Management Halters for walking your dog
When you embark on training your dog to walk on a loose leash, it is of utmost importance to consistently make pulling "not work", i.e. to allow your dog to get what he wants to by pulling you there.
Loose Leash Walking training can take some time, and trying to never let your dog pull at all times can drive you and your dog insane (or it very nearly did me when I first started out with positive training.) Using equipment such as body harnesses or head halters for when you just can't train LLW can be a life saver. Then when you are ready, swap to a flat collar and continue your LLW training. Note that at Here is the equipment I generally recommend (and why I don't recommend others). |
Find out how to train Loose Leash Walking without the use of force in our Manners Masters or Loose Leaders course!
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Black Dog Balance Harness
This harness has many benefits:
- It has both a front and a back clip. This means it can be used to manage pulling (via the front clip, best with the double ended leash) as well as for long leash Recall training (via the back clip) or for less vigilant pullers. - It is easy to get on the dog: Just slip it over their head and buckle it up. - It can be adjusted so that the risk of chafing is minimised. Available at Black Dog online, or selected pet supply stores. Tips: - If your dog is in between sizes, pick the smaller one - the harness is easier to adjust if the girth strap is extended. - Don't leave the harness on the dog unless you are walking and supervising. Otherwise your dog will most likely chew on the harness or slip out. |
Why I don't recommend:
Sporn Halter: Discourages pulling by exerting pressure under the dog's armpits if the dog pulls, whereas the Balance Harness just makes moving forward physically less powerful. Not suitable to use with a long leash due to the possible sudden jerking under the arms if the dog hits the end of the leash. It is also comparatively cumbersome to put on, so it's hard just to swap between the flat collar and this halter while training LLW.
Easy Walk Harness: Only has a front clip, and works by tightening around the chest when the dog pulls. It seems to cause chafing in the armpits as it sits quite far forward. Cumbersome to put on (dog has to step into it).
(The same logic applies to most other front clip harnesses).
Sporn Halter: Discourages pulling by exerting pressure under the dog's armpits if the dog pulls, whereas the Balance Harness just makes moving forward physically less powerful. Not suitable to use with a long leash due to the possible sudden jerking under the arms if the dog hits the end of the leash. It is also comparatively cumbersome to put on, so it's hard just to swap between the flat collar and this halter while training LLW.
Easy Walk Harness: Only has a front clip, and works by tightening around the chest when the dog pulls. It seems to cause chafing in the armpits as it sits quite far forward. Cumbersome to put on (dog has to step into it).
(The same logic applies to most other front clip harnesses).
Head halters
The best known head halter is the Gentle Leader. Other head halters such as the Halti and the Black Dog Training Halters work along the same principle of having control of the dog's head and making pulling less effective for the dog (although most will still pull).
Head halters can be a useful tool for managing a large dog or very strong puller, or a reactive dog, while implementing a training program to address the issues. Head halters can cause chafing under the eyes if the dog pulls hard (and many will). Dog should always be conditioned to accept or even enjoy wearing a head halter (see video on the right). |
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Why I don't recommend:
Back attach head collars (e.g. Black Dog Infin8, "Candy collar" etc): They can be more complex to put on, and have no different effect on the pulling. With this head collar you lose the benefit of being able to control the dog's head, which particularly for strong or reactive dogs is the main reason you would use a head halter in the first place.
Back attach head collars (e.g. Black Dog Infin8, "Candy collar" etc): They can be more complex to put on, and have no different effect on the pulling. With this head collar you lose the benefit of being able to control the dog's head, which particularly for strong or reactive dogs is the main reason you would use a head halter in the first place.