Halter help please?

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superted1989

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Gray is settling well, now been to 2 social classes and showing no danger of being dog aggressive so far. His recall is still almost non-existent (to be expected!), although he's happy to come to me if he spots me calling him! As a reminder, he's a year old staffie x mastif, been with us about 3 weeks, he'd barely been out 'walkies' at all but has been brought up well in other ways.
I did have him on a half check collar, backed up with a walkezee harness, as he pulls like an express train. He's started to really lean into the harness, making it almost ineffective and seems to be a bit sado-masochistic with the choking collar, it's lunge, pull, lunge, pull the whole time. If we meet a C, A, T, it takes all of my strength to hold him (I'm no lightweight) and, last week, resulted in him vomitting.
At last week's class, the trainer advised (as did some of you lovely people) to use a halter. She showed me how to put it on (they have a variety of 'things', just in case!) and how to use it. So, I duly went to Pets At Home and bought the same one (own brand, medium size). Hurrah, no pulling whatsoever, but............
He keeps throwing himself on the floor, then trying to scrape it off with his back feet. I'm certain I have fitted it properly, the size is correct, and I am using a shorter lead to keep his head up and near me. I haven't used a halter before, so, I'm assuming this 'get it off me' behaviour is a doggy temper tantrum? It seems to happen when he's got it into his head that he'd rather be chasing off, dragging me (when he was lungeing before), then realises he can't and throws a wobbly!
We've got class again Thursday, so will check it out there, but, in the meantime any reassurance or pearls of wisdom welcome.
 
Keep walking, my dog did some spectacular airs above the ground, bucking and rearing in the Gentle Leader but when I realised I wasn't going to stop and watch him messing about he soon came along smartly. If you have to give it a sharp tug and a vocal correction to snap him out of it, I would. But it's basically like a nappy horse - keep moving. If he messes about, and you stop....then he gets the result he is looking for.
 
Mine did this- threw himself on the floor and refused to move. One walk of me dragging his ass along the ground and he stopped, )he also managed to make his face bleed trying to get it off)- this was down to CC so what she says goes.
 
My dogm did exactly the same thing! it was a tantrum twice daily fow a few days, then every now and then. then he walked perfectly to heel, and i havent used it in the 5 years since! i do advise you to persevere as it worked a treat for me :)
 
Also just to add you should spend time letting the dog get used to em- put it on treat, no fuss, take it off, build up the time etc.
 
Also, just to prove I am not a totally mean mummy :p :p :p have it on him in the house and garden and treat him when you put it on/when he stops reacting to it, so that he doesn't think walk = headcollar = massive ordeal.

Oops, x-post with Lexi :)
 
In the end I put it on Dex and left it on him as someone (CC) told me " it wont kill him", and he got treated when he just ignored it.
 
superted1989 said:
Gray is settling well, now been to 2 social classes and showing no danger of being dog aggressive so far. His recall is still almost non-existent (to be expected!), although he's happy to come to me if he spots me calling him! As a reminder, he's a year old staffie x mastif, been with us about 3 weeks, he'd barely been out 'walkies' at all but has been brought up well in other ways.
I did have him on a half check collar, backed up with a walkezee harness, as he pulls like an express train. He's started to really lean into the harness, making it almost ineffective and seems to be a bit sado-masochistic with the choking collar, it's lunge, pull, lunge, pull the whole time. If we meet a C, A, T, it takes all of my strength to hold him (I'm no lightweight) and, last week, resulted in him vomitting.
At last week's class, the trainer advised (as did some of you lovely people) to use a halter. She showed me how to put it on (they have a variety of 'things', just in case!) and how to use it. So, I duly went to Pets At Home and bought the same one (own brand, medium size). Hurrah, no pulling whatsoever, but............
He keeps throwing himself on the floor, then trying to scrape it off with his back feet. I'm certain I have fitted it properly, the size is correct, and I am using a shorter lead to keep his head up and near me. I haven't used a halter before, so, I'm assuming this 'get it off me' behaviour is a doggy temper tantrum? It seems to happen when he's got it into his head that he'd rather be chasing off, dragging me (when he was lungeing before), then realises he can't and throws a wobbly!
We've got class again Thursday, so will check it out there, but, in the meantime any reassurance or pearls of wisdom welcome.
Click to expand...

I'm lost for words.

Alec.
 
Helpful, Alec!

OP, don't panic. Aim to get him used to it as suggested. However, remember this is a tool to help you, not a cure-all. You need to work on focus, initially away from distractions then building up until it even works around cats. The head collar should give you enough edge to hold him, but the ultimate goal is to not have to hold him.

FWIW I personally like the Dogmatic head collars best as they don't ride up into the dogs eyes.
 
Harley did this too! Just keep walking! Get some food in your hand, his favourite toy and talk to him and be REALLY OTT encouraging! Harleys a right big girls blous and within 5/10 mins had forgotten all about it.

Although as soon as we walk through the front door, or stop anywhere and stand, he tries to scratch it off on my leg! lol! Toad!
 
I used one years ago for my first great dane, trying to get it on her the first time was akin to trying to halter a wild pony! (she was a very stroppy teenager) she got rewarded for putting it on and walking nicely and ignored for laying on the ground. Couple of weeks on and she walked lovely.

Persevere for a bit, sounds like he's just trying it on.
 
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