Collar, harness, halti ? What do you use?

[PunkRockMel]

I'm curious what everyone uses on their dogs when they walk them. My dog Mikki has a flat collar, a harness, and soon, a halti. I use the harness instead of the collar though, because she pulls WAY too much. I'm hoping a Halti will help train her a bit better.


What do you guys use? Any Halti users out there? Also any tips on how to leash train are greatly appreciated! :)

[BadHabit]

On both of my dogs I use "Greyhound" collars (The type that's a normal collar but when they pull it tightens a bit). They both respond to leash corrections better with the collar vs. a normal buckle collar.

[AmethystMtnRats]

I use the harness instead of the collar though, because she pulls WAY too much.

That is because any dog walked on a harness will pull...and pull a lot. It's a dogs nature to do so. When I first got my GSD the only way I could safely walk her (and live through it) was to use a prong (now don't flame me). They are really not near as bad as people believe them to be. I had a professional trainer teach me how to properly use one before I used it. I would choose a prong over a chain collar any day of the week. Now she is to the point where I can walk her on her regular flat collar.

[PunkRockMel]

I'm too paranoid to use a prong or choke. However, her halti should help on that. I've heard nothing but good about them. We'll see what happens.

I should correct myself.......if she's on the flat collar, she pulls like crazy. If she's on her harness, she walks fairly nicely. Hmmm.

[AmethystMtnRats]

Originally posted by PunkRockMel
I'm too paranoid to use a prong or choke. However, her halti should help on that. I've heard nothing but good about them. We'll see what happens.

That's why I had a professional trainer teach me how to use the prong before I used it on my dog. I will never ever use a choke on my dogs as those can and do cause more harm than good. I tried using a halti on one of my past dogs and I thought she was going to break her neck. And she looked so unhappy with it on.

[loonyeuny]

It all depends on the size of the dog. I used to have a 100pound plus dog that when I got him I had to teach him not to pull. I started out with a harness but that did not work very well. Then I got a rolled choke coller. Those are better then the chain because it will not get stuck on tight like the chain ones did with me. I then got just a loop without the leash on it. That kept him close to my side and I did not have to deal with to much leash. Then everytime he tried to pull ahead I would turn around and head the other way making it so that he had to learn to watch me or be jerked back. He learned real fast and after a while I could walk with him on a really long leash and all I had to do was tell him "Don't pull" and he would stop. I then would take him to a off leash dog park and let him run after a good training session. He loved that and learned very fast.

Good luck,
Eunice:angel6:

[packleader5]

The objective of a choke chain is that you give a quick correction when the dog is pulling. Put a chain and leash around the doorknob of an open door. Then give a jerk correction like you would on a dog. You are doing it correctly when the door does not move. You are not trying to pull the door or dog toward you. You want the dog to correct itself, then praise a lot.

I use a sledding harness to take my year-old Malemute mix hiking. She pulls me up the mountain :agree: and when we are coming back down, I move the leash to her flat collar. However, if we go for a short walk in the neighborhood, I put on her Halti. She still is not really used to it but does pretty well. After a while it itches her face. Never leave a dog unattended or your Halti may be in pieces!