my jack russell is 5 months old and we're having a lot of problems getting her to walk nicely on a lead, i know she's still young though. i was just wondering if it would be a good idea to try her on a halti or if she'd be too young ?
thanks
sarah :)

Too young - yes.  Walking to heel is difficult for a dog, especially a young enthusiastic dog.  A dog's normal pace is a steady trot, and even my chihuahua's NATURAL pace is quicker than mine.

To see what I mean, just try walking at half your own normal speed for any length of time - takes a bit of concentration, doesn't it!

I believe GOOD heelwork is the most difficult of all things to achieve.  Have patience - it comes with time.

Sorry disagree with MB its fine to put her on a halti at that age.  It will also be better now then when shes older as she will take better to it.

Tho before you go straight to the halti training is a very good idea.

There are manys ways to get a dog to heel included stoping dead everytime she pulls, give her a command and gentle pull her back into heel.

Another way to try is walking backwards calling her into heel

Also change direction sudenly and she will learn to watch your every move and stay with you.

If you do try any of these then remember to praise her whenever she is in the correct position even if you are holding her there.  she will sonn learn where she has to be to get prasie!!!!!!

Rox

Obviously formal training could be started now, and I have had a BC in the obedience ring at 6 months old - but I still say heelwork it isn't that easy and patience is needed

Id be reluctant to use a Halti on a dog whose still teething - teeth are bad enough, without pressure on and around the mouth :(  If you're struggling why not consider a harness?  Kumfi Stop Pull are well designed and great for the 'non training' moment when you need to get there without the stopping and starting associated with walking on a loose lead training.......

A halti won't put pressure on or around the  mouth , if you use it properly :) It is supposed to gentle and effective.
My girl has had it since a pup and it was recommended by our ringcraft leader.

IF is a very big word - IF it isn't used properly it can lead to more problems than it solves - no such risk with a harness such as the Stop Pull......

If isn't such a big word if you can read instructions properly. If they have took time to research a breed, give it carefull consideration on the impact a dog will have on the family etc etc i am sure they will take time to read a booklet.

can i mention that i would rather someone didnt use a halti proberly to not using a choke chain proberly. (they have a bad reputation and haltis will too soon.)

Also i have found harnesses tend to ruin the elbows on a dog and don't stop pulling, just stop the dog from coking!

Rox

I found with harnesses that they tend to give the dog more to pull against - surely that is what they are for when they are used on huskies? Admittedly though i have never used a stop pull one, so i cannot comment on that one. Although it is nice to think that training is all that is neccessary sometimes it is better to have a backup to add to the training. I would rather use a halti when the dog is still young than risk the pulling becoming a habit that is so difficult to break. I used everything (all training techniques and equipment except the halti and choke chain) with my collie but she still pulls despite 15 months of training and so i have to use the halti. However she is slowly learning with a combination of training and the halti, but becuase i introduced it so late its a very established habit for her to break. Also as it has been mentioned before sometimes it is nice to just get from A to B without the bother when you just aren't in the mood for training, without undoing all your hard work!

Just out of interest couldn't a dog damage their neck pulling constantly on a normal collar at such a young age?

I don't think 5 months is too young. Better to start now before pulling becomes a real habit. If a dog is pulling on a lead, it'll certainly pull on a harness. Never thought about it before, but I think Icequeen has a good point about elbows!

It all depends on the type of harness used - a fixed harness will certainly give a dog something to pull against, which is why I recommend the Stop Pull, the Lupi type will rub under the arms :( where as the Stop Pull is well padded with neoprene and I've never met a dog whose suffered from it yet.

Could you tell me on what basis you have that a halti is bad on the mouth? The only way i can see if it is bad, if used incorrectly by pulling up instead of to the side but this would apply to the stop pull too?
The halti only applies pressure to the nose and back of the neck and my girls halti is padded.

wow lots of responses :)
we use a lupi on her at the moment, but i don't like the elbow rubbing thing - we have bought her a different more padded harness but she's such a skinny little girl and it's too loose on her :( i agree that harnesses seem to help them pull, just makes it more comfortable for her !

we've resorted to harnesses because im worried about her neck on a collar, she pulls so hard she's constantly gasping, even when i make her stand still to get her breath back. my mum's dog (another smallish terrier) is bad on the lead but fine when on the halti but she is 5 years old now. my mum's other dog used to be bad on the lead but after a few months on the halti was fine without it.

i am worried that, as lucyandmeg said, if i leave it too long, it will become ingrained and it will be harder to stop the pulling.

we are attending puppy classes with lily so we really r trying to get her good on a lead, not just trying to take the easy route (though im sure any dog owner will know there's no such thing as an easy route !)

sarah

OK everyone, what's so wrong with a HALF-check - you get a little checking action to help train the dog what is wanted, but it won't choke the dog or damage it's neck, it's completely slack and comfortable if the dog isn't pulling, it won't damage teeth, shoulders/elbows or anything else and is freely available. 

For 30 years I have successfully used a half check on all my dogs, from my tiny 4½lb Chi to my working and competition dogs.

Re: shoulders/elbows, anything which pulls constantly on a dog's shoulder area can displace the shoulders and therefore put the elbows out a little.  This is because the front leg bones aren't actually attached to the rest of the skeleton but are kept in place by muscle etc.  The pad of muscle under the shoulder blade can develop/thicken and push the shoulder blade outwards - no problem to the dog but can spoil elbow placement in show dogs.

My dog has a half-check but it doesn't serve any purpose except as an easy way to take the collar on and off, (She doesn't wear anything in the home) she still pulled with it on.
Half check's are fine if you want to be pulled under a bus by a 9stone dog (and growing).
A jack russell? Yes maybe but i still think a halti is more efficient and effective IMHO.

I wish people would stop saying halti's damage teeth as you have no foundation to base that on.

Have a 7 month GSD she has benn using a halti since she was 4 months due to her bein very strong. Thank fully this is working a treat and i know only use it on two out three walks which will be reduced to none and only wlking on a lead or off the lead by the time she is two.
Have a 6 yr old GSD that i done the same thing to and she is now off the lead all the time walking with my pup.

Cordelia

I have no problems with haltis - I have used one myself in the past for a week or so on a strong 'puller', but I prefer simple collars. I also used one for a dog which had had throat surgery and couldn't wear a collar for a while.

However we all know that few dogs like a halti the first few times they're on it, and of course a halti MUST be the right fit or it will pull across the dog's eyes. 

I just prefer to try 'normal' training on a collar first.  Each to his own.

Obviously we all try the 'normal' training on a collar first and then when that isn't working we look for alternatives.

Thats true, i worked through the whole range of normal collars and harness and view a headcollar as a last resort but with my current pup as soon as she started becoming strong i have used a headcolar when i take her out with my other dog, she is now manageable and not likely to pull me over and isn't learning to pull. I'm certainly glad i haven't waited like i did with my first dog.