Collar and lead, harness, halti etc. What do you use?

Personally, I'm quite traditional and use collar and leads. I tried a borrowed harness once and couldn't get away with it as it felt weird to me. I've sometimes wondered about halties but would worry that the boys hated them and I had wasted my money so I stick to what I know.

What do you use?

Collar and lead.

Collar and lead. I use a half check as Dempsey pulls out of ordinary collars - even the 2" one I bought recently.

I just don't really get on with harnesses. I like to have control of the sharp pointy things at the head end!  

harness, collar and double ended lead works for us plus it's extra safety when walking Chance

Collars and leads for walking.
I have harnesses but I only use them when the dogs swim or at the beach. I like to have an extra handle on them, just in case.

Shisa wrote:Collars and leads for walking.
I have harnesses but I only use them when the dogs swim or at the beach. I like to have an extra handle on them, just in case.

Good idea. A friend of mines ABT almost drowned once. He had jumped into a river for a swim but had got his collar caught in a submerged fallen tree and when he didn't come back up for air she had to dive in and release him. Then she had to walk back 2 miles to her van soaking wet and freezing.

Xan is not the best swimmer. Years ago I took them swimming and although the stream was quite shallow and placid looking there was a wicked under current. He couldn't get out as it kept pushing his legs and kept him away from me. It was a struggle to get through the sand to him and back again, plus the collar kept trying to slip over his head as I dragged him through the water. A 24kg dog feels like it weighs a ton if the water is dragging at him.
Next day I bought the whole lot harnesses.

Dogmatic head collar on Caesar but he always wears a collar - usually a STOG one - for show x

shazzy-t wrote:Dogmatic head collar on Caesar but he always wears a collar - usually a STOG one - for show x

How do you rate the head collars? Do you make those as well? (two questions for the price of one   )

I use a dogmatic head collar on chance and we get on brilliantly with it, he walks almost perfectly with it on but he was introduced to it properly so he doesn't try and paw it off all the time

Collar and lead for me xx

  

Wendy wrote:

shazzy-t wrote:Dogmatic head collar on Caesar but he always wears a collar - usually a STOG one - for show x

How do you rate the head collars? Do you make those as well? (two questions for the price of one   )

Wendy - I don't make them just yet as would require a lot of work to develop a strong, resilient one I think. I love the dogmatic and would recommend to anyone. I struggle with Caesar on anything else as he's 22kg of muscle!!! And where he wants to go, I go haha. The dogmatic makes it so I can walk him safely and without being dragged around x

I've never tried a head collar on Dempsey. The problem with a BT is the shape of the head doesn't go too well with head collars - they tend to either slip off or ride up into the eyes.

Yeah, head collars aren't really suitable for Dempsey head shape. I'd also be concerned with him hurting his neck when he starts charging forwards.

I prefer to use a collar and harness, as it feels more comfortable and secure for me and takes the strain away from Dempsey's neck when he pulls.

Eleanor wrote: I'd also be concerned with him hurting his neck when he starts charging forwards.

That's why I stopped using the head halti with Bella. She would walk ok but when she suddenly pulled towards a bird or something her neck jerked round.
I use a harness and collar for them both now.

I think haltis are great for some dogs, but there are some dogs who just don't get along with them. I don't like to see a dog getting whiplash every ten seconds on a walk.

Eleanor wrote:I think haltis are great for some dogs, but there are some dogs who just don't get along with them. I don't like to see a dog getting whiplash every ten seconds on a walk.

yeah, I think for a dog that pulls they are great but for one that can suddenly bolt you would have to be careful how you used it.

Definitely. I also don't like how a lot of owners just assume that a collar/harness trained dog is automatically going to accept a halti on its walks. Just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a German Shepherd walking along, desperately pawing at her face to get rid of her halti, while the owner yanked on the lead and scolded her.

a dog should be conditioned into accepting a head collar just as much as a muzzle, they should never just be plonked on and out for a walk you go!

Exactly! It's something strange and new, yanking around at their heads.

Yep exactly!

There is actually somebody on my facebook who advocates the use of prong collars. I would delete him but I am too nosey and want to see what outrageous comment he makes next. And he always does.

I can't stand prong collars. It doesn't really say much for a person if they can't handle their own dog without driving metal spikes into the dog's neck.

I used to have a friend who said I should use a shock or prong collar on Millie because she pulled   

Perhaps this person ought to be introduced to a shock collar, then! Maybe it'll cure whatever they've got!