First Published 05/01/01, Vol. 1, Issue 1

There’s More Than One Way to Lead a Dog
Staff Report

For many years, when it came to collars there weren’t many choices available to owners of hyper or hard-pulling dogs. Flat collars, chokers (training collars), pinch collars, and harnesses were about it. You could invest in jump restraint harnesses that looked a little medieval in nature, but most owners resigned themselves to building their upper arm strength.

In the past several years advancements have been made, resulting in “head halters.” Patterned after horse halters and using the same principles of pressure and control, these halters have revolutionized training methods and are producing generations of dogs that rarely feel a “traditional” correction.

The two leaders in the field are Gentle Leader (http://www.gentleleader.com/) and Halti. While slightly different in construction and appearance, they do the same thing: turn a dog’s head without having to jerk or pull your arm out of socket.

Just like horses respond to pressure on the back of their head and the top of their nose, so works a headcollar for a dog. Where a dog’s nose goes, the body will follow, ending the tug-of-war so many dog owners have experienced. And it doesn’t restrict breathing, drinking, or eating capabilities either.

Many trainers now require the use of a headcollar in their classes, and if you have a puppy, it’s highly recommended you start them in one sooner than later. The benefits are a dog that responds to you and becomes a joy to walk. The only drawbacks are that the owners have to get used to the new device and remind themselves NOT to issue traditional “corrections” or you can hurt your dog. A traditional collar works on the neck - a headcollar turns the entire head.

Gentle Leaders and Haltis are available through most retail pet outlets and through online vendors. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

Gentle Leader: http://www.gentleleader.com/
Halti Headcollar Test Report: http://www.prodogs.com/library/hcollar.htm