (for the mental reminder) and work from there.

or use a martingale/check chain in the learning phase if they are that bad a puller

[SkySoaringMagpie]

why are the dogs responding to them in the first place?

thats why I dont use them, its easier to wean down to another collar then from head collar to a whole new sensation. I say put them on a collar with the head collar still on (for the mental reminder) and work from there.

As I understand it, a properly fitted head collar should always be leashed to a flat collar. So in theory the dogs should already be used to having a collar on. It's "in theory" tho', because not everyone is shown how to properly fit and use a head collar.

[Nekhbet]

I mean used to the sensation of pressure on the collar = dont pull or move here etc

the movement and restricting pressure comes from the head collar not the neck collar itself hence me saying you retrain the dog to understand when you give a little pull on the flat collar it means go no further or dont pull.

[Cosmolo]

I like to go from-

Headcollar- lead connected to

2 leads connected 1 to headcollar, one to flat collar to

1 lead on flat collar, headcollar on but not connected to

1 lead on flat collar

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I like to go from-

Headcollar- lead connected to

2 leads connected 1 to headcollar, one to flat collar to

1 lead on flat collar, headcollar on but not connected to

1 lead on flat collar

Nifty, thank you for this!

The headcollar on but not attached is the "obvious" link I had been missing.

[leopuppy04]

I do much the same as Cosmolo

[RubyStar]

The headcollar on but not attached is the "obvious" link I had been missing.

I could be wrong but I got the impression that that was what Nekhbet was also suggesting?

[SkySoaringMagpie]

The headcollar on but not attached is the "obvious" link I had been missing.

I could be wrong but I got the impression that that was what Nekhbet was also suggesting?

Quite possibly. Cosmolo saying "not attached" was what turned the lightbulb on in my head.

[corvus]

Is it worthwhile using a word? I've been saying "hold up" to Kivi when there is pressure on the leash just before I stop moving all together since I first put him on a leash. I don't have to say it much anymore, but if he does get a bit carried away on the scent of something I only need to say "hold up" and he slows. He never even looks up anymore, just slows down or stops. Half Kivi's english vocabulary is verbal directions when on leash.

[Paulp]

I trained my second dog on a head collar after attempting initially for 4 weeks on a flat collar (she would not stop pulling long enough to get a word of praise in edgeways). When I was starting to get focus using food and she was starting to get the idea with loose leash walking I went back to the flat collar (after a couple of months). I made the break abruptly, I just stopped using it one weekend. Last weekend she graduated to the highest class in obedience.

Edited July 27, 2009 by Paulp