A head halter is a piece of equipment that feeds into a dog owner’s desire to treat their dog companions like humans. The halter works by the simple rule of where the head goes; the rest of the body will follow. The halter was first used for horses. At first, the dog might reject it but with time, it becomes used to it. A good halter allows the dog to retain a full range of motion.
The advantages of using the halter include:
• They are good for small handlers who are dealing with larger dogs since they require minimum strength to use.
• It helps to calm, and tranquilize the nervous, timid, shy and hyperactive dogs.
• They are not expensive and are available in any pet store.
• They help curd inappropriate behavior, barking, nibbling, play biting and aggression.
The disadvantages of using the halter include:
• Dogs do not like them – They are very uncomfortable with them. They also do not like the muzzles as they do not like anything over their noses and mouth. Some dogs get depressed when they are made to wear the halters and training them can become very difficult.
• They can cause damage to the dog’s neck – A dog can get injured because the halter controls the movement of the head. If the halter is pulled strongly, it can cause serious injury to the neck.
• Discomfort – The discomfort can cause the dog to keep pulling. If the dog becomes excited and gets to the end of the leash, the head and neck can be snapped back with force to cause some injury.
• Transition toll – The halter does not teach the dog to assume responsibility. It is guided by the muzzle and does not get to learn from the instructive model which is more recommended.
• Responsibility – The dog does not learn to accept responsibility for its behavior. By using the halter, the dog does not learn through positive and negative reinforcement that is expected of it.
There are many types of halters. The most common one are tired to the head and neck while there are others that are tired to the body. The most comfortable ones are made of leather which can stretch slightly and can be easily adjusted.
When buying a halter, you can also consider the use of a harness that can be used when transporting the dog and ensuring that it is comfortable. Both the halter and harness can be bought from the same store.