halti collars

[alanthedog]

Have just bought a Halti collar in the hope that it will stop Alan from pulling like crazy.

Just wondered if anyone had any tips/advice.

First off, I bought size 2 as recommended by Halti themselves and shop assistant for cockers, but Alan can just slip it straight off! Is this right or do I need a different size, what size has everyone else got.

Also I didn't manage to leave the garden because he was going mad with it! Any tips on getting him out of the garden and actually on a walk?

Thanks.

[Woodstock]

Hi,

Woody has a halti and if I need to be able to control him (like in town or at a fete or something) he always wears it - I love it. 

He hated it and span round and round when I first put it on him (he was about 6 months).  I just kept putting it on and taking him first of all around the garden and then gradually further.  I use a treat to get him to sit so I can put it on him which works well.  I would say he does still sometimes try to take it off so do use the safety link thingy that clips onto their collar.  If it comes off really easily you might need the next size down, I think we did and then moved up to the recommended one when he out grew it.  It doesn't miraculously stop them pulling - or at least it hasn't Woods - but it does give you that much more control and you don't need sheer brute force to stay on your feet when he decides to go! 

I think you just need to persevere and when you go out you'll suddenly notice so many cockers on haltis it is amazing. 

Best of luck
Bx

[vixen]

I used a halti with my previous dog (GSP) so don't know the size for a cocker  
Dogs do take a while to get used to them as they tend to paw at their faces  
It did stop Max pulling but I found it also rubbed his snout and he lost fur on his nose which was unsighty.
I stopped using it and purchased a harness which I preferred.

[Bluebell]

I have a size 2 for Lillie, and she is a small ish cocker  You will need to use the collar link until he gets used to the halti 

[karenl]

we tried a holti on our 13 month old only a couple of weeks ago , we also tried the size 2 which was far too big and took it back and tried the smaller one which was too small ! she wears a harness which we have found the best thing but she still has a mind of her own and will pull like mad when she wants to but can walk perfectly too. this week however we have gone back to trying the stop walking everytime she pulls and it has finally sunk in! she has been walking really well since then, maybe we should have just persevered with the sharp stopping . good luck !

[Jessie_Pup]

Have used a halti with mine, but preferred the K9 Bridle. The lead attaches to two pieces with brass rings at the back of the neck.  They can't turn their head and pull it keeps the neck and back straight.  I now walk them on a harness as their lead walking is better.

[black taz]

i sometimes use a Halti on my lab if she is particularly lively, she hates it and spends a lot of time rubbing it against my leg.  I think the best way to get them used to it is just to get on with it (ie: put it on and get straight out for your normal walk).

If i need to use it, I  start out with the halti connected to the collar and the lead connected to the collar (rather than the halit). Once my lab starts to walk a bit walk calmer is unclip the halti altogether so that it is not actually doing anything to control her - and she usually continues to walk calm, then i take it off completely.  Very ocassionally i will have to connect the lead to the halti itself but that normally when our cat is involved on the walk

[Becky and Wilson]

I've never used a Halti as they always seem to pull up into the eyes, I prefer the Canni Collar or a dogmatic (use a dogmatic for wilson.....if it can stop an 80kg dog pulling.....)

Anyway, whatever head collar you'd use I just thought I'd mention you really shouldn't use it on walks until you've got him wearing it for a week during meal times and play times so he associates it with good things.  Then after a week of that I'd take him on walks with it on but with no pressure on it (lead still attached to the collar) and still have him wearing it for fun times and dinner times in the house!  Then when he's really happy about wearing it that's when I'd use it as the no pulling tool!

Otherwise you end up with a dog who is constantly scratching his/her face to try to get it off, or rubbing their faces along the floor to rub it off!

Wilson is more than happy to wear his and he even sticks his head out for me to put it on!  He doesn't pull no but I use it with him still just in case!  No way could I hold him back if he REALLY wanted to go somewhere!  Especially when I have 3 others to handle as well!

[clairep4]

Personally I would only use a halti in combination with a harness and double ended lead so you have a point of contact on the harness and the other on the halti. You can really set up a lot of tension on the neck if you only attach to the halti, esp if the dog is a puller as you can end up pulling the head round a lot which puts lots of strain on it.

Also with 2 points of contact you can have the headcollar a lot looser so it's more comfortable, as you don't have to worry about the dog getting out of the halti because you have a harness on as well.

Prepare the dog as you would for a muzzle, eg lots of ttouches around the muzzle, a calming band or face wrap, lots of positive reinforcement and then slip the halti on briefly. Most dogs will accept it as long as you put in the preparatory work first.