hi all, we use a halti for jack and pretty much have done since we got him at 9 months, hes now 13 months. Hes still pulling like a trouper and will walk along and rub his face along the floor/bushes/people to get the thing off! i know he doesnt like it but without it on hes even stronger. Hes pulled me into the road a couple of times and through a neighbours gate when on a lead and halti. as we are not making progress with the halti im thinking its time to change, but what to? ive heard that padded harnesses are a bad idea as it will just make it more comfortable for him to pull me along, i dont want to waste money buying loads of different products that dont work. ive tried treat training him, with the halti on and this results in him bouncing up and down next to me to get the treats! im not expecting him to walk to heel but just to not drag me about would be a good start! im aware that training classes would be a good idea but the cost means that its not likely to happen soon, plus the courses are reluctant to allow the kids there incase they distract the dogs, leavving us with a child minder problem too as i want me and my hubby to attend the course to get continuity of training.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! I would stop using the halti and don't buy other products that are supposed to stop a dog pulling. Instead work on him walking nicely, every time he pulls stand still and wait until the lead is slack again before walking forward. It will mean that your walks will be constant stop and start for a while until he has got the idea that he only gets to move forward when the lead is slack. We are going through this process with our 7 month old lab at the moment, using a headcollar to try and ease the pulling, but we have now stopped using the headcollar and working on her not pulling and making good progress. The only time we use the headcollar now is when we know we are going somewhere busy and there are lots of people about as she tries to jump up at people so a headcollar gives me extra control over her, until she can learn to great people in a sensible way (and people ask to greet her and stop saying its ok for her to jump up at them ). We only use a halti on our other dog on occasions as he is a rescue and can get grumpy with other dogs, having a halti on him calms him down and gives me extra control. He also has several harness's that we also use on occasions as they each have a specific job.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! This book is very good: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/?p=2570 And this article: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/?p=1166 I think a front fastening harness might help in the meantime. Although I'm not a huge fan - I bought one a few months ago, and tried it on Charlie. It altered the way he walked, and this worried me. Dogs tend to turn slightly in them and even some makers of front fastening harnesses say to change walk sides so the dog doesn't develop problems with altered gait. That said, might help while you work on sorting the problem out (you are still meant to train not pulling though, even while using a front fastening harness). http://store.petsafe.net/easy-walk-harness
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! Hi, You could try a harness for safety reasons if Jack has pulled you into the road, but use one with the 'D' ring at the front not the back then Jack will have nothing to pull into. I use one on Charlie and he is 30kg and I can control him and I am petite. I have also started to clicker train his heel work and am having success, still at home in our driveway but we will in time move out just very short distances into the village and back and build it up. A clicker will cost you £2 plus a bag of small yummy treats. I did the stop start with Charlie but really didn't get anywhere but with Hattie worked a treat, so worth a try also. Good luck. x
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! Amy has learned that if she pulls back she can the halti off. Do I have it on wrong?
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! You might have it on wrong. I used a halti with my two first but found because it tightened and slackened it rode up especially on Scott and rubbed a bald patch. They could also get them off their nose if slack and would always try to get then off. I changed to a gentle leader which stays at the tightness you set. The dogs are much more comfortable and don't try to get it off. Although I found I'd fitted it wrong to begin with. It should've been much tighter than I had it. Jen
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! I tried Halit, Canni Collar, Gentle Leader and all to no avail, then someone recommended Gencon (off internet) and it was great. I don't use it now as he walks well to heel off lead and on lead.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! I had a puller in Sam , he is a very big dog who now weighs 38 kilos so it began to be dangerous walking him . I tried every type of collar and harness, nothing worked and he was downright miserable too . When we started gundog training , my trainer gave me loads of help and showed me where I was going wrong . One of the first things I learned was to relax , dogs can feel out tension down the lead and will react . The second tip and for me the best of all was to keep changing direction , having Sam on my left and using the left knee very gently to steer him left the moment he began to pull . This often meant that on lead walks , we ended up going nowhere with all the changes of direction or complete stops , but with repetition , the penny began to drop . Ideally, it would be great to not have to use a lead but for me, like most other owners , the lead is a necessary tool to get to where the off lead exercise begins . Sam used to walk home like an angel because he knew that the fun was over and so was calm , its only excitement and anticipation that makes them pull and some dogs actually enjoy the feeling of pulling, they feel in control . It did take ages to get Sam to walk nicely and we still have the odd lapse , so its back to the stop, start and change direction again , but it worked for us , eventually
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=3927.msg45301#msg45301 date=1389121749] and we still have the odd lapse , [/quote] Oh Kate really?that makes me feel a bit better over some of our backwards steps ( like the one last week) I know Sam's lapses will be minimal compared to ours but it helps to know that revisions and backing up a bit happens to other people too,thanks for that x
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! [quote author=Dexter link=topic=3927.msg45444#msg45444 date=1389177266] [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=3927.msg45301#msg45301 date=1389121749] and we still have the odd lapse , [/quote] Oh Kate really?that makes me feel a bit better over some of our backwards steps ( like the one last week) I know Sam's lapses will be minimal compared to ours but it helps to know that revisions and backing up a bit happens to other people too,thanks for that x [/quote] We're the same, mostly great but every now and then Riley decides his place is at the very end of his lead. A few direction changes and pace changes makes him pay attention to me again. Bless them they're never trained! :
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! Stopping and changing direction does work - I wonder though, whether people realise how long it takes to get results. I saw some data recently where 196 dogs were walked up and down the same road (not all at the same time), for 30 days and the stop for pulling technique was used. On average a dog pulled 70 times on day one, and one time on day 30 - but on day 15 they were still pulling more than 30 times. And that was ONE road. Given that you have to proof walking nicely, and that includes on new roads and in new areas, then passed people, dogs, skate boards etc. the technique is going to take a loooooong time. This data helped me with proofing Charlie's lead walking - it made me realise how much time and effort I needed to put in. It didn't take 30 days to walk nicely down a road with Charlie, but I am super, super careful on the proofing now. I plan it out on a spreadsheet!
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! Thats the thing to remember, it does take ages , no quick fix . I remember one time, coming home from an on lead training walk and actually crying, which is quite pathetic , but I just felt that Sam wasnt ever going to walk nicely : Quick reality check , back to the grindstone , it can seem forever but will pay dividends
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! I know I sound a bit luvvie but I always appreciate Julie's factual and analytical posts.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! [quote author=hd link=topic=3927.msg46141#msg46141 date=1389458080] I know I sound a bit luvvie but I always appreciate Julie's factual and analytical posts. [/quote] Me too and I am in no way surprised that you have a spreadsheet Julie! I know who I'm enlisting if I ever need some research done
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! [quote author=bbrown link=topic=3927.msg46208#msg46208 date=1389474485] [quote author=hd link=topic=3927.msg46141#msg46141 date=1389458080] I know I sound a bit luvvie but I always appreciate Julie's factual and analytical posts. [/quote] Me too and I am in no way surprised that you have a spreadsheet Julie! I know who I'm enlisting if I ever need some research done [/quote] Hear Hear! Julie would be an asset to have on your side in any argument I do sometimes wonder whether she is related to Superwoman, or has some ability to time-warp, as I am sure there must be more hours in her day than to be able to fit in work, Charlie's training, dog-related research, forum, house-wifey things......... Can understand why the Roomba would be appealing.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=3927.msg45519#msg45519 date=1389193403] I remember one time, coming home from an on lead training walk and actually crying, which is quite pathetic , [/quote] No Kate,not pathetic....I've done that,more than once! X
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! One thing I have found to work and it takes a while for them to get it but its near enough plain sailing as far as pulling like a steam train goes. How do you leave the house with him? What happens? He gets excited? Jumping up? Whining? Doesn't sit still? Who leaves the house first? Do you dread the walk and dread putting his lead on? First step - is getting his lead on without him going crackers. Randomly pick his lead up. When he gets excited. Put the lead down. KEEP doing that! Until he sits nicely and patiently! This might take a while but keep at it. Once he has the lead and he isn't going nutters Stand still. When he is watching you calmly take a few steps. If his attention leaves you then stop. He will look up at you, take more steps. walk around the house doing this and he shouldn't pull and should keep looking at you paying attention. Do not talk to him as you want him watching you.Randomly change directions and he should keep close to your leg and watching your face. All dogs usually act like this in the house. Its getting him used to the fact that lead doesn't mean going for a walk. This means training in the house. Then you walk towards the front door. As you would for a walk.When he sits and watches open the door and if he is calm walk out the door. If he gets excited close the door again and try again later.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! You are now ready to leave the house for a walk. Albiet a short one. Walk forward, If he barges ahead. Walk straight back in the house and try again later. Keep doing this until he allows you calmly to walk out the door before him at a calm pace. He should wait till you have locked the door calmly. If he doesn't try again later until he achieves it. The first steps on your walk.... Wait for him to look up at you and IMMEDIATLY walk forwards. When he barges ahead STOP. Wait for him to look up at you and walk again. If he struggles to look up at you. Try making a sound (not his name) like a whistle or click noise. And when he looks up walk again. It may take a while but WAIT for him to look up at you and then walk forward. He has to be by your side and looking at your face for you to move and once a dog catches onto this it is very easy to maintain. You stop if he pulls or stops paying attention to you. Once he has this down you can allow him not to constantly watch you but pay attention to you. Such as watching your legs or listening out for you.
Re: halti on and still pulling like a crazy hound! I am so glad I have read this thread!! I have spent a fortune on various leads for Max who is now 7 months. I was initially only using the halti for the school run as the excitement of all the children would be too much for Max and could not risk him knocking all the little ones over whilst trying to lick them but I now have to use it for most walks as if he sees another dog he would drag me down the road. I have tried changing direction but maybe I am not doing it enough for him to catch on. I am planning to take him to gundog training in March but wasn't sure whether I would be frowned upon turning up with the halti on. I look forward to seeing how you get on
