We are not keen on using a halti or gentle leader on our puppy, what would anyone else recommend? We have him booked in for basic obedience training not long after we get him. Any advice gratefully received.
No, no, no. If he is 8 weeks then you have a few weeks to teach him to heel before he can go out and about anyway. I teach all my pups to walk to heel off lead first, using treats to lure them into position. Once the lead goes on, it's the same exercise. Getting it right from day one will save you 15 years of painful (for you and the dog!) pulling, various contraptions etc.
Hi Chris, You might find this article of interest: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/why-your-labrador-puppy-needs-a-harness/ It looks at why and when harnesses can be helpful, and which are the types to go for.
I wouldn't recommend a halti there should be no need especially at 8 weeks. Training to walk on a loose lead would be the better option
Hi, our vet and our trainer both recommended that we use a harness for our puppy because a collar can damage pup's neck, especially at first before loose lead training is a success, as they pull all the time with excitement. Good luck with your new puppy and how exciting
Head collars are a last resort - not something you use in place of training in my opinion. A harness with a front clip is what I used when I got my dog aged 6 months as he pulled and bit the lead. At 8 weeks you won't necessarily need a harness but it's probably a good idea to get pup used to wearing one - maybe put it on for meals to start a positive association with it.
A harness is the best option for your pup. When he is small, you can just use a back-fastening harness - I tend to find that owners don't use front clips with little puppies because they are not very strong and because the leash that attaches there often gets caught up in front legs (puppies are so low to the ground). When your pup grows, you can switch to a harness that offers both front and back clips. My current favourite harness, is the DOG Copenhagen Comfort Fit Air.
Our Logan is 20wks old now and we have trained him in the garden to walk sit heel etc..... But once we got to the park different ball game he suddenly pulls like a train once in the park. We keep on a lead until we are past the main road area of the park and then we let him off the lead by simply unhook him. We then carry on walking. Logan will potter about here there n everywhere and then sprint back to us where he will sit infront of you for his treat. Then he ambles off. Then either a quick whistle and he is straight back for an treat or a shout of Logan come and again he comes straight back. But down to the halti. We got logan from a previous owner who had him from 8-10wks old and had him locked up in a room for upto 10hrs a day while they where out all day. Everything we did in the garden with him during themth where he couldnt go out due to the vacs all went out of the window. Everything regarding lead training gone pulls like a train again..... We have slowly managed to get him to slow to a walk but he always as to be ahead... So had to bite the bullit and buy a halti..... He as had 3 small walks and is slowly responding to the halti... The 10wks we have had him we have found several issues and the main one is a separation issue with myself.... Logan goes to puppy classes in a few weeks so hopefully that will be fun....
You need to be honest with yourself about how consistant you were with his training to heel. When you say you have slowed him to walk, that is suggesting that there has been some point where he has reached the end of his lead and managed to make some forwards progress. If he reaches the end of his lead; stop. Simple. There is no reason in the world to put a 20 week old puppy in a halti. Sorry to sound rude.
we used to say how well Kyko walked on a lead when he was younger, but when we looked back on it we were very inconsistent with him & we used to make excuses for him pulling, like oh but it's windy he can't concentrate, he's in a new place & too excited. We went to classes with him in March & realised that he ion fact wasn't all that great at loose lead walking. Now he isn't too bad although we still have to stop still &/or walk backwards now & then as he gets too far to the end of the lead. I wouldn't say he was pulling just walking to the end of the lead but will then start to pull which means he gets what he wants as it can take us a couple of steps to stop. We probably thought he was better than he actually was due to the fact that our last dogs were terrible on the lead. We got them from my brother as adults & he had never really trained them on lead at all. We know he is a work in progress & we have our ups & downs but 98% of the time now he is great
