Collar for a lively Labrador puller

[crazynell]

Hi I'm looking for advice on collars to train our 15 month old lively Labrador out of pulling on the lead.

We've been recommended a rope half slip collar, I'll post photo, or a half check collar. I'm worried that these collars could damage his windpipe or oesophagus

What collars do people use for pulling dogs?



I use this with the lead attached to the front. I don’t mind if he always needs the harness and he never pulls on it at all.

You need a harness. Please don't use anything that could press on a dog's throat. Labradors are especially prone to laryngeal paralysis which can result from leads round their necks. A harness is the way to go.

Trying to post a pic of collar

We use the same as @LadyCatStark for our ( now non pulling) Labrador

It's bloody brilliant!!!!

If your dog pulls then they need to wear a harness or you risk doing permanent damage to their throat and neck.

The only real cure for pulling is training unfortunately, though the best equipment to use in meantime is an X or Y shaped harness (with two D-rings) and a double ended lead. Have one end of the lead clipped to the back of the harness and the other to the D-ring on the chest.

I would use a harness, my preference being the Perfect Fit Harness, using the front d-ring as well as the back to work on lead manners.

By using the front ring, if he pulls he will be redirected around to you, rather than being able to forge ahead, which makes pulling unrewarding. If you then do lots of work reinforcing the correct walking position he will learn it is more rewarding to walk nicely than to pull.

Any collar is going to damage the neck of a dog that is pulling.

I wouldn’t use a collar to train a heavily pulling dog. I’d use a harness and possibly a double lead. A harness can give the dog more ‘power’ in the pull but, crucially, it’s not damaging their windpipe. It’s the training method you use that is key to stopping the pulling tbh, not the type of collar.

You need training in how to train your dog not to pull. Go for lessons from a local qualified gundog trainer.

Definitely use a harness - they will pull regardless, so training them is the way but in the meantime please don't teach them by letting them strangle themselves. Our lab has a Rabbitgoo harness and this collar - the collar is only used for ID but it's a nice wide one on case we suddenly need to grab him for whatever reason. I like this collar because the ring is designed in such a way that it takes pressure off the clasp so less likely to come undone.

Thanks all of you. My DH has been watching videos on youtube which advocate using these half check or half slip collars and I need to know the other options so I can make sure we don't get anything which could potentially harm our lab boy.

There's so much info out there about dog training and collars and leads that can be contradictory

Figure of eight lead. It stops the dog being able to pull, so there isn’t any pressure to worry about.

www.dogandfield.co.uk/dog-leads/figure-of-8-leads/dog-and-field-figure-8-halter-lead/

Yes. And in the meantime? OP needs to be able to leave the house safely with her dog, whilst pursuing training.

You either use a punitive training method with a collar or you use reward methods to train them not to pull.

rewards are kinder and more effective. While training use a harness so the dog does not choke

I do lots of training. But I still use a dogmatic ICE to make sure my giant hounds are always under close control.
If you want a harness then perfect fit are supposed to be brilliant. With a double ended lead.

www.amazon.co.uk/Halti-Headcollar-Black-Size-3/dp/B004XNLCPC/ref=asc_df_B004XNLCPC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309819532054&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10650864585778136080&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045255&hvtargid=pla-408281816127&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

trained our lab on a halti. Took hardly any time at all to train her to walk to heel and now just have a normal lead attached to her regular collar. She trots along beside us even off lead when we say “heel”. Marvellous.

We have an incredibly lovely but stupid lab and she pulled like a steam train.

Like your DH we read up online and we tried a slip collar and all that did was have her pulling and choking at the same time- honestly she's so stupid she couldn't seem to work out that she was choking herself.

I had read that a harness just gave them extra purchase to pull with but in desperation after the choke lead didn't work we got the halti lead and harness that is linked above and it was miraculous. I don't know why the lead across her front leg stops her when the pressure on her neck didn't but it really worked.

We have labradors and use slip leads. The reason that they don't pull is that I've spent hours and hours practising loose lead walking (no pulling) to heel. I'd focus on rewards-based training for the long term rather than relying on a specific type of lead.

We also use the halti no pull harness on our lab. Despite its name, dogs WILL pull if you don't put enough consistent effort in.

We use a halti and it's brilliant.

Definitely recommend a Halti.
Those choke collars can lead to laryngeal collapse.
When pulling has calmed down, a harness is the best.

I use a double ended lead on my dogs harness - it does help somewhat but he still pulls. I do a lot of training with him on loose lead walking and in low distraction environments he can do quite well. If it’s too exciting though even sausages don’t work!! I think it’s going to be something that just takes a lot of time and patience and there’s no magic device…… He’s a springer so just wants to run, fortunately he’s great off lead.

I have had the figure of 8 lead recommended but he’s only 8 months so I’d prefer to wait until he’s a bit older

In the meantime a slip lead and start teaching heel position

This 100%. The type of lead doesn't matter, it is the training that counts

Slip leads are not appropriate for training. My seven month old Lab, after masses of training, which I am still doing, walks on a loose lead but not a slip lead yet. Start with your dog on a harness and lead in front of you. Encourage him towards you and keep the distance constant and the lead in a U-shape by shuffling backwards and reward. Gradually move round to the side and reward for loose lead every few steps. I can do several hundred yards now until he needs reminding, walk a few steps and reward. It's been so worth doing thoroughly.