Pulling Dogs - Headcollars
Some dogs can really pull on the lead and they don't seem to respond easily to some of the training methods. Luckily there are a number of ways to stop a dog pulling. if one solution doesn't work then try another that your dog takes to more easily. Using a headcollar is an excellent way to control a pulling dog. There are several on the market and all them work well. I bought an all in one headcollar and lead for Sasha. It's called a Gencon and I call it my designer label headcollar.
Why the gencon was necessary
Sasha is a lovely dog and under normal circumstances she's very well behaved. Like a lot of collies though, she has an obsessive nature and one of her obsessions is agility. She loves it. At her agility training classes she gets very wound up and excited when the other dogs are running. She wants it to be her turn to jump all the time. It's very frustrating for a keen dog to have to wait their turn and often they'll bark and whine and struggle to get to the jumps. Sasha did all of this and more and then one day she got to the point where the excitement actually caused her to collapse. I decided to try the gencon to see if it would help.
The Effect of the Gencon on Sasha
I taught Sasha to wear the Gencon in the garden and I noticed a marked effect immediately. We often do a bit of heelwork or other obedience in the garden but Sasha does have trouble concentrating. Once the gencon was in place a remarkable change took place. Suddenly she was able to walk to heel and for the first time she really inderstood what I wanted her to do. There was no pulling and no trying to rush to the gate or leaping around excitedly. Because I was so pleased she seemed delighted herself and she wanted to do more and more.
When we next went to agility classes she was a different dog. She was still very excited but it was so much easier to keep her under control and the hysterical barking almost stopped. The trainer said that headcollars tend to have a calming effect on dogs as you are putting something over the nose and asking for control in a different way. I'm happy to say that Sasha is much more at ease with agility and she hasn't suffered a collapse since using the Gencon.
Other Headcollars
You can also buy other headcollars for dogs such as the famous Halti. These work very well and they will help to stop a dog pulling on the lead. If you want to try a headcollar on your dog let the dog see it first. Put the headcollar on for a very short time and praise the dog. Then take it off again. Be very gentle and don't force it.
Occasionally a dog simply won't accept this form of control and it can be distressing if you make it into a battle. Jamie won't have anything over his nose so I would never use a Gencon or a Halti on him. Also, dogs with short faces such as boxers may not the right shape physically to be able to wear a headcollar. In these cases you might be better off with a harness or with consistent training under the supervision of a experienced trainer. If you think your dog may take to a headcollar then have a look at the sales below to get an idea of cost. Good luck and happy training.
Occasionally a dog simply won't accept this form of control and it can be distressing if you make it into a battle. Jamie won't have anything over his nose so I would never use a Gencon or a Halti on him. Also, dogs with short faces such as boxers may not the right shape physically to be able to wear a headcollar. In these cases you might be better off with a harness or with consistent training under the supervision of a experienced trainer. If you think your dog may take to a headcollar then have a look at the sales below to get an idea of cost. Good luck and happy training.
Dog Headcollars for Sale