Hi, I’m Barbara! I’m a expert pet dog walker as well as I like utilizing a head collar for dogs!
I was very first introduced to head collars in 2012 as well as have been utilizing them everyday ever since, both on my own dogs in addition to on my client dogs.
They’ve been a overall game changer for me as far as walks are concerned since they turn a lot of pullers into well-behaved pups on leash.
What is a head collar for dogs?
So yes, like I just briefly mentioned, a head collar is a gentle no-pull tool. It’s precisely what its name suggests – a collar that a pet dog uses around his head.
That Mutt Ace with his gentle Leader (he’s not impressed)
It consists of a (sometimes padded) noseband that loops around his nose as well as a neck strap that closes behind his ears. The sound attachment under the dog’s chin is for the leash the pet dog is walked on. believe of it as a doggie version of a equine halter!
Some head collars have an extra security function in the type of a strap that clips to the dog’s routine collar. If the neck strap opens for whatever reason, the pet dog can’t just take off since the leash is still connected to the routine collar.
There are a number of different brands of head collars. The two finest understood ones are Halti as well as gentle Leader.
My pet dog Wally with his head collar Halti
I personally like the Halti over the gentle Leader since it features a broader noseband that’s padded. In my opinion, that’s a much better option since a regular, thin noseband can cause chafing on a dog’s nose as well as even under the eyes. A padded noseband is less likely to do this.
How does a head collar for dogs work?
The head collar assists me handle the pet dog I’m walking by controlling the dog’s head. When I requirement the pet dog to re-focus rather than zone in on one more dog, animal, or person, I just guide the dog’s head away from the distraction.
Because of the gentle pressure the collar applies to the dog’s neck as well as muzzle, their head goes into the direction I want it to take, as well as the body complies with automatically.
Remy with his gentle Leader
It’s excellent to utilize as a tool when you’re mentor your pet dog polite leash walking skills as well as don’t want him to pull. Some people only utilize a head collar as a transitioning tool as well as stop utilizing it when their pet dog has grasped the polite leashed walk.
That’s not exactly how I utilize it! I personally utilize it on a everyday basis although my pup Wally is now extremely well behaved on his leash. That’s since he’s one of those dogs who walk completely fine up until they get distracted by something like a feline or a loose dog.
When that happens, he goes nuts as well as starts jumping around as well as wishes to get to whatever it is that’s triggering him to react this way. It’s for those moments that I select to utilize the head collar every day.
I want to be in manage of my pet dog in any way times as well as I want to be able to redirect him from such an upsetting situation. The exact same idea applies to the lots of different client dogs I’m walking. I’m accountable for those dogs while they’re in my care, as well as head collars supply peace of mind for me.
Who must utilize a head collar for dogs?
People who can benefit from utilizing head collars on dogs are those who don’t want dogs to pull or otherwise misbehave while they’re on a leash. In a nutshell, any individual who offers with dogs on a routine basis, like:
Dog walkers
Dog owners
Veterinarians
Groomers
Rescue staff
Anyone who handles a pet dog who pulls hard, lunges or jumps
Head collars stop dogs who pull or otherwise misbehave from acting up when they’re leashed. the very best example for this is one of my clients, young German Shorthaired guideline Whiskey who pulls a bunch. really that’s an understatement. He pulls like a freight train, as well as that’s although he’s a relatively little representative of his breed.
He’s likewise a hunting breed, however his prey drive isn’t incredibly strong. So that’s not what’s providing me a difficult time. It’s his leash walking skills that are just poor, as well as he has an excess amount of energy whenever I see him.
I’ve tried walking him on different collars to limit his pulling, however the only one that works for him is a head collar. It was a 5 minute struggle to put it on him the extremely very first time I brought it over, however it was an instant game changer! now he’s utilized to using it, as well as his pulling is extremely workable when I walk him.
German Shorthaired guideline Whiskey using one of my head collars
That being said, head collars are likewise excellent to utilize on dogs who walk well on leash, however who have a strong prey drive that only kicks in occasionally. That would be the situation with my own dog, Wally!
Head collars for people who manage dogs with strong prey drives
Wally is a Feist. That’s a squirrel hunting breed. like I stated earlier, he goes nuts whenever he sees a feline or a squirrel. Now, he’s discovered to walk extremely well on a leash. That’s with or without his head collar at this point, as well as especially whenever he uses his doggie backpack.
However, his strong prey drive towards small, quick moving critters is the reason why I still walk him on his head collar. It enables me to stay in manage in any way times as well as to redirect him (literally), including those when he would like to begin a chase!
Imagine you’re walking your otherwise well-behaved Viszla when he areas a feline as well as wishes to begin a high speed pursuit! Wouldn’t it be great not to have to concern about your arm being pulled out of its socket?! It would be much harder controlling your hunting pup on a routine collar than if he used a head collar, I assurance that! That’s precisely what motivates me for walking Wally on a head collar.
Pros of head collars for dogs
Baby Remy in his gentle Leader
So as I’ve began pointing out, head collars have a great deal of advantages, such as:
1. stop dogs from pulling
A head collar for dogs is a extremely gentle method of controlling your pet dog when he’s leashed. It’s a terrific tool for mentor polite leash walking skills.
2. Head collars are excellent for reactive dogs
It’s similarly efficient to handle reactive dogs, regardless of what or who they’re reacting to. This might be other dogs, people, kids, or little animals like cats, rabbits, as well as squirrels.
3. great alternate to prong collars, choke collars, as well as slip collars
Many people don’t understand exactly how to appropriately utilize those collars as well as cause damage to their dog’s throat area as a consequence. That’s a great deal less likely with head collars, which make them a a lot more gentle training/walking tool.
4. Makes it simple to walk a number of dogs together
Head collars make it a breeze to walk a number of dogs together. That’s particularly true if they’re huge as well as strong, as well as have a tendency of pulling.
5. It’s economical
A head collar costs between $10 as well as $45, depending upon different styles as well as designs. The ones with a higher cost point are made from leather or have reflective stitching. a lot of pet retail stores bring them, as well as they’re likewise offered online.
My pet dog Wally with his leather head collar
6. is available in different sizes
Head collars are normally offered in small, medium, large, as well as additional big sizes. My 38 lb pup Wally uses either little or medium sized ones, depending upon the private manufacturer. My Boxer mixes Missy as well as Buzz weighed 50 lb as well as 75 lb, as well as they used a medium as well as a big size head collar, respectively.
Cons of head collars
Of program there are a few downsides of head collars as well, although the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion:
1. Take some getting utilized to
Most dogs don’t take pleasure in using the head collar at first, as well as some will even put up a fight trying to get it off. That’s why it’s crucial to carefully introduce it, ideally with smelly treats or food as well as in combination with a walk and/or a cars and truck ride. It’s similarly crucial to keep utilizing them to ensure that the pet dog can begin getting utilized to them.
2. Some people error head collars for muzzles
It’s mainly frustrating since those people presume the pet dog is dangerous. However, a head collar is nowhere close to being a muzzle since it doesn’t restrict the dog’s mouth at all. A pet dog who uses a head collar can still open his mouth to drink, eat, pick up toys, pant as well as bark!
My vet is a strong advocate of head collars as well as always tries her finest to talk about it to any individual who has difficulty walking their dogs. Last time I spoke to her she pointed out exactly how somebody believed her pet dog was aggressive when she walked him on his head collar. So yes, it’s mainly frustrating when it’s mistaken for something it’s not.
3. They can jerk the dog’s head around
If somebody doesn’tunderstand exactly how to appropriately utilize the head collar on their dog, they can cause them pain by jerking their head around. Instead, it’s crucial to carefully redirect the dog’s head. The body will immediately follow.
4. They’re not a great in shape for some dogs
They don’t work well for short snouted, brachycephalic pet dog breeds like Boxers, Pugs, Bulldogs as well as Chihuahuas. However, my Boxer mixes had no difficulty using them since their snouts weren’t as short as those of a purebred Boxer.
Walking my Boxer mixes Missy & Buzz on their head collarsWhere I utilize a head collar with my own dog
The a lot of evident utilize of Wally’s head collar is when we’re out on walks or hikes. considering that we walk every single day, Wally uses his head collar on a everyday basis as well.
Wally using his head collar on a walk
But I likewise utilize it when we bike together to make sure that he doesn’t pull me off the bike if he sees a feline or a squirrel.
My pet dog Wally with his head collar as well as backpack on a bike ride
Another time when I make sure that Wally uses his head collar is when we go to the vet’s or into a pet-friendly store.
Wally at a pet retail store with his head collar
Now we’d like to hear from you!
Now it’s your turn! have you utilized a head collar to walk your dog? Do you have any type of extra advice?
If you have any type of questions, let us understand in the comments!
Barbara Rivers composes on a regular basis for That Mutt. She is licensed in raw pet dog food nutrition from Dogs naturally magazine as well as the author of three ebooks about balanced raw pet dog food. She is a blog writer at K9s Over Coffee.
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