The Calgary Humane Society


Careers at the Calgary Humane Society Overview Cats
	Adopting a Cat Cat Body Language Cat Housesoiling Checklist Cat Run Instructions Cat Toys and How To Use Them Cat Types Controlling Undesirable Behaviours in Cats Destructive Scratching Detering Cats From Specific Areas Developmental Stages of Kitten Behaviour Excessive Nocturnal Activity In Cats Exercise For Cats Feline Aggression Types and Suggestions Feline Marking Behaviours Feline Redirected Aggression Introducing Your New Cat to Your Other Pets Managing Your Kitten's Rough Play Play Aggression In Cats Play With Your Cat Preventing Litter Box Issues Solving Litter Box Problems The Inside Story Your Cat: Indoors or Out? Your Talkative Cat
Dogs
	Aggressive Behaviour, Part 1 Aggressive Behaviour, Part 2 And Baby Makes Four... Barking Calming Signals Children and Dogs Cognitive Dysfunction Controlling Jumping Controlling Pulling and Lunging Crate Games Crate Training Your Dog Deaf Dog Training Destructive Chewing Developmental Stages of Puppy Behaviour Digging Dogs Dog Interactions Dog Toys and How to Use Them Dog Training Classes Dog Training Equipment Excitable and Disobedient Dogs Exercise For Dogs Fearful or Shy Dogs Food Bowl Exercises Head Collars Housetraining Your Adult Dog How To Handle a Dog Fight Inside or Out? Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog Kong Recipes and Information Leash Induced Aggression Microwaved Beef Liver Training Treats Muzzles Nothing In Life Is Free Puppy Nipping and Rough Play Relationship Building Separation Anxiety Step In Harness and Double Ended Leash Submissive and Excitement Urination The Best Dog For You Training Tether Understanding Dog Aggression
General
	Bibliography Fears, Phobias and Anxieties Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet Helpful Websites and Calgary Contacts Plants That Are Dangerous To Your Pet Preparing Your Pet for Baby's Arrival Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains Unusual Eating Habits in Dogs and Cats

Head Collars
(Gentle Leader/Halti)

A head collar is recommended as a humane training restraint by the American Humane Association and Delta Society. Head collars control the neck, head, and nose (similar to a halter on a horse) instead of just the neck, and therefore requires far less pull to gain your dog’s attention. It offers the benefit of gaining a strong dog’s attention and allows handlers of all sizes, particularly those with less strength, to handle dogs from puppies to large breeds. However, it does require a greater understanding than other collars to use it effectively and safely.

It is important to fit your head collar in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions Most head collars come with instructions. It is important that the back strap of the head collar fits tightly. This way if your dog were to remove the nose loop your dog will not be able to get out of the collar. You want the nose loop to fit snuggly enough so that it does not easily come over the tip of your dog’s nose but you don’t want it too tight that your dog cannot move his/her mouth.

Once you have your head collar fitted you will want to spend at least a week having your dog wear his new head piece two to three times per day for five to ten minutes around the house. At this point the collar should not be attached to the leash. Put your dog’s head collar on by putting a cookie in the middle of the nose loop while slipping it over your dog’s nose and fastening the back strap around your dog’s neck. By pairing a cookie with the head collar your dog will think this new collar is a good thing. Randomly reward your dog for not bothering with the head collar. If your dog tries to rub and/or paw at the head collar try to distract them with a noise (i.e. whistle or squeak) or a toy (i.e. tennis ball). When your dog stops bothering the head collar reward your dog with a treat or toy. Before taking your dog out on a walk on his/her head collar they must be able to wear their head collar consistently without being distracted by it.

When walking your dog with his/her head collar it is important to give your dog enough leash so that when your dog is walking beside you there is a relaxed u-shape to the leash. Make sure the ‘u’ in your leash is between you and your dog, not coming up and over the top of your dog’s neck. If your dog was to put tension on his/her leash when the u-shape is over your dog’s neck this could hurt your dog by turning their head and neck upwards.

Never jerk the leash when your dog is on his/her head collar. This could hurt your dog’s neck. If your dog pulls into the head collar they are correcting themselves by putting pressure on the top of their nose and back of their neck. To get your dog to change directions just put constant pressure on the leash in the direction you want them to go.

Never use your head collar with a leash over 6 feet in length. Retractable leashes and long lines can severely hurt your dog when they are wearing their head collars because they crank their heads backward very quickly when the dog is running and hits the end of the line.

Head collars are useful training devices that have helped many people teach their dogs basic canine manners. They must be used safely and with the intent to wean the dog off of it within a limited amount of time. It is important to teach the dog what we want and not make the collar a condition for the behaviour. Head collars were designed to be a training aid not to do all the training.

For more information please see Gentle Leader’s website.

Head Collars (Gentle Leader/Halti)

Head Collars
(Gentle Leader/Halti)