Halti Or Gentle Leader Head Collar

[pawsaroundoz]

Around last Christmas my then 18 month old Whippet was rushed at by a Pit Bull X, knocked over with enough force to break a couple of ribs and winded - I stepped in before there were bites as well, after that he was very scared of just about any bigger dog and even some his size.

I have been using a variety of training routines and the Black Dog version of the halti.

This morning I took Connor to a Pets Day out for Animal Awareness Week, there were a fair few dogs of many varieties as one would expect, granted they were mostly on leash and under control, although the amount of control varied and 1 rather foolish woman did come with her dog but without a lead???

I was so pleased with Connor! He handled it all very well, became a little nervous 2-3 times but a quick 'yes' and he looked at me and forgot the other dog....I was very pleased with his responses.

Annie

[BC Crazy]

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

I love my Infin-8 halters by Black Dog. I use them on both my kids & they are fantastic.They aren't harsh & they don't ride up

their face like other halters seem to do & are very effective. As they improve on their lead you just take the nose

band off if you want. They get used to them very easily as well. My boy had an issue snapping at things ( in particular, car's )

passing by when we were out walking & he was younger I used it to have more control over his head & it made it much easier to correct him.

He used to always slip a flat collar which worried me no end. Infin-8 worked for us.

Edited July 6, 2011 by BC Crazy

[JoeK]

Greeting to everyone,

This is on my opinion people should be understanding the head collar is very rare using him will be teaching the dog to walk properly. Is may be good tool for better walking when is on the dog, but my opinion is train him on the head collar, you always needing the head collar for nice walking, taking off the head collar the dog is no good you see?. You can train a dog to walking nicely on your side without a collar at all is possible too, so when people saying to me Joe, I thinking to use a head collar, I tell to them NO, is better ways of training good walking behavior. on the long term of the dog, yes!

Joe

Edited July 5, 2011 by JoeK

[aussielover]

I like halters for horses ;)

I prefer to use collars (correction if required) or harnesses for dogs.

If you do chose to use a halter make sure it as as comfortable fitting as possible. You also have to condition them to accept it- although for some dogs it remains a little annoying/aversive for ever (which is why I prefer correction collars- only aversive when the dog is doing the wrong thing).

I do think you're a little misguided when you say check chains and prong collars are cruel.

I used to think prong collars were cruel as well - they do look horrible don;t they?

I've seen them used now and I can now see what a great tool they can be. I recommend you watch an experienced trainer work a dog in a prong before you totally dismiss it as being cruel.

But you should use whatever tool you are most comfortable with. I would much rather see a dog being walked in a halti, than not being walked at all

[JoeK]

I like halters for horses ;)

I prefer to use collars (correction if required) or harnesses for dogs.

If you do chose to use a halter make sure it as as comfortable fitting as possible. You also have to condition them to accept it- although for some dogs it remains a little annoying/aversive for ever (which is why I prefer correction collars- only aversive when the dog is doing the wrong thing).

I do think you're a little misguided when you say check chains and prong collars are cruel.I used to think prong collars were cruel as well - they do look horrible don;t they?

I've seen them used now and I can now see what a great tool they can be. I recommend you watch an experienced trainer work a dog in a prong before you totally dismiss it as being cruel.

But you should use whatever tool you are most comfortable with. I would much rather see a dog being walked in a halti, than not being walked at all

People get misguided by the trainers who havnt achieve anything for hanging up their hat on so they sell themself on something like not being cruel on the dog becuase it sounding good for promotion becuase they dont having anything else to sell the service on. Good trainer dont needing the selling point when the achievement speaking for itself, yes?

So instead of saying I am dog trainer for 20 year and winning 6 Schutzhund championship and having 4 agility title and training protection dog, they say I don't use the prong collar becuase I am nice trainer and dont training on cruel method. Doesnt matter if trainer is a donkey and could train properly a dog walking without a head collar. All that matter to selling service is humane aspect to telling how bad is trainers using the prong and the Ecollar and how they damaging the dog to keep way from the trainer using this aversive tools is how they sell themself otherwise, they never get a training job you see?

This working both ways for my opinion, if a trainer knocking methods of others to making themself looking better on the public eye, is probably donkey trainer in my feelings misguiding people and best avoiding trainers like this if getting the dog trained properly is what we looking for.

Joe

[charley101]

WOW just got back online after a few days and am amazed at how many replies this has had.

I have taken onboard everything you all have said. Yes you are probably right i shouldnt dis what i dont know about so will try to go and visit a trainer who uses choke chains and prong collars so i can make my own mind up.

You will be happy to hear the dog is coming along great on the meds he really is not your average dog and has big anxiety problems. Since being on the meds he has started wagging his tail for the first time and is playing like a puppy lol he is sleeping deeper and is able to focus for the first time - its fantastic to see.

We are going to stick with the sense-ible front connection harness for now which he gets on well with. He is not ready to take on the scary outdoors yet anyway.

[raineth]

WOW just got back online after a few days and am amazed at how many replies this has had.

I have taken onboard everything you all have said. Yes you are probably right i shouldnt dis what i dont know about so will try to go and visit a trainer who uses choke chains and prong collars so i can make my own mind up.

You will be happy to hear the dog is coming along great on the meds he really is not your average dog and has big anxiety problems. Since being on the meds he has started wagging his tail for the first time and is playing like a puppy lol he is sleeping deeper and is able to focus for the first time - its fantastic to see.

We are going to stick with the sense-ible front connection harness for now which he gets on well with. He is not ready to take on the scary outdoors yet anyway.

Great news! Very happy to hear it

[AdelK9]

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.

Hi Charley ... I would say less than 5% of my clients use prong collars.. 90%+ are on martingales. None are using ecollars (not that I disagree with their use). NONE use gentle leaders or head halters. I do my best to accommodate my clients needs. Behaviour modification is more about owner/dog relationship than the actual tools used. I haven't read the entire thread, however reactive aggression is a ticking time bomb, for you and your dog. If purely positive methods are not helping your GSD, then you need to find an alternative method that does work. Medication is NOT the answer..honestly! You are more than welcome to pop out to my sunday group socialisation class without your dog, and observe the methods used on those dogs, have a chat with the dog owners and me. I think you will have a different opinion then. Please don't judge my methods without seeing them first hand. It's possible your dog just may have lead frustration, due to the way you walk him and the relationship you have with him at home. Offer is open.

EDIT: I say attend my class without your dog, as all owners and dogs that attend my socialisation class must have a home consultation first. I need to see the entire picture, dog and family relationship, etc..Not just the dogs reaction around other dogs.

Hi everyone... After some time away from the site..thought I'd pop in and say hi! May even hang around occassionally

Have a great day

Mark

Edited September 2, 2011 by AdelK9

[AdelK9]

WOW just got back online after a few days and am amazed at how many replies this has had.

I have taken onboard everything you all have said. Yes you are probably right i shouldnt dis what i dont know about so will try to go and visit a trainer who uses choke chains and prong collars so i can make my own mind up.

You will be happy to hear the dog is coming along great on the meds he really is not your average dog and has big anxiety problems. Since being on the meds he has started wagging his tail for the first time and is playing like a puppy lol he is sleeping deeper and is able to focus for the first time - its fantastic to see.

We are going to stick with the sense-ible front connection harness for now which he gets on well with. He is not ready to take on the scary outdoors yet anyway.

Great news! Very happy to hear it

anxiety is learned behaviour. Dogs aren't born anxious .. Change the relationship we have with our dog, we modify the behaviour... In my personal opinion too many opt for medication as a quick fix, instead of focusing on the relationship with their dog. Medicating a dog should, in my opinion, be a last resort. Too many Vet behaviourists are all for handing out meds. Most do not do home consultations to see the relationship the dog has with its owners. How can they get the full picture? All they see is an anxious dog entering their surgery.... "We need to calm him.. here take these each day".. problem fixed. Is it realy fixed.. or just masking the dogs stress?

However Charley.. I am happy you are seeing results.. Hopefully though with the right guidence, your dog will eventually be taken off the meds.

Edited September 2, 2011 by AdelK9

[charley101]

Hey Mark

Thanks for the post and the offer i might just take you up on that when i get a free Sunday.

I just want to clarify - the shepherd is not my dog i had originally been employed by the owner to walk it as she works long

hours and the dog was getting distructive at home. When i first arrived it was obvious the dog had serious problems and walking was out of the question. I suspect the problems are partially due to it being shut up in the yard for most of the time while it was young with a barking dog next door jumping at the fence. The dog is under the care of a behaviouralist vet now and is on a strict training programme. I visit the dog everyday and he is coming along great. The meds he is on are not a cure they just take the edge off and allow him to learn calmly rather than flying off the handle at everything. He will be weaned off them eventually.

I am more than happy with his progress