Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: Shes a changed dog ( Halti)
Having over the last few weeks nearly had my arm pulled out its socket numerous times and having been pulled off my feet and ending up with cut arms and a bump on the head i decided to give in and buy Ruby a halti.
I have been avoiding getting one as i personally really don't like them but its become obvious that no amount of stopping and turning around was going to work. Although she has been slowly improving ( most of the time, some days shes a nightmare still!) The cold weather is meaning the roads are icy and was risking either a broken wrist or a dead ruby where she had pulled me over and ran into the road.
Went to the vets today and they sorted out what size she needed and showed me how to fit it, said to take her for a walk around the grounds to see how she got on with it before i bought one. Well she pulled once, pulled twice then gave up and walked beautifully!
Came home and took her for a proper walk and for the first time in her life she walked like a dream, didn't pull once!
The plan is to get a double ended lead and when shes walking nicely hold the end near her collar rather than the halti end and gradually wean her off needing it.
Its great to see you using it as it should be, an interim tool whilst you tackle the heelwork/pulling issue from a different angle. Good on you for taking that attitude to it. Some put them on, see a difference and forget the problem still lurks waiting, when the dog gets USED to the Halti, to return with a vengence...
Good luck with your reschooling programme.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Thanks!
I really dont want her to have to wear it for any longer than she HAS to. I would have rathered mastering the heel work without it, but i really dont want to risk her pulling me over again on the ice and ending up in the road, so its for her ( and my) saftey really.
Quite a timely post, as I've just invested in a Halti for Hudson. He's a perfect dog in so many ways but I'm still struggling when we meet other dogs. He's only a puppy still and it's to be expected, but I've not even made a dent in trying to get his attention. Just recently he's starting pulling really hard to get to other dogs (I think made worse by my OH pulling on the lead, so he's learnt to pull harder). Hudson's about 4 stone and I can see we're going to run into problems if this carries on.
I haven't actually used the Halti yet, we've tried it on and he wasn't best pleased. I plan to try it in short bursts to begin with before venturing out.
But I'm feeling optimistic by your post. In fact I might go and have a try with it right now.
Ruby wasnt best impressed with it when i put it on, but as ive been a mean mummy and put hats and things on her since she was little for phoos she isnt too bothered about having things on her head. Just gave a sharp no when she went to paw it and a stupidly excited " Good girl" when she left it alone. After a few min she seemed to have forgot she was wearing it ( for now anyway!)
What size did you get for Hudson? uby has a size 2, an even that is a little loose on her ( little pin head!)
Cadbury's lead walking has certainly improved since we switched to a head collar. I am now working on a double lead, with one bit attached to the normal collar.
Today we tried this system and it worked well. I keep the length attached to the collar loose and just hold near his head collar, again loosely. This is just so if he does pull ahead I gently guide him back.
We were getting on really well today, plenty of praise for Cadbury and he did start walking very nicely on a loose lead. I also allow him leeway to sniff posts and things, so that he doesn't think all the fun's been taken out of his walk!
As an aside, our neighbour fosters guide dogs when their owners are ill or on holiday, and there is one in particular that he refuses to take unless it comes with its gentle leader, because it pulls so badly on a normal lead!
I think Cadbury has damaged his throat from all the pulling he has done, so now I wish I had switched to a head collar a lot sooner
I think whatever works for you and makes walking more pleasurable for you and your dog is great
I did try a headcollar type thing with Max years ago - I don't think he'd really had any training before we took him on, he didn't even seem to know "sit". He didn't like the head collar at all, but I know plenty of people who use them and think they're great.
Mine wear harnesses. They're not a substitute for training, I know my collie can't back out of it if he gets freaked out by something or puts the brakes on and I just prefer them
I have been using a halti for the last few weeks and it has transformed our walks! What are the double ended leads mentioned? I might need one of those too
I used one as an interi, trainign tool with Milly, and still use one with Coco as she has other "issues" it helps with. Blue always walked nicely on lead and Crys is rarely on the lead so!!
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