Halti harness

D · Post by D » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:06 am

I was wonder what people thought of the halti harness? I need a harness that is controled from the chest and not from the back loop.

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:03 am

I don't like them, they only control the head and not the body and it is the body were the strength is. Dogs can spin round on a halti or any other gadget on the head which they can't do the same if on a harness.

D · Post by D » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:58 am

I may have misunderstood, but I thought the Halti harness did control the body as it has a ring in the front of the chest, I don't mean the halti head collar.

Carrie · Post by **Carrie** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:43 pm

http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/item--H ... ti-harness

Here it is. See the black Lab. Yes, it's a no pull harness with the control from the front...lets you direct the direction the dog is going. (not a head halter)

Ocelot0411 · Post by **Ocelot0411** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:57 pm

You can get either D, Halti do a head collar and a harness. I have a Halti Harness for Ellie and think its OK, it certainly beats walking her just on a collar, but this is the only one I have ever tried.

I would therefore have to give way to Mattie's vastly superior knowledge on harnesses. She has recommended a 'Trail Harness' to me in the past which I must get aorund to ordering! Oh yes one other thing, I find the Halti harness does rub after a bit, whilst Mattie says that the trail harnesses don't, so I would give those a go if i were you.

D · Post by D » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:12 am

I usually walk Bella with a gental leader but resently it has started to rub her nose a bit so wanted to try a harness. I have a trail harness, but with it she goes into husky mode and drops down and pulls, pulls, pulls, (I have nearly been swimming in the river quite a few times)

I got a halti harness yesterday and tried it, and it doesn't seem to be to bad, although I'm not to sure I have it correctly adjusted as when she pulls the black chest strap seems to move.

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:55 am

D, can you adjust the strap round the body quite a way back, preferably just before the end of the ribs? If you can do this, you can hold the strap at the top and raise your hand. This should lift her body enough so she can't pull.

Also, don't let her head get in front of your hip, once it is she can pull. If it is behind your hip or level, she can't because she is playing catch up. Have a look at the instructions for loose lead walking in the Methods section, it does work but you need to do it every day. If your dog has been taught to pull, then no matter where you are, if his head goes in front of your hip, turn and make him catch up. As soon as he walks by your side for 1 step, lots of verbal praise but continue, don't break the training, you can give treats/toys when the session is finished.

I have made the mistake of stopping the training to reward, it sets you and the dog back. Your voice, will telll your dog you are pleased with him especially if you can speak quite a bit higher for a reward.

Gadgets may help you control your dog but they don't stop the behaviour, only you can do that.

There are other ways, a long lead attached to a harness, pass the lead round the chest leaving a loop you can hold and you also hold the handle after it has gone round the chest. You can steer your dog then. I use this method when I put up a course on my patio or garden. I put poles on the ground, about 9ft apart and walk in and out of them as well as over. You have straight sections and bends which you steer your dog. You can also put them in a square with a gap at the corners, again steer your dog through them. Use your imagination on how you can put them for your dog.

D · Post by D » Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:44 am

Thanks for the advise, I will have a look to see if I can alter it so it is further back, at the moment the strap is just behind her elbow, so that could be were I am going wrong.

I have tried to lift my arm when she goes to far, but she is 35KG of GSD so not an easy task.

I will give it ago tonight

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:42 am

Hi D,

A trail harness should be fitted further back than just behind her elbows which is probably why lifting you hand doesn't work. You don't need to lift the dog up, just raise your hand enough for her to feel the pressure under her body.

D · Post by D » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:54 am

The main problem is Bella didn't have a very good start in life when it can to walking on a lead. She was abused and is now scared when it comes to walking along side you on a lead, Off the lead she is fine she is happy to be at your side. We are working on this at the moment by praising and treating her for walking closer to us and she is gettinng better but it is a slow process. Unfortunatly there are times when she has to be on a lead, that why I am trying to find a good harness, so it gives us the chance to get to the park to do some traininng.
When we first brought her home she wouldn't go near you if you even had a lead in your hand

.
Thanks for the help Mattie I am going home tonight to reajust her trail harness, can't blieve I've been getting it wrong for so long

Mattie · Post by **Mattie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:19 am

We all get things wrong at first especially when there are no instructions on how to adjust something.

I have abused dogs as well so understand what you are going through, you have done well up to now and she will keep improving.

pat · Post by **pat** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:41 am

I used a Halti harness on Jamie. He's a big flat coated retriever cross and there was one particular place where he really kept pulling hard. The harness helped to stop him and he walks on a loose lead now without the harness. I bought an Easy Walk harness for Sasha and this works well for a short time but it looks to me as if it might chafe if I used it too much. I now use a Gencon headcollar on her if I need to.