Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Halti head collar

28 replies

mutleyschuckle · 31/07/2022 21:31

Hi, does anybody have any experience, positive & negative of one of these halti head collars? I've a 15 month old springer who still has no idea that he's meant to walk on a lead, not gallop & jump around like a landed fish 🙄 no amount of stinky treats or stopping when he pulls has ever worked yet, which is frustrating as he knows what he should be doing (think 2 seconds of walking followed by a lunge forward!) just chooses not to. I was wondering if this would help, as I have temporarily given up attempting to walk him on a lead as my shoulder being pulled every 3 seconds is getting really painful, so I'm just driving to off lead areas (luckily loadsa around us & he's amazing off lead) & releasing him. I don't want to get it if it hurts them or anything, just wondered if it would be a useful aid until he stops being a teenage twit? Thanks

Halti head collar
OP posts:
Original poster
mutleyschuckle · 31/07/2022 21:36

Also forgot to add I've tried walking him in a collar- he just chokes himself & a true fit harness with the lead on the front & back. He just spins back to me looking annoyed then tries again 😂🙄

OP posts:
tedgran · 31/07/2022 21:50

Had Great Danes, got the first when she was a puppy, the halti made it so much easier to control her. Number two was a very big rescue girl who arrived with a choke collar which was useless, so she had a halti for a while, but then learnt to walk without pulling. Number three was another rescue, but never needed the halti. My stepdaughter is only five foot and couldn't manage their Vizla pupp without a halti. Your dog probably won't like it at the beginning and try to get it off, but it's really worth persevering

Hopeandlove · 31/07/2022 21:53

I walk all of mine in a figure of eight field training lead. Try it first. A normal rope lead is fine but it is much better for the dog to have a proper field training lead - it’s longer and more elastic. Everyone I know uses the same as me. My dogs love it- far more gentle and between them they are 105 kg pulling me and I have easy control with these

Hopeandlove · 31/07/2022 21:54

Cross it over the nose - if you want me to explain more pm me and I give you a step by step account of how to do it. Much easier to get on then a halti and far cheaper and nicer for the dog and gives you more control

QuestionableMouse · 31/07/2022 21:58

Get a Dogmatic. They're the same idea but better quality.

My dog walks on one very happily. They have to be fitted properly and you have to be careful that the dog doesn't wrench their neck but they're brilliant for stopping pulling, especially with a double ended lead.

Hard to describe but if my dog is having a strong day, I'll put the double ended lead on him. I put the headcollar side on his outside (furthest from me) and have his collar side closest to me. If he pulls, I hold the lead and stop which turns his head and stops him pulling.

Halti head collar
bluedomino · 31/07/2022 22:05

It's great on my dog. Also an overexcited, bouncy character who just loves to run. Now, he behaves when it's on and doesn't pull but the moment is off, he pulls like a train. I tried harnesses but he just put his shoulders into it and turned into a sleigh dog. It takes a bit to get them used to it. So start a few minutes a day. When he's very very excited he will still try to scrape it off using his paws. Its not very expensive and gives you so much control. Walking without the halti is not fun. The chokechain didn't work for us, he would choke himself until he was sick. I would highly recommend the halti.

lorisparkle · 31/07/2022 22:12

We tried a variety of different head harnesses as we have a rather strong Labrador and it was not safe for me to walk him whilst we were training him.

We found that of all the different styles he prefers the halti. On the whole it is fairly loose around his face so it does not bother him.

bluedomino · 31/07/2022 22:16

I forgot to say it was my puppy trainer who recommended the halti, she said some dogs will just never walk on the collar and she was dead against harnesses (can't remember why). Your springer will be strong with a low centre of gravity and an overwhelming desire to run, not forgetting springers do that quick darting about. Don't feel guilty about using a halti, it's not a failure, you are doing what's best for both of you. It's bloody hard work controlling a hyperactive ball of muscle on the end of a lead!

BrownOwlknowsbest · 31/07/2022 22:57

I've used haltis for about 30 years and every dog that wore one would happily run their nose into the loop and wait for me to fasten it behind their ears. I'm between dogs at the moment but looking after a friends retriever while they are in hospital. On Thursday she pulled me over head first into a hedge. For her next walk she wore a halti. Magic! She walks politely on a slack lead. They do take a few days to get used to something round their heads though.

IAmAWomanNotACis · 31/07/2022 23:20

Not the worst thing in the world, just wath for it rubbing their eyes. Obviously persevere with the training - letting them run off steam off lead before trying some training on lead might help.

tooearlytobeup · 31/07/2022 23:23

I have springers and have used the halti for years. I’ve tried to train loose lead walking consistently with them all, including training classes and 1-2-1 training. All know what they are meant to do but the halti means that if they can’t control their excitement, I can still control them. I put one on my youngest for the first time today, and they went instantly from excited walking with the occasional yank, to walking perfectly and it being enjoyable for us both. I highly recommend.

Labraradabrador · 31/07/2022 23:35

I have a gentle leader, which I think is similar? Basically like a horse harness for dogs. My lab sounds similar to yours in terms of pulling, and the harness has been a real game changer. I think he finds it annoying at times, but it doesn’t hurt him in any way. Before I was worried about him pulling and injuring myself or him being out of control in a crowd, but the harness gives me the control I need with minimal physical effort. I am still working on training, but for a puppy that got really big really quickly this has been a lifesaver

sunsetsandsandybeaches · 01/08/2022 05:59

My beagle pulled so hard on his halti that it snapped on the second day of him wearing it 🙈 thankfully I had it clipped to his collar or he'd have bolted in the road.

Please be really careful and always have it clipped to their collar as a back-up. A dog that's determined to pull will pull regardless of what equipment you use.

Lastonetotango · 01/08/2022 06:57

My dog hates the halti, and as she is a Houdini in many harnesses (she reverses out of a lot of them) bar one we have stuck with, she can also get the halti off. Thankfully we have her double leaded.

The halti did help with her pulling, but we also used other methods (short lead, gentle pulling back and telling her no, and making her wait).

Funnyfive · 01/08/2022 07:03

I used a halti for many years but didn’t like the way it can pull their head to one side and it also rubbed one of my dogs eyes. I now use a SWAG figure of 8 which is much, much better.

Original poster
mutleyschuckle · 01/08/2022 07:12

Sorry- fell asleep not long after I posted this. Thank you all so far- seems more positive than negative so I may pop into the pet shop later to see if they can fit one for us to try. I'd hope to only have to use it for a short time until he gets that I can take him out to a lot more places with us as a family if he's not being a twit on the end of a lead. I have heard of a figure of 8 so will look into that as well, my partner bought a slip lead a while ago but I've been too nervous to try it as he doesn't care with a collar & sounds like he's choking. I'll also keep trying with training but can't manage the rest of his life with him like he is currently on the lead 😂

OP posts:
Slavetoboys · 01/08/2022 07:18

Another vote for dogmatic. This specific headcollar was recommended to us by a trainer, has worked wonders for our overgrown 18 month dickheads dogs!

Leonberger · 01/08/2022 07:19

We use dogmatics on all of ours. They don’t rub or move but most importantly I can stop them if a squirrel pops out!

parrotonmyshoulder · 01/08/2022 07:21

My Springer is now 12 and I still need to use a halti/ gentle leader. He walks beautifully to heel off lead and had perfect recall until he recently became deaf. Never managed to train him to walk on a lead.

Passmethegin67 · 01/08/2022 13:26

I used to use a Halti on my golden retriever. Switched to a GenCon collar earlier in the year and much prefer that. I like the way it attaches to the lead at the side of his head rather than under his chin so he walks more comfortably by my side. I twin it with an EzyDog lead which has the traffic control loop so I can hold him on a shorter lead with one hand and still have control over him.

SarahSissions · 02/08/2022 10:40

Treats don’t always work, toys and things can work well too, so try teaching heel with a toy next to you or in your pocket and have them walk 4 steps release them and play. Tennis ball- walk 5 steps release the heel command and throw the ball. Keep it short and build it up into a game. One of my dogs was obsessed with socks so would use on of those!

Allthestarsabovemyhead · 02/08/2022 10:41

My dog pulled it off

Original poster
mutleyschuckle · 08/08/2022 19:57

@Hopeandlove would you be able to message me about the figure of 8 please? I've since spoken to several spaniel people on walks who use them? Thanks 😁

OP posts:
Ooohyeah · 08/08/2022 20:01

I have a springer and use a halti too, no complaints here! Very much needed because she pulls like a train. Like you I tend to stick to off lead walks but sometimes it’s necessary to walk them on a lead without causing yourself injury.