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. Senior dogs (those over 7 years) may naturally start to exercise less by walking rather than running and playing. It maybe helpful to break up your older dogs exercise into smaller sets so for example 2 x 30 min walks rather than going out for an hour. It is important to remember that dogs will often keep walking and playing regardless so it is up to us to ensure our dogs activity levels are appropriate. Look out for signs that your dog is struggling with the level of exercise you are giving him, these may include; Aversive tools like this associate an action with an unpleasant consequence to stop the action from happening. 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.

Blake, S. (et al), ‘ A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Effects of Harness and Head-Collar Use in Dogs’, BioRxiv (2019) 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. Dog muzzles are often associated with aggression. But, they can be used on dogs for a number of reasons, from avoiding bites, to preventing your dog eating harmful items on walks. The Halti brand claims that their head collar is designed to allow your dog to pant and yawn if it needs to.This belt harness is a good option for larger and wider breeds of dog. It’s extremely easy to fit: just slide the large loop over the dog’s head and clip it on. 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. With five points of adjustment on the harness, it ensures a secure, comfortable fit for any size or shape of a dog. 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 great thing about this leash is that there’s at least two feet of stretch in the webbing and that’s extremely useful when running because there’s less chance of the animal pulling you over if it suddenly veers off to chase a rabbit. Hiby, E. (et al), ‘ Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effectiveness and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare’, Psychology: Animal Welfare (2004)Some people don’t even get this far, as their dogs desperately paw at their faces and roll around to get the collar off their nose. 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? If your dog is absolutely insistent on pulling, you’ll know how much of a pain and hassle something as simple as an ordinary dog walk can become. Adult dogs can have longer walks as long as they are fit and healthy; 45 mins to 2 hours exercise will be sufficient for most adult dogs.

Evidence from studies suggests that positive reinforcement methods are the most effective at training permanent skills. This is known as an aversive. It pairs the action of pulling on the leash with an unpleasant consequence. So, to avoid this, choose to train your dog using positive reinforcement methods. This will take time and won’t solve your pulling problem immediately. Once you have a harness (and collar!) in the bag, the next important item is the leash. Dog leashes come in a variety of styles and lengths and are essential accoutrements for the welfare and protection of your dog, especially if walking near traffic and areas that require a tether. Some leads are made from cheap nylon webbing and cost only a few pounds while others are hand-made out of premium leather for maximum parkland prestige. What is the best type of leash for an unruly dog?As we’ve learnt earlier in this guide to ‘what is a Halti’, this type of head harness has a loop that attaches around your dog’s snout. 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. Todd, Z. ‘ Barriers to the Adoption of Humane Dog Training Methods’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2018) If you’ve got through several dog harnesses during the lifespan of your dog, you’ll likely be looking for one that can withstand a bit more tough action and energy. The first Halti product was the Halti headcollar, created in 1979 by Dr. Roger Mugford. It was designed to help owners who were struggling with dogs who pulled excessively when on walks or on their leash.