Am I cruel to use a Haiti collar

[pinkbraces]

Hi there,
we have an 8 month pup, who used to walk quite happily on her lead but lately has been pulling. As she will be a big dog we want to ensure she walks nicely on the lead and my DH brought home a Haiti Collar and has started to use it. The dog seems ok with it, not pulling and is not upset at all when its put on her. My problem is that I feel mean, and my 15 year old is treating us like we are the worst people in the world - please come and reassure me that we are doing the right thing

A halti is like a horse's head collar IMO and not cruel at all.

I have used them but used to get really fed up with all the 'oh look out that dog is wearing a muzzle' comments

There may be someone who knows better but I cant see how they are cruel.

I would take her to training classes though. A Halti wont stop her wanting to pull. A good training class will and make your life a lot easier.

The Halti is a gentle method of getting your dog not to pull. IMO much kinder than choke chains. As the OP pointed out a good training class will also help.
As for your 15 year old I should think that what ever you do it will not be right.

Nope not cruel but I would work on the heel work position as well.

I always train heel off the lead then the dog can not pull against you at all.

As long as the halti is a good fit and cammot slide into her eyes, I saw a lab out yesterday with some type of head style whatsit and it was right across its eyes.

I use a dogmatic headcollar, doesn't slip and makes life easier.

I have actually found that using this and also working on heel position (often in a slip/gundog lead instead) has really helped.

Another good headcollar is the Canny Collar, it doesn't pull the head to one side and slips into the eyes less.

thanks for your advice, sorry its taken me so long to come back, computer problems.
We are also trying to train her to walk to heel but have never thought to do so off the lead, will give that a try. She has walked much better this weekend, am ignoring the human teenager and will carry on with this.

My dog is so much better off a lead and will walk nicely to heel. On a lead she is hell on wheels, we've tried the halti and it didn't work that well, she just pulled the same as ever! Choke chain, which we tried as a measure of last resort made no difference either - she just kept pulling!