BingBlaze n Skyla Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 A few tips on getting your dog used to a head-collar. FIRST OFF Show the dog the head collar. Touch the dog’s neck and show the dog the head collar. Touch the back of the dog’s head with the head collar Touch the dog’s nose with the head collar. Attach the head collar around your dog’s neck, but like a regular collar – just let the nose loop hang down. Take it off after 1 second. Repeat the above, taking it off after 2 seconds. Feed the dog a treat through the head collar (from now on, the treats you give will all be through the nose loop of the head collar. Put a bit more of the nose loop over the dog’s muzzle. Leave the nose loop on for 1/2 a second longer. Repeat this step until the dog will allow the nose loop on the face for several seconds. Put the nose loop on the dogs muzzle and then bring the straps behind the head, without clipping them. Immediately release. Repeat the above, keeping the head collar on the dog 1/2 second longer each time, until they can do it for several seconds. Feel free to treat while you wait. Put the head collar on all the way. Toss a ball or feed treats. Take a step, then take the head collar off. Repeat as above, but a little longer. Playing fetch is great at this stage. Eventually, attach the leash and go for a walk with lots of treats. You can also say Leave It, if that’s a cue your dog knows, whenever she fusses with the head collar. Pulling up gently on the halter will focus her back on you, then you can click and treat for the lack of fuss. SECONDLY Make sure that the head collar is fit properly. For the Comfort Trainer, Canny Collar, Halti, and Gentle Leader head collars, the neck strap should be fairly snug, just one finger fitting between the collar and the dog’s neck. The Gentle Leader’s neck strap will be tighter than the Halti or Comfort Trainer. On the Gentle Leader head halter, adjust the nose loop so that it’s as loose as you can get it without the dog pawing it off – usually it’s just to the edge of the nose leather. When you start using this for walks, have the head collar hidden in your pocket. Get everything ready for your walk – poop bags, keys, treats, clicker, etc. If you can have them sitting out and ready far in advance (like 10 minutes), so much the better. Then take the head halter out of your pocket, show it to the dog, and ask, “Do you want to go for a walk?†Then put it on the dog, give her a treat, attach the leash, and head out. That way, she gets the reinforcement of going for a walk right after putting this strange head collar thing on her face. If your dog happens to be one of the dogs that likes walks, but runs and hides when the head collar comes out, you need to do the steps above more slowly. You can also put the head collar on partway during a walk, rather in the beginning. Or when you take it out, if he runs away, you can head out the door without him. Or just set down the keys and leash and wait for him to come out of hiding. When he does come back, give him a treat. go through some of the steps above and then put the collar away, or if you think your dog would be okay with it, put the head halter on, give him a treat, and go for a walk. FINALLY All set, except – the leash! For head halters that clip under the dog’s chin, use the lightest leash you can get. In particular, the clip of the leash should be small, so as not to weigh down the dog’s chin. It’s weird enough already to have something on your nose, much less have it weigh 10 pounds! Use the smallest leash clip that is still safe. How long should this take? Every dog is different. Some dogs, usually the furry-faced ones, get used to this in one walk. Most dogs take a few weeks. Some never like it. If your dog has had the head collar for a month or more, and you’ve gone through the steps to acclimate him to the head collar, your leash clasp is light, and yet he still flops around a bunch on the walks, this collar is not for you. You might try the Comfort Trainer before you give up altogether, as dogs do seem to get used to them more easily. Go through all of the steps above. If it still doesn’t work, try the Easy Walk harness instead. It has most of the physics of the head halters, and works almost as well (but not quite) without the fuss! Click here to see a great video of a dog getting used to a head collar. Your dog may take more time at each step. i would like to add that i found this online - i havent used the comfort trainer so i cant tell you how that one works - and the only head collar i have used is the canny collar HOWEVER i have seen a head collar in action - and i personally prefer the canny collar as i saw the halti ride up into the dogs eye - the poor dog didnt look comfortable (i would also like to add it is no ones dog on here ive seen it on this was a friends dog i saw it ride up into the eyes) i hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Great Thread nix :D Added to reps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 nice one nix xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanya maggs Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 +1 great information Nix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted October 16, 2010 Report Share Posted October 16, 2010 Excellant advice Nix, +1 Will try these tips when I introduce our 3 to the canny collar when we get them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey.Zarly Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Great advice. Although, I put it straight on, rubbed the top of their noses saying "good puppies" then took it off and left it off (release being the best reward) about 30mins later done the same again, left it on longer and longer each time. by the time they where used to them i could take them straight out in them and they worked fantastic, Again i do not like them because they pull the head inward, but i have them just encase! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuskyCouture Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 nice one nix! definitely going to be helpful to me as i'm purchasing embrys head collar tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 i do not like them because they pull the head inward, but i have them just encase! thats whats great about the canny collar it doesnt pull the head inwards it attaches from the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey.Zarly Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 thats whats great about the canny collar it doesnt pull the head inwards it attaches from the back I use something similar, although mine turns into a collar too. It's called an Infin8 halter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 you can turn the canny into a normall collar too lol - i saw the infin8 collar in another thread you posted it in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.