Halti Or Gentle Leader Head Collar

[charley101]

Hi

Just wondered what you dolers thought was the best head collar a Halti or a Gentle Leader or anything else.

Its for a reactive GSD.

Thanks

[Kynan]

Hi charley, I would recommend contacting Mark Singer for a consult. He is a very well respected Dog Behaviour Specialist in Adelaide and will be able to properly assess the dog and recommend an appropriate tool to use in addition to a behaviour modification program. If the dog is lunging when reacting a head restraint can do serious damage to the dogs neck.

[fuzzy82]

I have heard good things about the black dog head collar, but as above, if the dog is reactive and lunging, then a head collar isn't the right thing to use.

[GoldenGirl85]

Neither, Sporn Head Halter has control from the back, its much better than both the two mentioned above

[poodlefan]

Neither, Sporn Head Halter has control from the back, its much better than both the two mentioned above

Still totally unsuitable to fit to a lunging dog.

[charley101]

Thanks for your replies the dog has already been assessed by a behaviourist vet and has started anxiety meds and a training programme. The head collar is really just as a precaution rather than a fixer. The dog will not be introduced to other dogs until we feel it can cope with them and then only from a distance but i want to get him used to a head collar sooner rather than later just incase i need one. I havent used one before so wondered what everyone thought.

Why would you say the sporn is better than the others ?

[Kynan]

Did the vet recommend a head collar?

Is the dog lunging suddenly when it is reacting?

Edited June 27, 2011 by Kynan

[charley101]

I can see your point about a lunging dog in a head collar hmmm

Edited June 27, 2011 by charley101

[Kynan]

Mark Singer will recommend the best collar to use for that individual dog and will show you how to use it correctly and safely as will Steve Courtney from K9 Pro. Steve is based in Sydney but does do some consults via correspondance with phone and email.

eta dont be put off by the e-collars that are currently being advertised on K9pros homepage. Steve is a very kind and humane trainer and was even whispering in my boys ear and gently touching him in specific places to help calm him around other dogs

Edited June 27, 2011 by Kynan

[charley101]

Kynan what collar did your dog on when training with Steve ?

[Kynan]

A prong collar.

[raineth]

you want to get one that fits your dog the best in regards to not riding up into his eyes.

So you might need to buy a few. The reason why i say buy is because you need to desensitise them to wearing a head collar so if he's never worn one you can't go into a shop and try them on because that will probably freak him out.

The canny collar (just google it) seems to fit most comfortably on a dog's head from what I've seen (similar to the one above it attaches at the back of the dog's head). However if the reason why your behaviourist wants you to use a head collar is so you can easily move your dogs head then one of the other ones may be better as its not as good at steering the head.

I think the lunging dog and head collar can be a problem. But if you're working with a behaviourist they are probably going to keep your dog under the threshold where he won't be exhibiting behaviours like lunging. Probably best to check with them about that

[charley101]

you want to get one that fits your dog the best in regards to not riding up into his eyes.

So you might need to buy a few. The reason why i say buy is because you need to desensitise them to wearing a head collar so if he's never worn one you can't go into a shop and try them on because that will probably freak him out.

The canny collar (just google it) seems to fit most comfortably on a dog's head from what I've seen (similar to the one above it attaches at the back of the dog's head). However if the reason why your behaviourist wants you to use a head collar is so you can easily move your dogs head then one of the other ones may be better as its not as good at steering the head.

I think the lunging dog and head collar can be a problem. But if you're working with a behaviourist they are probably going to keep your dog under the threshold where he won't be exhibiting behaviours like lunging. Probably best to check with them about that

Thank you so much for this post i was beginning to think i had asked for a behaviourist. Yes the dog will be kept under threshold the reason for getting the head collar now is so that he can get used to it just in case we need it in the future.

Kynan - Thank you also for your advice but i wont be touching Mark Singer with a 20 ft pole. E-collars and prong collars are not my idea of fun.

[charley101]

A prong collar.

Just out of interest how is your dog getting on now ? do you still need the prong collar ?

[Aidan3]

I have never seen or heard of any problems with lunging dogs in head collars. However, front-attaching harnesses are more user-friendly as most dogs accept them willingly. They don't offer as much leverage, but they offer enough in most cases unless you are injured or really tiny.

[Kynan]

A prong collar.

Just out of interest how is your dog getting on now ? do you still need the prong collar ?

We now use a martingale.

[Kynan]

Thank you so much for this post i was beginning to think i had asked for a behaviourist.

The reason for recommending a behaviourist was because in your first post you had made no mention that you had consulted any professionals. A good dog behaviourist will be able to discuss what type of head collar is best for that dog.

[Brennan's Mum]

Thank you so much for this post i was beginning to think i had asked for a behaviourist.

The reason for recommending a behaviourist was because in your first post you had made no mention that you had consulted any professionals. A good dog behaviourist will be able to discuss what type of head collar is best for that dog.

Ditto.

Is there a reason why you would not consider an E-collar or Prong collar? The prong collar is generally seen as being kinder than the choke collar. Of course with all tools you want to ensure they are properly fitted and that you know how to use them properly.

[Red Fox]

Kynan - Thank you also for your advice but i wont be touching Mark Singer with a 20 ft pole. E-collars and prong collars are not my idea of fun.

Why?

Perhaps you should actually open yourself up to learning about these tools before making a statement like that.

In answer to your original question, neither. I'd not use a head collar on a reactive dog. JMO.

[fuzzy82]

Kynan - Thank you also for your advice but i wont be touching Mark Singer with a 20 ft pole. E-collars and prong collars are not my idea of fun.

Why?

Perhaps you should actually open yourself up to learning about these tools before making a statement like that.

In answer to your original question, neither. I'd not use a head collar on a reactive dog. JMO.

I know the tools, and I would not use them on reactive dogs either. I have a reactive dog, and he wears a normal harness. Special collars are not really needed to fix reactivity. If the dog is very strong and pulls the owner around when lunging, then I would recommend a no pull harness.

And for the OP, even though you are planning to keep the dog below threshold while using a head collar, in real life that doesn't always work. Sometimes you will walk around a corner and suddenly there is a dog in your face, or you encounter a loose dog. If the dog regularly lunges, there is no way I would use anything that would jerk is head around. If you're planning to keep him below threshold anyway, why is a special collar needed? If you just need control when he does lunge when real life happens, then I would again recommend a no pull harness.

A lot of dogs really HATE head collars, and you need to desensitise them to wearing the collar before they can even wear it on walks. Some dogs always hate them, some are ok with them, and some don't care at all. Certainly wouldn't be my first choice.