|
Post by bectil on Aug 3, 2014 20:32:16 GMT
I was wondering whether anyone on here uses a Dogmatic headcollar and wondered what your views are? caz2golden, if I remember rightly, you have this headcollar for your girls? I currently use the Perfect Fit harness with the front D-ring on Alfie, but if there is a very bouncy/energetic dog not for in front of us, then he pulls like crazy, which I then struggle to control him. Also when we're doing road work, he tends to be slightly tugging on the lead. When we see other dogs, we usually stop (because I can't hold him properly when we're walking and Alfie trying to pull over to the dog at the same time) and I'll distract him with a treat which usually works. I just need something that will help me to control him abit better. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by CollieSlave on Aug 3, 2014 21:42:46 GMT
When we first had Bryn we used one of these - and found it to be excellent. In years gone by we have used a Halti on our dog Mossie (a BC/Lab cross) and it was nowhere near as good as the Dogmatic, tending to ride up onto the dog's eyes. The Dogmatic will NOT ride up onto the eyes and works brilliantly to prevent pulling and lunging. The Dogmatic is expensive compared to other devices like the Halti but well worth it. As with all such harnesses they simply prevent the undesirable behaviour - they do not, of course, train the dog not to pull but we certainly found it extremely good with Bryn before we got him sorted, so to speak! It does need to be introduced gently and carefully if the dog tends to panic - Bryn made a few attempts to push it off with his front feet (unsuccessfully). Highly recommended: high quality construction and it does the job! (We had a webbing one: not the leather version which I reckon is not so comfortable for the dog).
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Aug 4, 2014 12:06:44 GMT
Yes you are right I own and use dogmatic headcollar's bectil. I only use when I go to the beach or on roadwalks, the rest of the time mine are on perfect fit harnesses from dog games. Mine actually walk quite well but its my peace of mind for that cat that runs out etc!! (50+kg of combined dog could be a lot to handle if caught off guard!). Like Collieslave I have the webbing ones. I wont repeat what Collieslave has put but I more or less agree word for word. What I will add is if you can find a supplier where you can try on for size that is a good option. I had one that broke when Monster was a pup and I sent it to them and they replaced it. Considering I had bought from a supplier rather than direct and had been using for quite a few months I think this was excellent service
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Aug 5, 2014 9:16:27 GMT
I haven't used one but can echo what Collieslave said about haltis. I found that it rode into buddy's eyes and if he managed to get them in his mouth, they were easily chewed I've also got friends that have used them in replacement of haltis and loved them I know you will but remember to introduce it properly or he'll hate it and turn into a leg rubber We have a perfect fit harness and I must say, I haven't seen them work as none pull harnesses (which I'm sure they were advertised as?). Jaspers not a big puller but does sometimes forget himself
|
|
|
Post by CollieSlave on Aug 5, 2014 13:51:50 GMT
Bryn has a Dogs' Games fleece harness but not the perfect fit one: the standard one is fine. Obviously a dog can and may pull on such a harness but we feel the great benefit is that the lead is not anchored to the dog's collar with all the potential for damage if the dog pulls or lunges. I certainly don't think a harness like this would in any way discourage a strong puller: but I don't think it would cause a dog to pull, either!
|
|
|
Post by bectil on Aug 5, 2014 16:46:00 GMT
Great, thanks everyone for your replies! CollieSlave, we used the Gentle Leader on our old Labrador and it was awful. The clip gave way when she was fighting us to go and chase a cat - thankfully we don't live near a busy road, but to think it could have happened on a main road! I don't mind paying the bit extra for quality and knowing that my dog will be comfortable.. I'll never use a Gentle Leader again. Glad to hear the head collar helped with Bryn caz2golden, I can only imagine what your two might be like! It's hard enough holding both Tilly and Alfie when they're trying to get to something, and they're smaller/lighter than two GR's! I've done a google search for stockists, but can't seem to find any and I can't think of anywhere that might stock them, otherwise I would have like to have taken him to try some on.. seen as he's a funny size. charlottte, thankyou for the video! Very useful and I'll try that with Alfie when his head collar arrives (once I've ordered it, that is!). As for the Perfect Fit harness, when I first used it on him, he did stop pulling for a little bit, but now he's started to pull regardless if it is clipped to the D-ring or not.
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Aug 5, 2014 18:41:10 GMT
No problem I know it's the gentle leader but same way of introducing it And yeah there's a dog in one of the classes I help at that wears one and he can still pull like a train on it. The mekuti balance harnesses are supposed to be really good as well but they're a bit pricey!
|
|
|
Post by bectil on Nov 12, 2014 17:09:27 GMT
Well I eventually ordered Alfies headcollar, which arrived a few weeks ago. First impressions I am happy with it - fits almost perfect. I have only put it on him a few times to get use to, which even though he hasn't worn it that much, he seems okay wearing it without the lead attached. What I have been doing is like in the video, encouraging him to put his nose through the nose piece himself with a treat the other side. When he is wearing the headcollar, I've been doing recall work to try and keep his attention on me, and to discourage him from trying to take it off. Once I attach the lead, he then tries to take the headcollar off - whether it's the weight of the lead, he then notices? When we walk around the house, I distract him with a treat (which sometimes works). I understand it's early days yet, and he's only probably worn it for about 10-15mins overall, but I just find it odd that he prefers wearing the headcollar without the lead attached! We'll get there!
|
|
|
Post by orpheous87 on Nov 12, 2014 21:40:08 GMT
Could you attach a lighter lead until he gets used to it bectil? I'm not sure whether that would be a good idea or not, to be honest, but it seems logical lol.
|
|
|
Post by bectil on Nov 15, 2014 17:33:29 GMT
orpheous87, I will have to try that thanks! ... although I've just thought, I had the lead (double ended) on the shortest length, so it will be heaviest his end. I plan to attach the other end on his harness (or preferably on a martingale collar), so it will feel lighter for him. Fingers crossed this will work - he's becoming quite reactive towards certain male dogs (mostly those who haven't been neutered). He usually pulls towards the other dog and barks at them (for a dog who doesn't bark much at home, it's surprised us! It's almost as though he has to have his say!). We're new to owning a male dog, so is this normal? We met a male dog on the field the other day, and the owner said that her dog doesn't like some male dogs too. She said there is usually just a lot of noise, which is what Alfie is like towards some other male dogs - usually he barks and growls, but I don't think it is anything aggressive.
|
|
|
Post by teegiebear on Nov 16, 2014 0:20:11 GMT
Fingers crossed this will work - he's becoming quite reactive towards certain male dogs (mostly those who haven't been neutered). He usually pulls towards the other dog and barks at them (for a dog who doesn't bark much at home, it's surprised us! It's almost as though he has to have his say!). We're new to owning a male dog, so is this normal? We met a male dog on the field the other day, and the owner said that her dog doesn't like some male dogs too. She said there is usually just a lot of noise, which is what Alfie is like towards some other male dogs - usually he barks and growls, but I don't think it is anything aggressive. Is Alfie neutered?
|
|
|
Post by bectil on Nov 16, 2014 7:55:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by teegiebear on Nov 16, 2014 11:14:48 GMT
That knocks out the obvious them bectil but still could be a few things. Does he act the same to male dogs on and off the lead? My enzo was attacked while he was on lead and for a long time he was very reactive to most dogs who got too near to him, growling and barking but off lead he was totally fine and would ignore them or say hi and walk on. As he got better he would be more relaxed on lead and only react to collies , the breed who attacked him and boxers the breed who he is wary of a hyper one at daycare. Could be Alfie feels restricted and can't protect himself? Do you pull the lead tight when this happenes? This could make him worse as he feels more restricted. if you can get him beside you and lead loose even a little it might help him relax and feel he doesn't need to protect you? Or does he still do it?
|
|
|
Post by AnnaAmber on Nov 16, 2014 14:31:53 GMT
I've heard of several male dogs who don't get on with other males, and it doesn't seem to be particularly connected to whether they are entire or neutered. Cody is 15 months and will sometimes bark/growl at other large breed males. He isn't allowed to greet any unknown dogs so it's more when we are walking on leash and there is another male dog nearby. The closest he can be to them without reacting is generally 10ft. There are some males he's fine with as long as they don't bother him so it really depends!! I've taught him a 'watch me' cue so I can get his attention. He knows 'quiet' but I don't use it in that sort of situation because him barking is communicating with me that's he's not happy and therefore if I ignore that it could escalate into something more. If Alfie barks at other dogs, then I'd say it means they are too close so you need to keep him at a safe distance to begin with to work on it. Anyway, in regards to the dogmatic headcollar, we got one for Cody because he will pull, hardly ever but when he does he's really strong and he's 48 kg!! It's worked really well. If Alfie's not happy with the leash connected to it, I'd spend another week or so getting him used to the dogmatic without the leash. Then build up to having a leash attached but putting no pressure on it and then finally get to the stage when you can use it on walks with no problems
|
|
|
Post by bectil on Nov 18, 2014 20:09:18 GMT
That knocks out the obvious them bectil but still could be a few things. Does he act the same to male dogs on and off the lead?My enzo was attacked while he was on lead and for a long time he was very reactive to most dogs who got too near to him, growling and barking but off lead he was totally fine and would ignore them or say hi and walk on. As he got better he would be more relaxed on lead and only react to collies , the breed who attacked him and boxers the breed who he is wary of a hyper one at daycare.Could be Alfie feels restricted and can't protect himself? Do you pull the lead tight when this happenes? This could make him worse as he feels more restricted. if you can get him beside you and lead loose even a little it might help him relax and feel he doesn't need to protect you? Or does he still do it? It is rare that he meets other dogs off lead because he has a poor re-call around other dogs. Though yesterday he was off his lead and a small terrier (who for some reason he doesn't like now, but he use to get along with him) came onto the field. Alfie rushed over, then I'm not 100% sure what happened next, but I THINK Alfie tried to get onto the terrier. The poor little dog yelped.The dog I spoke about in my previous post above, I think he did the same then aswell - I noticed the first time, Alfie had his hackles up, but I couldn't tell yesterday because he had his coat on.Alfie was attacked by a brown Lab and a JRT (both were not neutered). Although he is reactive to various breeds, he started to dislike the terrier above after he was attacked by the JRT. The other day we met a brown Lab, and well Alfie made a real fuss! He was barking like mad and pulling to get to this other dog, even though it was the opposite side of the road!I do usually pull the lead, but only because I know he will pull to get to the other dog. I'm hoping that once he's use to the head collar, I'll be able to get his attention better, then I'll hopefully be able to relax the lead abit. But if I was to try that now, then he would yank to the end of the lead. Thankyou for your help teegiebear
|
|