Halti/Gentle Leader type head collars for dogs?

[woofgang]

Hi all, One of my beloved pups (GSP/weimaraner) pulls like a train on the lead. I have tried all, and I mean all, the usual kind techniques to stop this without success so far.
So my question is this.

I know that the headcollar type thing works but has anyone got any experience of teaching a dog not to pull with one and then reverting to a normal collar? Do they still not pull or does using the head collar thing need to be permanent?

With great respect, I am not looking for suggestions on techniques to teach the dog not to pull...I am familiar with both dog training and the HPR breeds....just looking for head collar comments.

Thanks

[paddywak]

when Max (GSD) was a pup he was always pulling so he went into a Halti I used it all the time for about 3 months and then gradually decreased the usage untill he was walking with just normal collar and lead. He is now 6 and walks perfectly to heal on the lead or off it's just a matter of perseverance as with most dog training

[woofgang]

thanks, that's helpful. I plan to persevere but am looking for a way to keep my shoulder in its socket while persevering!!!
My experience of weimaraners is that they mature mentally quite late and find things which lie outside their natural abilities quite hard to concentrate on.
The trick is not t olose ground (or shoulder socket) while waiting for the mental maturity.

[lankeela]

Hope you have loads of patience, Vymuras tend to be very late maturing. Most dogs continue pulling once you have taken the Halti off, as the owners don't bother to train them as the Halti does the work. If you want to stop it pulling then you need to keep working at it, and gradually lessen the 'hold' you have on the lead, encouraging the dog not to pull as you would with a training collar. Titbits and vocal encouragement (watch me, good boy). I have used the Canny Collar and find them better than the Halti as the pressure is applied evenly to both sides as it crosses at the back of the head, rather than pulling up the side of the face.

Is your Vyleda unpredictable with other dogs? I used to work with one and she would be great with 19 dogs and suddenly shoot out at the twentieth for no good reason, and get back to you before you realised she had done it. No particular breed or colour, just when she thought you had
lost concentration!

[showcatbenga]

I think that Lankeela has the best idea with a headcollar that pulls evenly. I tried a halti with my alsation x collie rescue but she was so clever she would just keep swinging her haunches away, running backwards, putting a paw to pull it off, etc. making any sort of progress impossible! lol. What do you mean 'it takes lots of time' it's only taken her 14 years to learn that we aren't going anywhere until she's at heel & not pulling!?

[woofgang]

They are actually crossbred, result of an accidental mating between a weimaraner bitch and a GSP dog...both lovely temperament, both show/working stock.
The weimaraners that we have had and trained ourselves suddenly clicked to loose lead walking around age two...having butterfly brain concentration before then unless it involved hunting pointing retrieving...superb at distance recall, wonderful at scent work...absolute b's on the lead. They have all been predictable in behaviour with other dogs....ether good or...well...less good but predictable and for the most part controllable once adult....and anyone who says that they have behaviour (ie not on lead) control of a weimaraner ALL the time is either deluding themselves or a barefaced liar. The trick is to know when you may not have control and take alternative action.
I think that part of the problem with this boy is that ANYWHERE in the world is so exciting and interesting...so standing still or going in a tight circle is as interesting as walking because he is sensing (mostly scent I think) so much.
Anyway thanks for the input....will patiently presevere!

[Maero]

I sympathize with you Woofgang.
I also had the same problem with my Staffordshire, they
also love to pull and are very strong.
I tried every conceivable contraption, as soon as my girl
got the hang of it .....she would be back to pulling.
I strongly believe, you have to let them know who is alpha.
As soon as she starts pulling I go the opposite way, and I just keep doing this. It can certainly try your patience but I'm finding it's the only thing to truly work.
I have a bag full of halti/harness/gentle leaders etc. So with respect techniques on training is truly the way to go.
At the end of the day, they need to know you won't tolerate them pulling, and you not they are the boss. Of course Woofgang as you pointed out you are familiar with dog training techniques.
Good luck (it worked for me)