Halties and Gentle Leaders

[Emmalee]

I've seen a couple of dogs around my area with these on, and was wondering how well they work. These dogs were medium size dogs.. do they work on the large dogs too? Do they automatically stop pulling or do you have to train train them while on a Halti or Gentle Leader to stop pulling? How do they work?

 

[StillandSilent]

A dog must be trained to accept one and walk well with it. When you first use one, you are essentially re-leashtraining your dog, except they fell pressure on the snout instead of the head. Expect a little fighting at first, just like you had when you trained your dog with a collar. It is not as simple as just slap the thing on and everything goes great.

That being said, I find they can be a very valuable tool for some dogs. My beagle uses one when we are out, she seems more focused and her nose is not on the ground all the time. The best way to use one, is to introduce it slowly, with lots of praise and treats.

I prefer the gentle leader to the halti, they just seem sturdier. They can be a little hard to fit at first, it usually takes two people, one to fit and one to hold the dog. You have to watch out and make sure that the nose strap does not rub the fur off, some dogs are very sensitive.

Some dogs train to it very quickly, and some will just keep on pulling. Not quite as hard as before, but still pulling. I've heard some people worry about damage to the head/neck, but I've never actually heard of it happening. All in all, not a miracle tool, but they can be a good starting tool for teaching good leash manners.

 

[katt223]

I've got a gentle leader for Bella, it works great as far as stopping the pulling. It was quite easy to get her used to walking with it, however she still likes to roll around on the grass rubbing her nose sometimes.

 

[Dekka]

I personally don't like them, on many levels. First, many people will stick them on their dogs instead of taking the time to train them (not talking about ppl on this forum, but about the 'busy' people who shouldn't really own dogs if they are not going to take the time to train and enjoy them) I also find that many dogs find them aversive, and that the 'calming' effect is in fact a suppressing effect. It is like wearing hand cuffs to a human, albeit ones with a long chain inbetween. But a dogs mouth and nose are the parts of their body they use to interact with the environment, and for protection. Some dogs get quite stressed about them, some dogs adapt.

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/headhalters.html this is an article by Suzanne Clothier, who says what I think much more eloquently that I

 

[noludoru]

Like any training tool, they can be used in harmful ways. They will not work for every dog.

I don't know how to use one, and even though the internet is a great resource, I suggest you find a trainer that knows them well.

As to them hurting necks/faces/etc? Of course they can. Even with proper use. Some people who use them successfully don't give their dogs gentle 'nudges' to tell them when they should stop, and SNAP goes the dog's head. That's all the human's fault, and can be avoided by paying attention and training. Some dogs don't get the message with them, and that's another way problems can start. Then owners will be yanking and rubbing their faces sore, possibly cutting into the dog's face.

Edit: Dekka... great link. I like that article a lot. Thanks for posting.

 

[squirtsmom]

I am not even sure what you are talking about,

 

[whackichic]

Halti's - boooooo
The dog walkers used one and burned her muzzle. Look at the white on her muzzle,

[/IMG] It was healing nicely until.....

promised me they would never use it again. Next time they walked her:

[/IMG]

the owners said they walker said it was from playing. I think not. I should have done something more than fire them. Her hair did not grow back right and she has a white spot on her nose now. Halti's, unless you know how to use them correctly - don't do it!!!!!! boooooooooo (for those of you who have seen the Princess Bride it's the boo from there when the old lady boo's Buttercup)

 

[noludoru]

I'm so sorry for your baby. Dumb*** dog-walker. That's what happens when both you and the dog don't know how to behave on one. ugh...

 

[Ladychaos]

umm okay, seriously that is a bad dog walker! it wasn't the halti's fault the ignorant dog walker probably pulled and yanked on the dog's muzzle. That's what happens when people don't use training tools correctly. They can easily injure the dog if the person using it is a moron. A common problem with choker chains. I have personally tried every friggin walking device with my dog. A martingale, a choke collar, a harness, a no pull harness, a regular nylon collar, and finally the halti. The halti is great because it doesn't put pressure on the dog's esophagus it trains them to walk and not pull. If the dog pulls (do not EVER pull the dog back thats why these things hurt dogs) then the halti will lead the dog back by his face rather than choke him. But it works similar to a choke chain in the sense that the dog has to pull not you pull the dog. I personally dislike pinch collars, I understand why people use them. I have no problem with them. That would be the next step if coal kept pulling on the halti. But don't use gentle leaders or haltis on doberman pinschers because they can develop serious neck problems. I also would make sure you use the safety device that allows it to be connected to the collar incase the dog snaps it. Strong dogs will be able to snap it easily. I still love my halti though. The dog not so much lol.

 

[Sada]

I have had both good and bad experiences with Gentle Leaders.

It worked wonderfully for both Dreyfuss and Chyna. They both behaved beautifull with them on. THat is until Chyna slipped the nose piece of and chewed it up. That was when I decided to switch Chyna to a prong collar.

I tried one on Jack and I took it back to the store a week later. He began to associate it with the show choke to the point were when I put a show choke on him he would paw at him muzzle. It took me 4 months toget him out of it and he still does it occasionally.

I personally don't see anything wrong with using a gentile leader, but I wouldn't recommend using it on a show dog.

 

[SpringerDog]

I started with a flat collar on Fergus. I thought he was going to pull my arm off...ouch. He was 10 lbs heavier and a lot of muscle. After two weeks and finally coming here, I learned about the Gentle Walker, a harness that hooks in front so when a dog pulls he is forced to turn around towards the walker. I could walk Fergus now, I was so relieved and so were my shoulders.

We started beginner's obedience and they use the Gentle Leader. This comes with a DVD for instructions for use, but I think they should be fit with someone who know how to. One finger should be able to slide under the top part behind the head, and it needs to be adjusted regularly, otherwise it's too loose. The part on the nose should not be able to be pulled over the nose. Soft fabric or flannel can be sewn or attached to soften the part over the nose. These should not ever be "popped", that will hurt/injure the dog, gentle tugs get the results needed.

We're now doing a training class for CGC and have to test with the flat collar. So far we have been using the Gentle Leader, but next week we start training with the flat collar.
I think these are great tools to use, but I think training to a flat collar should be the end goal eventually...basically a trained dog, but sometimes you need help getting there.

 

[Ladychaos]

I also prefer the halti to the gentle leader. Just my opinion...

 

[Siberian Mom]

newtrix.ca has a collar called the easyway collar its like the halti but instead of yanking the muzzle down it puts a little pressure behind the head inbetween the ears. and it doesnt wear the hair away on top of the nose like the halties do. i havnt tride one but some of my clients have them and have tried both and like the easyway collar much more

 

[Ladychaos]

I've never had a problem with Coal's muzzle hair thinning. Maybe people aren't putting them on correctly? A lot of the problems with these products rest with people not using them correctly.

 

[SizzleDog]

I will not use one for several reasons. I've owned them, only to put them in the bottom of the collar box and never use them again.

Some dogs do not have the right head shape for a head halter - even "properly" fitted by a Gentle eader representative, the GL rode up into my dogs' eyes. Second, I can control myself not to yank on the lead, but what happens if my VERY prey driven dogs see a furry beastie they want to chase? They'll hurt themselves with the collar, with no misuse from me!

Third, I have Dobermans. My breeder doesn't want them to be used on her dogs, end of story... so I don't. Any breed with a history of neck and spinal instability should be treated carefully.

Fourth, people often mistake head halters for muzzles. This is not a look I want my Dobermans to have. If I want them to look dangerous, I'll have them wear their studded collars.

I use flat collars, fur savers, volhard collars, and attention exercises to get my dogs to heel.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I used a GL incorrectly.. It didn't come with a dvd, I did read the manual, but we could not coordinate outside to make it work.. Loose leash walking never worked.. with anything ever.. Didn't matter what in heck I did I couldn't get her attention. No treat, food toy noise.. So she walked for 3 months at the end of the leash pulling with her head.. Was in perma self correct mode and I didn't know what else to do.. The pulling was 'less' enough we could have a walk.. it wasn't nice though..

But my monkey also learned to walk while pulling, walking sideways, etc in three anti pull harnesses so I just got really screwed as a newbie owner with my only dog. Evil way to learn..

We ended up with a prong for a while which worked and she rarely ever self corrected I felt like an idiot with one on a 24 pound dog though. We struggled we worked on a flat lead.. Was only really taking rally o classes, and attention work and heeling help that she was willing to give me any attention outside, so now we can walk nicely.. Really the tools were a bandaid for us and added extra steps to trying to fix it correctly.

 

[bittervanityx]

I have a gentle leader. We never use it. Many people think its a muzzle (even though it goes OVER their nose and they can open their mouth as wide as they want) and thats just not the impression I want to put on my dogs.