Why don't some trainers like head collars?

[Shelly Chip]

I have used head collars on my last three dogs and they've worked great. I've been taking my youngest dog to training classes and one trainer literally said to me, "I just hate that thing on her head" and another trainer said, "we don't use those here." The trainer who told me she hated haltee/holt/gentle leaders promotes pinch collars instead. I will be starting a new class with a trainer who does like head collars. Why do some trainers not like head collars?

[Mooch]

Head collars can do a lot of damage to a dogs neck if people use them like a viral collar - if you give a sharp tug on a halti it while whip your dogs neck around.
Also I think you can't give as refined a "correction" as you can with a collar.

But I believe hey are like any other training tool - safe and work well if used correctly but if misused they can do damage.
I used to use a Infin8 halti, the lead attaches at the back where a lead would normally go, it's like a martingale collar/halti hybrid - it worked really well but both my dogs hate wearing them.

[Liesje]

There are always going to be "some" trainers that don't like this or that. Where I used to train, the head halters were almost mandatory. They sold them and recommended them to everyone.

[Shade]

Originally Posted by Liesje

There are always going to be "some" trainers that don't like this or that. Where I used to train, the head halters were almost mandatory. They sold them and recommended them to everyone.

Agreed

Work with what works for you and your dog, everyone is always going to have their own opinion

[wolfstraum]

They are a bandaid...not a training tool.....I don't like them, I don't like a dog's head forced into a position - have some one put some thing on your head and face and crank it around and keep it there adn see how you like that force...they are a compulsive tool just as much, if not more than, a pinch

Lee

[onyx'girl]

Gentle leader was recommended to me when Onyx was going through a very reactive phase. Her nose had welts on it from her constant fighting it(we did desensitize her some before I took her out and about with it on) and I only used it a couple times, never again. Supposedly the pressure on the back of the ears where the collar lies is a calming point, surely didn't calm Onyx!

[Liesje]

I know someone that recommends them up and down, but the difference I see is that all of her dogs are under 25lbs. To me it seems dangerous to fight a GSD with something like that on the head/face. She says it's good because if the dog lunges, their head is automatically turned toward you and away from whatever the dog is reacting to but to me that just sounds dangerous.

With puppies I often use the Easy Walk harness from 4-8 months while I'm working on leash manners.

[martemchik]

They're tough to correct with as they just force the dog into a certain position. You're not allowing your dog to make a mistake at all and then giving a quick correction in order to get them into the position you want. Although the corrections are almost "automatic" with the head collar, they aren't a snap and release type and completely get the dog out of position really affecting how quickly you can teach them the right place to be.

With a regular collar, or prong/choke, I can correct my boy and within a second he could be in the correct position so then I can praise him and let him understand why he got corrected and what is expected. Not possible with a head collar.

The other reason is that the AKC and most other sports don't allow any type of harness or head collar, so its a much easier transition to go from prong to regular collar in the trial/show ring.

[Liesje]

To be fair AKC does not allow prong collars on show grounds (even on dogs that aren't competing) either.

[TrickyShepherd]

Originally Posted by wolfstraum

They are a bandaid...not a training tool.....I don't like them, I don't like a dog's head forced into a position - have some one put some thing on your head and face and crank it around and keep it there adn see how you like that force...they are a compulsive tool just as much, if not more than, a pinch

Lee

This was exactly my experience with them.

When I got Zira, she was terrible on the leash and rambunctious around anything that could possibly move. At one point, she started sounding aggressive even though the dog didn't have a mean bone in her body. But this scared people and I didn't like her outbursts of crazy (We have two home owners associations and the last thing I needed was for neighbors to think she was aggressive). The training class we were in said that was my only option. It was either that, a flat collar, or a "anti-pulling" Harness.... I'd been using the flat collar and it didn't help, she could care less... and I dislike using a harness for walking... So head halter it was.

Needless to say.... Yes it helped... while it was on. Once it came off, she was back to her mischief.. and even worse then before! She hated wearing it. She would buck like a bronco for 20min straight and her nose would be raw every time it was taken off. (And I did have it fitted correctly). Every time that thing went on, Zira was miserable. Her happy bouncing puppy self was gone and she hated life. I threw that darn thing out. I did some training on my own, and when she was old enough, I traded it out for a prong. I hated the prong before, but when I learned how to use it and felt it for myself (none of the ones I use for my dogs hurt me at all. They give an annoying pressure... but only during a correction, which is quick and not held in position) I decided it was worth a try. I used that on her for a month with lots of praise... and she was a perfect lady on her leash. She didn't mind it, but she responded to it by putting her attention on me not the other dog or person. After a few small corrections (mostly her giving herself corrections)... she understood what I wanted. She still had the freedom of her head and her happy puppy self was back. I weaned her off and eventually back to her normal collar. Even now, at 2 years old... I can walk her on a flat collar with no issues.

I'm one to see benefits in MANY different training tools (when used correctly).... but, IMO, the head halter is mostly used as a cover up. SOME do understand how to turn it into a training tool and I've seen that work fairly well... but, I would say the majority of people who buy them and the general public, do not know how to do this and it is just as Lee stated above... a bandaid.

This is why many trainers will not like them, and some will not even work with you and your dog if you use them. If they are decent trainers, they are going to want to train your dog for present AND future. Most of them will not approve of covering up an issue. The head halter just makes that way too easy to do. Many owners will just be lazy and fall back on it.... losing the want to actually train the dog. Not saying there's NO benefit to them for everyone.... but, for me personally (and in my opinion)... I didn't see anything beneficial about them.