HALTI Headcollar Size 3 Black, UK Bestselling Dog Head Harness to Stop Pulling on the Lead, Easy to Use, Padded Nose Band, Adjustable & Reflective, Professional Anti-Pull Training Aid for Medium Dogs

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However, some general rules apply to all head collars that may make the experience easier for both you and your dog; Haug, L. (et al), ‘ Comparison of Dogs’ Reactions to Four Different Head Collars’, Applied Animal Behavior Science (2002) Persevere and be patient. The time you spend now will be short in comparison to a lifetime of easy walks! How to use a Halti head collar Teaching your dog to heel is a much better long term solution to pulling, and doesn’t have any nasty consequences for your dog. Frequently Asked Questions About the Halti The Halti head harness describes itself as giving the owner full control by gently directing and steering your dog from the front.

Lastly, as I shared in my story above, I found the Halti surprisingly helpful in managing my dog’s reactivity. Not only did it give me more control, it calmed him down, calmed me down and made training in the presences of his triggers much easier. He was more focused and clear headed, which allowed him to learn more easily during our outdoor desensitisation and training sessions.

Which Halti should I buy?

If your dog has a lighter coloured face, uneducated passers-by may think your dog is wearing a muzzle. This is an unfortunate side effect, which can be frustrating to deal with. Prepare for sideways glances or strangers crossing the street to avoid your ‘dangerous dog’. If you are introducing your dog to a head collar for the first time, make it a rewarding experience for your dog. Think of it a little like wearing a pair of glasses for the first time. You tend to look at the bridge of your nose rather than through the lenses. The feeling of something on our nose can also be distracting. So be patient with your dog. Headcollars like the Halti are a wonderful tool for people who would like to teach their dogs to walk nicely on-leash and are transitioning to walking on a regular collar. You can walk with a training lead attached to both the collar and the Halti, and gradually reduce how much you handle the headcollar. Eventually, you can stop using it altogether.

Many people report that their dogs don’t seem as happy when wearing a Halti. Their tails and ears may droop, they hold their heads lower, and don’t seem as excited on walks. Aversive tools like this associate an action with an unpleasant consequence to stop the action from happening. One of the major reasons the trainer recommended a headcollar to me all those years ago was due to my dog’s over-the-top reactivity towards other dogs. My boy had a tendency to fixate on other nearby dogs and then launch into a frenzy of barking and lunging. As a small person, having a dog the size of me dragging me, teeth first, to the nearest training team, was not a good situation. As we mentioned in the section ‘what is a Halti’, we will be looking at the Halti head collar for the rest of the guide.

Are Haltis Comfortable for Dogs?

If you are really struggling to manage with a puppy pulling on the lead we would recommend speaking with a vet recommended dog trainer or behaviourist to get some advice on how best to train your young dog not to pull. Hiby, E. (et al), ‘ Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effectiveness and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare’, Psychology: Animal Welfare (2004) Leaving a Halti on your dog long-term can be cruel, as it is only designed for short periods. Leaving it on long term can cause fur loss and other injuries. Those of you who have read Muzzle Training will find this process to be familiar. As always, you can’t escape classical conditioning, so we want to ensure that the dog associates the Halti with good things. Follow our muzzle training guide if you’d like an in-depth, step-by-step method on how to desensitise your dog to having a new gadget on their face. Blake, S. (et al), ‘ A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Effects of Harness and Head-Collar Use in Dogs’, BioRxiv (2019)

So, the feeling when your dog pulls has to be uncomfortable enough to prevent the action of pulling in the future. Not Designed for Constant UseThis does mean many dogs are less likely to pull as a result. But, it can be a very uncomfortable process for them.

In the short term, you can use a regular dog harness and leash to keep your dog safe whilst on walks. References and Resources Remember, these head collars work by pairing the pulling action with an uncomfortable, unpleasant consequence. This is known as an aversive. It pairs the action of pulling on the leash with an unpleasant consequence.

If your dog needs to be muzzled on walks, for whatever reason, a Halti is not a suitable alternative. Will a Halti Stop my Dog from Pulling? Owners of reactive dogs may see faster improvements, which is worth its weight in gold all on its own (those of you who have faced this before will know what I’m talking about). If you can think of any other questions about this product, make sure to add them to the comments at the end of this guide.