I use the material dogmatic for my setter. Been very happy with it and it makes such a difference. It doesn't ride up at all, and being synthetic, it doesn't mark Rosie's face. It's lovely and soft for her - although a bit fiddly to get on, well worth the extra control. Hope it works out as well for you.

Thanks :)  He has a gentle leader headcollar at the moment but I don't think he finds it very comfortable as it does tend to ride up and leave a mark although this soon disappears once the collar is taken off.  Hopefully the dogmatic will be more comfy - it looks like it is more padded.

I use  a material dogmatic now but only because the leather one is no longer available in size 3L I also use the dogmatic training lead which is the gripper type one hook is on the dogmatic and the other end is on Sengis collar when we are past all the hazards and danger zones where all the cats live:rolleyes: I just unhook the trigger from the dogmatic and use a normal collar and lead but the headcollar stays on for when other dogs are approaching as soon as we get to a safe secure area headcollar off and away we go.
I walk two GSD together one is as good as gold and walks on just a half check and normal leather lead  but without the dogmatic I wouldn,t like to walk two together.

Hi Annie ns,
I have the leather dogmatic and it is fantastic, blade has never worn a headcollar before and he manages very well on it (he is only 10 months old!) just make sure it is oiled well before use with the leather one as they are pretty stiff . Also  they don't weigh as much as you think they will!
good luck with the dogmatic whichever you choose, they are fanatstic

Thanks spellmaker and Emz.  I am waiting to hear back from dogmatic at the moment about sizing.  I want to know the difference in size between a 3 and 3L as these are the same price and I don't want to buy the 3 and then find shortly afterwards that I need a 3L! :)  From what you say spellmaker, it sounds like I will have to get the material one anyway if I want a 3L.  Wonder why they don't make all the collars in all the sizes?   Emz, showing my ignorance here but what do you oil the leather with?  I have a goldie - would one type of collar wear the hair more than the other?

I gave up waiting for an email back from dogmatic and have just rung them.  They said to measure my dogs head so they could send the right size.
Now I can't find the damn tape measure anywhere (wail)

ive seen loads of "big" dogs in dogmatics. they seem to suit them!!!!!

Got a reply to my email and for anyone else wanting the same information, the response was "the 3L comes up as a three and a half, it has a longer neck strap and is slightly larger across the muzzle."  Actually, I don't think this helps me very much so I will probably have to measure my dog's head as well and get back to them! :)

Hi annie,
not sure about marking fur in goldies as i have no experience of them, but in my dobe it leaves a mark as soon as taken off but dissapears shortly after, certainly no rubbing as i have managed to get the leather so soft. I used Neatsfoot compound brought from my local horsey shop as they use this for saddles and harnesses on horses. Just thoroughly soak leather from underside and small coating on outside and keep doing this till it stops sinking in. Then leave it for a few hours and wipe clean! it is amazing. i give it another coat if he has got extremely wet.
hope this helps a little
Emz

* edited to say that the the leather does have quite a lot of give in it so we have managed to get away with the size 3 although it is recommended that he uses a size 3L. not sure whether this is the same for the material ones as i have never used one!*

Thanks for the info Emz. :)  Was there any particular reason you chose the leather collar over the other types?  Dogmatic did suggest I bought the padded material one - I think possibly because my dog isn't a year old yet and they felt this would be the lightest.

just out of preference really as the colours are more subtle, thought it would last alot longer and if it did get broken easy to get parts replaced. Apart from that then no there were no other reasons!
good luck with your choice :-)

Thanks Emz.  I must admit the material ones do look a bit bright!  I think the idea is to make them look 'friendly' so people don't get the impression they are some kind of muzzle. :)

I have only had one person comment on it being of the muzzle type and he was a friend of my dads and was scared of Blade anyway. I think he was more hoping it was than anything :rolleyes:

LOL! :D

i actually "like" that joe public think they are muzzles. stop them trying to pet the dogs at every oportunity!

There is that of course :)

Spoil sport that is what my lot live for, anyoen makes eye contact with them and the brakes go on for a fuss fest :D

Mine too. I'm always happy when people say hello as it makes his day.

My poor dog just hates the headcollar.  She is on her 2nd Dogmatic and she fights it all the time, trying to paw it off.  I have the sing songy praising voice whenever I think she is walking relatively nicely but it is not working.  We're back at training school now and I don't use it there and she is not too bad on the pulling while we are heeling but as soon as we are back home all seems to be lost.  It's very sad because neither of us enjoy the lead walking

Hiya, have you considered a harness maybe? the Walkezee is meant to be really good for stopping pulling :)

Lindsay
x

If you get the leather one have it padded, as my freinds dobes have ahd the hair woen on their muzzles by the leather until it softens.

i have a head collar which is called a "figure of eight" and i got it from the place i go training, but it must be commercially available.it doesnt ride up and gives me lots of control, works by tightening around the muzzle if he pulls.its just a piece of material strap which goes round his nose, under his chin and then round the back of his neck and your lead attached to a ring on the end so it only tightens when he pulls, the closest thing to it i have seen is the gentle leader.i will try to find out more when i next go training, they are also only £6

That sounds like the Gencon, which the poster didn't like because it does exert pressure on the neck and her dog chokes.

ive had a look at the gencon site, its not the same but very similar, mine certainly releases tightness when the dog stops pulling

Ah I think the OP dog doesn't stop pulling so chokes.  With some dogs pressure on the neck does not seem to stop the pulling, ithers a slight scheck and they stop right away.  I have one of each, my youngest hates pressure under her ears.

I went through every type of show collar because as soon as I moved it up her neck to keep the head up off the ground she would shake her head in irritation or hold back on the move, spoiling the movement.

I have found I simply had to apply minimal pressure to the lead and keep her with me and interested by voice only, but that is just for the ring situation.  She is fine on her round leather half check on normal walks, but I am not worried about her getting her head down more then.

Head collars are very useful for various reasons with wven well trained dogs.  they alow you to have more control over large, strong or reactive dogs without having to use brute force,a dn for many people trun a chore into a pleasure and save the owner from injury.

they also make it easier to get into shows with several sniffy dogs and all your parphenalia, especially with males who then have to annoint every sniffed spot.

Hi Bev have tried numerous head collars and nothing seams to suit much the same problems as yourself. Have just purchased a new design called canney coller. it fits like a normal coller with an adjustable nose band, the lead clip is a the back of the head. Will be giving it a good try Sunday and will let you know the results. ( www.cannyco.com)
Good luck
Vikkie & shadow