Although a very helpful tool, a head collar should not be used as a replacement for effective dog training. A head collar is most effective when it is used in combination with strong and sensible dog training methods, such as reward training and other forms of positive reinforcement.
What type of head collar is best?
Many dog owners favor the Gentle Leader design, finding it easier to fit that the Halti. The Gentle Leader is also designed to fasten around the dog's neck, which means that even if the dog is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, it is still wearing a collar. This safety feature is very important, especially during training outside or in novel situations. The Halti, on the other hand, offers better control of the dog, and for this reason it is often favored when working with larger breeds. It is also useful when training an older dog who has developed any aggressive traits.
Training a dog with a head collar has a number of advantages over training with a traditional or training collar. Head collars are often easier to use for beginning dog trainers than are conventional training collars. Head collars are also quite effective at preventing dogs from pulling, or controlling and retraining dogs that tend to pull.
Head collars can also be quite effective at controlling dogs in difficult situations, such as controlling a dog that wants to be with other dogs. Most owners know of some situations in which their dogs are difficult to control, and head collars can be very useful in volatile situations.
Head collars are excellent for gaining control of dogs that are very strong, or for working with a dog in an area that contains a great many distractions. Head collars are great for when your dog is on an outing, or in an area where there will be other dogs and other distractions.
Are there any disadvantages in using head collars?
Well, yes, head collars do have some distinct disadvantages as well. Head collars tend to encourage a dog's behavior to be dependent on the equipment being used at the time. Dogs quickly learn the difference between their regular collar and the head collar, and adjust their behavior accordingly, so you may find yourself having to use the head collar as a matter of course.
If a dog is not accustomed to wearing a head collar, there may be such a dislike of wearing it that your dog may paw at it, try to rub it off or pull excessively. If your dog exhibits this behavior, the best strategy is to keep your dog moving until it learns to accept the collar.
When you're walking your dog with a head collar, you may find that many people think that a head collar is a muzzle, and react to the dog with some trepidation. While this is not necessarily a disadvantage of the head collar, many dog owners do find it troublesome.
So training with a head collar is much like training with a training collar or any other equipment. While the head collar can be an important and useful tool, it is important to fit it properly, use it appropriately, and to combine its use with solid training methods. The eventual goal of dog training with a head collar should be to have the dog behave as well with a regular collar as it does with the specialized head collar. And because some dogs behave differently when in the head collar and a regular collar, this goal may take considerable work to achieve!
Researchers in the area of dog study have recently incorporated the study of the prenatal period of puppy's life to further understand dogs. During the prenatal period, it is believed that touching the pregnant dog makes her litter more docile. If you have a pregnant dog, strive to keep in touch with it regularly through physical contact as puppies respond a lot to that.
Dogs are prone to grow so fond of a particular place that they become violently moody when they are taken away from it. Localization is a phase that a puppy goes through in which it attaches itself to a particular location and is terrified away from it. Puppies between six and seven weeks old are more prone to experience localization.
You should learn how to communicate your needs to your dog if you are going to have a healthy relationship with it. Dogs have a one-track mind that takes in a command at a time and to with. Don't be so irritated if your dog is slow in responding to your commands, remember, it takes time.
Herding dogs are born with the instinct to herd. Herding dogs are usually used in farms and the countryside to herd cattle or sheep. Basically most owners of herding dogs use audible command tools to train their dogs because of the nature of the herding job.
The extent to which you are successful as a dog handler depends on your ability to get your dog to understand you and your commands. More often than not, commands that dogs don't respond to are those that are not clear. If you want your dog to respond favorably to your commands, try not to get your wires crossed.
Teaching your dogs how to do a couple of tricks should a fun process. Don't force your dog to learn how to perform tricks or else it will end up performing tricks automatically. You will want to make sure that your dog enjoys learning the tricks that you teach it because that way, it will learn how to execute them joyfully.
A pregnant dog needs human touch in order for it to produce amicable puppies. Scientific evidence shows that pregnant dogs that are constantly in contact with human beings give birth to an amicable litter. If you have a pregnant dog, a constant belly rub will communicate your affection to the growing puppies and help to produce healthy puppies.
Ensure that your dog gets an opportunity to mingle with other dogs so that it does not become overly aggressive. In dogs, aggression is usually a sign of frustration or pent up fury. If your dog expresses aggression too much, take it to see a vet doctor.
Both Brigitte Smith & Johnjames are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Brigitte Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, Wedding Bells and Dog Pet Food. Brigitte Smith runs two websites dedicated to dog training, dog care and dog health:Grab your free special report here: