Halti harness

[Jordan]

 Domino is a puller on the lead so decided to try him with a Halti harness and see if that made life bearable..............We havent been up passed the factory and into the far field for a long time mostly because of his pulling on the lead which he needs to be on for the main road so this was the perfect route to try it out. Well he definately didn't pull with such vigour but the lead was far from loose so there was still an element of discomfort. Stopped half way and tried fastening to the back of harness and yes the difference was noticable i was getting yanked about swapped back and it was better. On the way home was even better but hed had a good run around by then. Jury still out on this i think, need to try some more test routes. Not sure if i put it on properly as picture showed it further down the leg on the dog and the front of harness and collar bunched up at the side when we were walking but that might be cause he was still pulling a bit.

[Adrianne]

I just gave a front loader harness to a client to use on a dog that is 2 years old and has never been on a lead before - rescued - and had only ever been out in the garden. took some time to even establish a lead let alone walking on it .I will let you know how he gets on with some walk training and the harness.
I would have used a head harness but for the fact that he was very fearful of other dogs.

[kristina]

Well I will be waiting on your opinions on this as I need to do something with Xena and her pulling,hate the idea and never had to use anything other than a collor but needs must I just haven't got the strength any more,my joints are now so painful and I am in trouble with my physio trainer,lord she gives me a hard time but for my own benefit I know.She was shocked when I got Xena saying I was not ready to go walking so far,what does she know??I know what I can do and this pup gives me the chance to walk and do stuff but I need Xena under control on the road walking.Kristina

[Adrianne]

   

My two on their head harnesses..the grey one Bootsie is wearing is a pets at home one - personally I don't like it as much as the company of animals 'halti that Cupar is wearing, the halti one is softer and padded, but she would be wearing the gentle leader head harness if it hadn't been in the washing machine ...the gentle leader is my favourite, it doesn't ride up the face as much if they do happen to have a little pull.

[Kimmikins]

I'll be interested to see what people have to say. You don't see them on many dogs around here, and I've never used one on a dog before.

Might be a silly question - do people ever get them confused with a muzzle type apparatus?

[kristina]

MMMM!! ok will look into these but what size?? will I be best off just taking Xena to shop to get  fitted with correct size she will hate it I know but at end of day might be the the best thing for both of us.Kristina

[Adrianne]

People do sometimes think that they are muzzles, but there is no restriction.. they do not tighten up even if the dog pulls, they guide, just the same as a horse halter, I believe there is also a pressure point on the bridge of the dogs nose that the padded band sits on, which may have a small calming effect - nose bands work on this principal but I have never used a nose band so cant say if they work successfully...like other tools they probably offer a little help when used with other methods.

[Jordan]

Ive never liked seeing a dog with these nose bands on, my neighbour had one for her pup and it was so tight it was foaming at the mouth it couldnt breath properly. Didnt realise there was a difference between the two. Will stick with the halti body harness and see how it goes. I'm working on heel walking in the house which is going well. Gave it a try on our walk today a couple of times and he managed a few steps fine but the distractions got the better of him although he was listening and coming back to heel so between the training and the halti i hope well succeed.

[Adrianne]

Both Bootsie and Cupar wear a size 2, which I have used on various clients dogs from boxers to smaller gsd's, the packaging usually has a size guide ..Cupars Gentle leader is a medium...would fit a wider range as it is adjustable.

[Dani]

To be honest,if you are after a harness with a front clip I did not like the Halti Harness at all,when my trainer suggested that I should look into a front clip harness once Dodge is a bit better I looked at her corner with stuff she is selling and told her I dont like it . . . lol she said she does not like the Halti Harness either and would only suggest a Dog Games one . . . link here dog-games-shop.co.uk/perfect-fit-fleece-dog-harness  . . . that is funny enough where our harness is from I told her,we have a fleece lined one from this company and would not go anywhere else for Harnesses because they sit just a little bit further back on the back and dont rub under the 'armpits,which was a huge problem for us when Dodge was younger,the one we have had now was the 5th one in one year mind because I could not find the right one that fitted well  hidingbehindflowersSo yeah,I will get one from these guys round summer time I suppose,ours is getting a bit tattery now anyway   lol 


We have the Gentle Leader for Dodge too,because boxer's have such short nose's he would not be able to wear a Halti head collar . . . the first time he had it on was a fight but next day he was better with it already,not used it for a couple years now (gotta be honest,thought I knew where I kept it,but had to buy a new one . . .  dont tell hubby!!)
Yep some daft people thought he was wearing a muzzle and gave him a side ways glance and wide berth . . . what the heck ??   does not even look like it could keep his gob shut to be honest lol,so dont know what these people was thinking hahah 
At the moment he is just wearing it without even being clipped to it,so he will get used to wearing it for the time I really need it,so may look like it could be something like a muzzle to REALLY paranoid people   

[kristina]

Well guys broke my own rule today and took Xena back off to the woods it's so much easier for me a beautiful day it was too.I just know now that she and I can have a lovely happy walk,no stress with the lead thing cowards way out it is but I want a happy contented dog,met different people too lots of Spaniels and Collies and low and behold they all said the same their dogs all hate leads are unbearable to road walk so they just let them run loose in the woods and around the field.I have never before taken her to the woods at the weekend as guessed their would be lots of dogs around especially on a nice day,but this is still not an answer for me,I want Xena to do both have her freedom and still be able to walk in some sort of orderly fashion and just not pull.I will be looking into the Halti over the next few days.
I have noticed that a few people at training school use a type of halti not sure what they are,the German Shepherd I have clocked when she gets back into her owners car is fitted with some sort of full on muzzel type thing,not the basket type one,just a black thing thats fits right across her nose?? no idea why?? will ask her owner tomorrow.Also have to say all these Halti's are taken off before class starts.Will update you on this.Kristina

[Jordan]

Halti body harness test 2.

It was a beautiful day here today so planned a big walk to take Domino to a new wood hes never been before at the opposite end of town to where we normally trek. So plenty excitement and new route and some main road walking where halti did its stuff!! I was very pleased to see Domino was 'listening' to the halti and yes he was pulling but he reacted to the halti and began correcting himself so that combined with lots of praise stops and reminders to heel and go steady it was an acceptable walk and my arm remained in the socket! He was surprisingly good even with the high excitement of somewhere new when off lead as well. He was able to do a 'chill time' thats a lay down and be calm, en route, did some off leash walking to heel as well and he was trying very hard to comply amid the excitement, so really pleased. It was lovely to be back at the wood ive only been once since i lost Jordan. Not sure if Domino even noticed where he was he was having a great time playing with the ball, throwing it himself and chasing it about. Jordan always took in all the sights and sounds, she'd easily have found her way home.............not sure Domino would even find the road lol

[Dani]

awww arent they all so different in what they take in while on their walk,sounds like you and Domino had a fab walk ! Good boy Domino for figuring out not to pull so much on this harness 

[Kimmikins]

Sounds like a successful trip for you both! Great to hear that the halti was working, and well done to Domino for learning what he was meant to do in response And bless his heart at even managing to settle in such an exciting environment!

[kristina]

Sounds encouraging not sure if it will work with Xena and so hate the idea too in case it will just freak Xena out and ruin what we are trying to build up--ROAD WALK ON LEAD---WOODS OFF LEAD!! a big gamble here,took me a month just to get her to realise that on the lead she goes somewhere nice as in going to the car to the woods!! She now also knows that the lead may take her  up the road,mmm this is now a late afternoon time now,she knows that so is happy to go and has begun to settle down and not pull so much as before,still picks up anything but we have a good walk.Kristina