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You want to choose a fun, kicked back walk with your dog. but if he’s dragging you down the street, the walk becomes a stressful event to avoid.
So what must you do? You can use a piece of training equipment that will help your pet dog be successful.
There are anti-pull harnesses, head halters, and other devices that aren’t aversive.
If used properly, using head halters can really help make your walks be successful and fun.
We’re going to cover the pros and cons of two of the a lot more popular anti-pull head halters:
Halti vs gentle Leader
Raven wearing her gentle Leader
How Do Head Halters Work?
They work on the same principle that horse halters work. They guide the dog’s head. Where his head goes, his body follows.
And if an animal as large as a horse can be successfully walked, so can a pet dog if it’s used correctly.
The halter applies pressure to a dog’s head instead of his neck and shoulders as collars do.
They fit around a dog’s muzzle and close behind their ears. You’re meant to gently guide your dog’s head in buy to control where he goes. You’re not meant to yank on it.
What Are the Pros of Head Halters?
The head halters help show a pet dog not to pull.
Head halters are great training devices if appropriately used and are relatively inexpensive.
Unlike collars, a pet dog doesn’t gag and choke when he pulls. and the head halters are a lot more humane than choke collars, prong collars, and electric collars, which can cause some unwanted behavioral issues.
A pet dog can eat and drink when wearing a head halter.
What are the Cons of Head Halters?
They can take a pet dog some time to adjust to.
Some dogs paw at their face and roll around trying to get the head halter off. and some dogs never adjust to them even if they’re appropriately introduced to the halter.
They can potentially cause injury to a dog’s neck and spine if a pet dog lunges forward or if they’re forcefully yanked.
An untrained pet dog may pull again when his regular collar is placed on him.
The head halters aren’t good for short-muzzled, brachycephalic dogs because they’re placed on the muzzle.
Some people who see your pet dog in the head halter may incorrectly mistake it for a muzzle.
What Are the benefits and Downsides of a gentle Leader?
Although all head halters work on the same principle, there are some differences in how they’re made and how they control your dog.
The gentle Leader has the following pluses and minuses:
1. It’s completely adjustable
Unlike the Halti, the gentle Leader’s muzzle strap is completely adjustable for a best fit.
Because you can get an nearly custom-made fit, your dog’s less likely to be able to back out of the gentle Leader.
2. It’s much easier to put on than the Halti
Because it’s adjustable, it’s normally much easier to put on your pet dog than some other head halters.
3. It doesn’t look like a muzzle
Because of its sleek, one-strap design, it doesn’t appear to be a muzzle.
This can be a plus if you’re walking a large breed that’s been discriminated against, such as a Rottweiler, Doberman, or pit bull.
4. It clips under the dog’s throat and applies comfortable pressure evenly when correctly used
But there’s no extra strap to connect to the dog’s collar.
PRO TIP: When I use my gentle Leader I attach my leash to both the collar and gentle Leader for added safety just in case my pet dog slips the gentle Leader.
So if the pet dog slips out of the gentle Leader, he can get loose.
5. It makes pulling uncomfortable
The nose strap buckles behind the dog’s ears. The leash is clipped underneath the dog’s chin.
When the pet dog attempts to pull, the strap tightens around the dog’s muzzle making it uneasy to pull.
You can gently guide the dog’s head away from unwanted stimuli.
6. The price isn’t dependent on size
Whether you have a toy breed or a gigantic breed, the price of the gentle Leader is the same, whereas the price of the Halti can vary greatly according to size.
7. It’s not padded like the Halti
This can cause some chafing down the dog’s muzzle.
What Are the benefits and Downsides of a Halti?
As is true of the gentle Leader, there are some positive reasons to use the Halti as well as reasons not to use it.
1. Unlike the gentle Leader, it’s not completely adjustable
The Halti has side straps that aren’t adjustable, which may cause a looser fit for your dog.
2. Dogs may be able to back out of the Halti
Because the Halti may have a looser fit than the gentle Leader, a petnullnull
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