HALTI Walking Harness, Size Medium, Purple, Best Lightweight Dog Harness with Handle, Reflective & Adjustable, Ideal for Puppy Walks, For Small, Medium & Large Dogs

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Aversive tools like this associate an action with an unpleasant consequence to stop the action from happening. Whilst the fit of the collar itself might not be uncomfortable for your dog when standing still, this pressure when walking is most likely very uncomfortable. Ziv, G. ‘ The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs – A Review’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2017)

This is because the Halti doesn’t train your dog to heel. It just gives your dog an unpleasant consequence when he tries to pull. The Halti was designed by Dr Roger Mugford to come to the rescue of such dogs and their owners. Its revolutionary design is based on the same principle as a horse’s headcollar – if you guide the head, the body will surely follow. Naturally following the contours of a dog’s face and positioned well down the dog’s nose, the Halti gives you maximum steering power and control.Ultimately, the least cruel way to stop your dog from pulling is to use positive reinforcement training to teach them to heel. What is a Halti? Halti is a brand that sells a number of head and body harnesses designed to prevent pulling in dogs. Their most popular and common product is a head harness that has almost become synonymous with the brand name. But, until then, you can choose to manage the problem with a body harness and leash. How do Haltis Compare to Gentle Leaders? Using head harnesses like this for longer periods has led to distress and severe consequences reported by owners. The heavy-duty plastic clips are seriously large and we wonder if this combination of wide webbing and large clips is the reason the whole harness tends to shift over to one side after a few minutes wear. That said, at no time did the dog – an elderly Labrador – appear to be in discomfort. We suspect the smaller sizes use narrower, thinner and more supple webbing, which should ensure the harness remains in better position.

Many people report that their dogs don’t seem as happy when wearing a Halti. Their tails and ears may droop, they hold their heads lower, and don’t seem as excited on walks. Another handy feature is the traffic handle – a split section of non-stretchy webbing positioned very close to the dog’s harness. It’s imperative that you use this handle when approaching a road or walking on the pavement. Some dog harnesses are also fitted with a soft handle at the top, so you can easily grab the dog if it wants to get involved in a fight or is simply too keen to meet another pooch. Given that dogs will usually exit water at the same place they went in, these handles are also a godsend for helping dogs out of rivers or lakes with steep banks. Do I still need a collar? Where the figure-hugging Ruffwear Front Range is quite heavily padded and therefore a little hot to wear when the temperature rises, this skimpier, bikini-like model is thinner and lighter and much better suited for use on hot summer days.Todd, Z. ‘ Barriers to the Adoption of Humane Dog Training Methods’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2018) The Halti makes the training and behaviour of dogs practical and safe. It can be used in a number of ways: either as a passive means to simply stop dogs from pulling or as an active training aid. Handlers can gently direct the dog’s head, steering him into desired positions which can then be rewarded and linked to a command, for example, ‘heel’! Halti is suitable for a number of different dog breeds, coming in three different sizes. Additional benefits include a reflective strip on the harness for use when walking your dog at night. For the best experience, it’s recommended that you combine the Halti with the compatible Halti Training Lead, which you can use for even more “steering” control. If you have a puppy or a small dog up to 15kgs in weight that you’d rather not let off the lead, consider one of these extendable auto-rewind models from Flexi. Available in two lengths (3m and 5m) and three sizes, the Flexi’s tape is neon coloured so others are less likely to get tangled up in it when your dog’s doing its mad dog stuff. We would suggest the 5m version simply because it’s a good thing to have an extra two metres to hand. They have also shown that, not only do aversive collars cause fear and pain, but dogs can start to associate the presence of their owner with pain and punishment, rather than the action of pulling.

With reflective threads for night walking, a range of 12 colours and a smart design, you can enjoy safe and secure walks with your pooch at any time. The Julius-K9 leash is designed to be easy to hold, even in wet weather conditions. With its rubberised construction, you won’t lose your grip, it will withstand no end of all-weather walking, and it simply wipes clean. The secure metal carabiner attaches easily to your dog’s harness ring. This reviewer has been using one for over two years in all terrains with no sign of wear and tear. This loop over the nose is present in both Haltis and Gentle Leaders. So, there is likely to be no real difference in how your dog will react to them. How do Haltis Compare to Other Types of Aversive Collars? If you can think of any other questions about this product, make sure to add them to the comments at the end of this guide. If you have a dog that pulls on the lead every time you go for a walk, consider a front-range harness with a leash ring on the chest strap. These are proven to work wonders at getting a dog to heel. If you have an especially powerful lead-puller then invest in a double-lead balance system such as the Mekuti, reviewed in this roundup. How do I measure my dog for a new harness?

It found that there was no real difference in acceptance when it came to different styles of head collar. This does mean many dogs are less likely to pull as a result. But, it can be a very uncomfortable process for them.

So, the best long term solution to prevent pulling is to use positive reinforcement training to teach the heel command. Not only is this more likely to work in the long term, but it will also help you build a much stronger bond with your dog. Are Haltis Cruel? This product is still the most well known of the Halti products. And, it is the one most people think of when they say the brand name.

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The Gentle Leader is another brand of head collar that is very similar to the Halti. It aims to redirect your dog’s head towards you whenever it tries to pull on the leash.