Hi, I don't know where I am going wrong as Bella, who is 6 months old, hates the halti. I got her used to wearing the halti by giving her a treat when she put her nose through and allowing me to put the halti on her but things went downhill after that. My daughter and I have persevered for over a week but Bella now rubs her nose constantly on my leg as I am walking and reminds me of a crocodile when she gets into grass as she looks like she's doing a log roll trying to get the halti off. Any help would be much appreciated as I have had a back operation and can't manage Bella just using her harness.
Unfortunately some dogs find a headcollar or halti aversive and it sounds like Bella isn't a fan! Apologies for the obvious questions..... Does she rub at it when there's no pressure on it? When it's first on or after it's put pressure on her face? If it's the latter I think it will be hard to fix but you might try taking it off for a bit and rubbing her face and then later putting it back on. Do you let her off lead at all? Does her halti come off then? Try and build up the time she can accept it for and in the meantime if you're able to drive you could perhaps take her somewhere safe where you can let her off lead and then do some off lead work on heelwork. If there's no other option than the halti you have two options habituation or desensitisation. Habituation is used when you can't manage exposure to the stimulus - say you've moved near a train track and you have to get habituated to the train noise so you can sleep. You make it as positive an experience for the dog as possible and try and use distraction techniques to effectively take their mind off it until they become used to it. If they find the stimulus extremely aversive though you can be on a hiding to nothing going down this route. Desensitisation is where you use positive reinforcement to change the way the dog feels about something and gradually build up the amount of time they can accept the stimulus - this is what you did to start with and because that worked you may be able to extend that. The challenge will be how do you manage when she can only do 90 seconds of having the halti on?
Bella reacts as soon as the halti goes on and has now got to the point where she doesn't want to leave the house. I live approx. 5 minutes walk from a forest where Bella goes off lead and 10 minutes drive in the car to Epping Forest but Bella hates being in the car and refuses to get in and I can't lift her into the car. I take treats out with me and am using a treat to even get her out of the front door. I worry that something which should be enjoyable is becoming something Bella dreads.
Ah that sounds really tough and it becomes such hard work so quickly doesn't it. You have to go out so you get her through the door somehow, you have to walk so you get her in her halti somehow etc etc. The problem is, in isolation getting these things done is probably fine but they all add up for Bella until she just can't do what you want and you're both unhappy. Do you have much free time in the day? If you do I would try some of these things..... Firstly don't put her halti on. Put a collar and lead on her with enough slack to do what you want and tie it to the banister or the door handle so she's not going to pull you. Or if you have gates shut those so she can't get onto any roads. Feed her by the front door, as close as she'll go comfortably. Feed her three or four times a day there. Gradually move the bowl towards the door until she'll go through the door to get her meal. If she won't eat her normal food then move her away from the door until she will. If she'll go through the door then do something similar by the car. Be careful of tying her too stuff in case she gets caught in it if she jumps in the car but see what options you have. Count out really, really yummy treats into your hand so she can see you've got them. Go as close to the car as you can. Reward her for anything positive a look, a handtouch, a sit. Open the boot and do the same thing. Sit on the boot (you not her ) same again. See if she'll take treats you put on the car bumper. See if she'll get in the car to get a treat, let her jump straight back out. Always, always let her remove pressure by moving away from the car. There's a great Nando Brown video of how he gets a potentially aggressive dog into a crate in his van. I'll try and find it for you. All of this will actually be really tiring for her! As it will involve thinking and a (hopefully very small) amount of stress. If you have a garden and she'll toilet in there don't worry too much about her walks. While you do all that I would go back to the beginning with the halti inside with nothing to do with walks. Reward interaction with it, a look a nose touch. Pop it on, take it straight off, leave it on and see if she'll take food with it on (eating is a good sign of being under threshold and not too stressed). When she'll wear it see if she'll play a game with it on, does she have a favourite game or toy?
When she'll do all of those in isolation you can start putting them together. Halti on, through the front door, massive game, halti off. Halti on, jump in the car, roast chicken dinner, get back out of the car. Wishing you lots and lots of luck
You have given me hope. Everything you have suggested makes a great deal of sense and I will certainly try going back to basics with Bella as she is a lovely, albeit overly boisterous, puppy. I have to remind myself that she is still only 6 months old as she looks and has the strength of an older dog. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks again for the advice.
If you feel you do need to use a head collar, do try the Gencon, it is the easiest and dogs don't seem to mind it as much as the other head collars, it doesn't ride up into their eyes either. Well it didn't when I had to use it years ago.
I have just googled 'Gencon' which has very good reviews. As it doesn't appear to pull from the nose I wonder if Bella would get on with this better than the Halti headcollar I have been using. I am going to work with Bella on her fear of the car which in some way will help solve the problem as Bella has very good recall when let off the lead. If all else fails I will order a Gencon. Thanks for the advice. Its hard to believe I am having such problems as I look at Bella who is sound asleep on the settee!!!
Is there any way you can manage without the Halti? I have to say, I see dogs in them day in and day out looking totally miserable. When you speak with the owner, they will say the dog doesn't mind, and it has made life absolutely wonderful because walks are without pulling. Well, it might seem that way to the human, but does it seem that way to the dog? By the look of it, a lot of dogs would say no. Is there any way you could retrain loose lead walking? I do appreciate that this might mean the dog doesn't get on lead walks for a bit but only lead training, that would do not harm (paricularly if you can get your dog some off lead runs) and might provide a lifetime of lovely walks for you both.
Hi Julie, Bella is currently attending training, which includes loose lead walking. In a training session and at home she is brilliant, she knows most commands and walks well on the lead. The problems start when we take her outside for a walk as everything she has learnt seems to be forgotten the second she gets outside. As I am recovering from back surgery I can't take Bella out if she pulls on the lead, hence the halti. I have mentioned earlier that she hates getting in the car which I have been given some advice on. As I live near open land and forest a short trip in the car would mean Bella could be taken out to the forest every day. The last thing I want is for Bella to be miserable and I see the halti as a short term measure until she calms a little.
Do you need the halti to get her to the car and out for an off lead walk? If not, then just do that on a normal collar and continue your loose lead training in an environment where she can cope without pulling. Or, have you considered a front fastening harness? I'm not a fan of those either, but think they are way better than a headcollar.
