I started using a Gentle Leader, which is similar to the Halti when Darwin was 8months old. He's now 2 1/2 yrs old I've have been told the younger the Dog is when you start using a head collar it's easier for them to get use to it. Once you've started to use a headcollar I think you need to carry on using it on a regular basis so that your dog doesn't react badly ( try and remove it or even rub their face on the pavement) if you suddenly start using it again.
Initially Darwin would paw at it like a cat that's cleaning it's face, and as a result it would move further up in nose so that it would rub his eyes. BUT it works I would have a perfectly behaved cocker spaniel walking to heel with out any pulling. - BLISS. It has been wonderful in giving my son the confidence to walk Darwin.
Earlier this year I got a Dogmatic Head Collar as I wanted something that wouldn't ride up into Darwin's eyes. Especially as we were spending some time in Devon and Darwin tends to become a professional street cleaner, eating all kinds of rubbish ( crab bate etc...) and of course is then sick in the middle of the night. The Dogmatic is much much better, but I don't think I've followed my own advice and regularly used it, so Darwin isn't very keen on it.
I must start using it again( at least once a week) to make sure Darwin is more comfortable with the Dogamatic Head collar. so that if we've in a very busy environment or somewhere that Darwin can easily find loads of rubbish to eat I know I'll have easy control of him.
