Ok, now I would say that we are making very gradual progress with the pulling on the lead.  However, pulling is still happening and to be able to walk her through people busy places I would like more control of the pulling.  More than that I would like my knee to get better and this won't happen while she is pulling.

We have got through 3 haltis and 2 dogmatics.  The Halti did ride up into her eyes so I wouldn't buy another but apart from that she was able to claw the collar down far enough to hook the collar into her mouth and it only takes seconds to bite through.  The Dogmatic, she hated and with both of them managed to hook the part with the ring attached into her mouth and bite through.  She struggles with the headcollar constantly so now I am stuck as to what to try next.

Any suggestions? (apart from training which is ongoing anyway).

This helped us.Hope i can explain this clearly. I got electrical ties  and tied along the bottom loop on the dogmatic . I kept it loose but not loose enough to get a paw in , we then left the side exposed with the ring on.To the side we walk. It has worked for us. Our dog kept getting her paws in the loop till we tied it up. Incedently we walk half an hour with headcollar then we put the lead on her flat collar, she stays at heel if i leave the headcollar on, then i take the head collar of and do some training. This has worked with my staffie, for the last 2 days she has not pulled at all and im not using the headcollar . Hope this makes sense.

You wouldn't ahve this problem with the Gentle leader as it is designed to have th noseband behind the flews and then a slideing clip under the chin is clipped closed,a dn as long as you ahve the collar part sufficiently snug it won't slip down for them to get their teeth round it.

The illustartions here: http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?ID=29
show what I mean, especially the Boston Terrier.

Yes I vote for Gentle Leader too.

Interesting that you like them, as I had by Groen chew through her Halti, so found the figure of 8 head collar that I replaced it wiht much better, but Oh so fiddly to sort out to put on, that was before I had ever seen the GL which is much better.  Have only used it a couple of times as haven't really needed them on the Elkhound bitches, but handy for males who hae to sniff every lampost.

I used one for years on my Golden bitch who was inclined to pull if she wasn't walked on her own, and then with the Golden x Malinois bitch. She's so unlike her brother, Arnie you could probably walk on a strand of hair and he'd not break it. :) Funny thing is, after a couple of years on the GL, Matilda stopped pulling altogether and I was able to stop using it -she now wears just a plain collar.

Thanks for the replies.  Brainless that link was really helpful.  I will try the GL next. 

I use the gentle leader I find it very good.
Gill

It was a lucky find, as you rarely get a picture that shows clearly how it works compared to other kinds.

I got a Canny Collar for my dobe its great - does not ride up into the eyes, fastens at the back too.

Best £13 I have ever spent!

Looked at the Gentle Leader and I don't think it will be suitable for my dog.  The Canny Collar looks like it might be more suitable.  I know there are owners that think the Canny Collar is good but is there anyone that has used the Canny Collar that has had problems with it?

I have heard that it causes pain as the pressure on the neck is below the adams apple. Try this on your self - a bit of pressure above the adams apple feels ok but the same pressure below feels horrible. I brought one before i had learnt this but still didn't find it satisfactory. I like to have control of the biting end and with the canny collar you have only a slight bit more control than a normal collar.
Someone i know actually phoned the company up about their conserns about the pain aspect and they did not deney it or try and tell her that it was pain free even tho they state it on their packaging.

Just my opinion

Thanks for that.  My dog pulls like a steam train so I need something that gives me complete control.  We are gradually getting somewhere with the lead training but TBH I can't take her far on the lead and I would like to take her to more people busy places.

I'm sure you have probably already considered this but have you tried a dogmatic?  Bought these recently for 'busy' places - i.e. shows etc. as my boys can be a right pain wanting to say hello to all and sundry!  And I am very pleased - don't like the halti as it rides up!  It has meant I can walk all my crew together without too much trouble (apart from the odd dancing round when they try and swap from left to right!)

I have also considered the gentle leader or gencon?  But we found the dogmatic at a show one day and tried them there and then - they did take a while to get used to them and still sometimes try to rub my leg with them but I just jolly them along and then treat when they stop it!

I have a problem in that she hates head collars so much that she paws at them.  Although we try to make the walks with headcollars as pleasant as possible with treats and encouraging words she will spend a lot of time trying paw the collar off her nose.  She eventually succeeds and if we don't catch her quick enough she bites through them.  You would have to witness this to see how difficult it is to spot when the collar is actually in her mouth.  We've had 2 Dogmatics and each time she has managed to bite through the section that has the ring attached.

I am beginning to think I might have to give up on headcollars.

Cheryl Have you tried a Gencom?  www.gencon-allin1.co.uk/

Not been able to access that site today but will try tomorrow.

Try this - I think my link went wrong:

http://www.gencon-allin1.co.uk/

Site's working for me.

It doesn't really show the mechanics in that picture.  Am I right in thinking that it is a figure of 8 slip lead in essence?  How do you prevent the dog getting out of it when it goes too slack?

Yes, it's kind of a figure of 8 slip lead but it doesn't tighten on the dog's throat like a slip does, because it goes behind the ears and only tightens at the back of the head, not all round the neck (kind of hard to explain). 

There is a stop on it, just like on a slip lead and when you put it on, you push the stop up against the dog's head and it stops it slackening enough to come off.  I've walked mine in traffic with it and feel v secure with it on.

:( Oh dear - don't worry I do know what you mean as mine have tried the pawing and biting of the bit with the ring but luckily they have got over this and never actually bit throught it - every time I put the collar on they get a bit of sausage and every time after they try rubbing and sucessfully stopped.  But I do know it is frustrating.  My oldest boy hated his halti with a passion - mind you so did I as it rode up so much.

It's a shame when they are so excited that they can't control themselves and forget about civilised walking on a lead! ;)

Good luck!

Hi, I got shadow the canny collar abouth 6 weeks ago, Fab idea works well but as her head is so small every time she actually walks to heal it falls off. I'm still looking for a small one that does'nt ride up to her eyes. Just to give you some idea of her head size i mangaed to get a size 0 head collar but still had to reduce the size slightly.

Best wishes
Vikkie & shadow