Training your dog to walk calmly without pulling on the lead is no easy task. Many dog owners struggle with this. Not only is my dog Honey still under 2 years old with boundless youthful energy, she is a Springador – a mixture of 2 gun dog breeds and is determined to follow her nose. Buying a Halti Harness was a game changer for us having enjoyable walks together.
I’m specifically talking about the Halti No Pull Harness. It is not a replacement for training techniques to teach your dog loose lead walking. Trust me, we’ve still been practising the tips we learned at training classes day in, day out. However, it makes your dog’s pulling far easier to manage, and is a tool to support you alongside training. I’ll talk you through the features and why I love it.
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The Problem
Picture this: It’s the gloriously peaceful time between Christmas and New Year. Wouldn’t it be nice to take our 5 month old puppy out to cafe? It’s important for her socialisation after all. We put her collar on, pack her lead, and set off.
Within two minutes of getting out of the car, we are having a terrible time. We can’t make it one metre down the street without the dog pulling on her lead or jumping at a passerby.
You might wonder, how did we not realise this would happen? Well, we live in the countryside, where we can go on a long walk without seeing another person or dog. Our walks are normally focused on training with no distractions. Taking Honey into a busy town centre was just a whole different ball game for her.
Halti Harness to the Rescue
We nearly gave up and went straight home, however I suggested we just have a look in Pets at Home. Let’s see if there is ANYTHING that might help us get better control of our dog while we are training her.
That’s where we discovered the Halti No Pull Harness – and it was a game changer for us! It comes in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and we were able to try them on the dog in the shop to get the right fit.
I couldn’t believe how reasonable the price was – the Halti No Pull Harness was just £25. Not only is this a lower price than most quality harnesses on the market, but this should specifically help my dog to walk better. You can buy one directly from Amazon Here for under £20. It has over 11,000 reviews from happy dog owners with a 4.3 star rating.
About the Halti Harness
The Halti range was developed by ‘Company of Animals.’ This is an animal behaviour research company, founded by Dr Roger Mugford. This man is responsible for training the Queen’s famous Corgis! Company of Animals have animal welfare at the heart of their values and have created products to help dog owners deal with common training needs in a humane way.
Features
The harness is marketed as having 2 main no-pull features. The first and most unique, is the ‘stop pull lifting’ feature. From the way the under-armpit straps thread loosely through the back of the harness, when the dog pulls it creates this lifting effect which redirects the pressure. This means the pull of the dog is less powerful.
The second feature which is now more common to see in other harnesses in the market, is a front clip on the chest plate. Using a double ended lead such as the Halti Training Lead, you can attach one clip to the front of the harness as well as the back. This means you have more control over the direction your dog is pulling in. This feature is especially useful for large breed dogs who have a lot of strength.
The harness is made from a padded mesh material. I have found that bits of plants or grasses can get stuck in the mesh, which can be a pain. However, a positive of this harness is that I have put it in the washing machine many times and the quality has not deteriorated.
The harness comes in 6 colours! At the time of purchasing black was the only option, but I might need to invest in one of the newer colours.
The Halti Training Lead
I bought the Halti Training Lead along with the harness, as I didn’t have a double ended lead at the time. I must say, this is my favourite lead I own now. The way the fabric is padded makes it so comfortable to hold – very important if you have a dog that pulls. Which you probably do, if you’re reading this article!
It has 3 different length settings, so you can choose the appropriate length for your walk. It works fantastic as a hands free lead as you can clip it around your waist, so I wear it to take my dog running.
Another bonus due to the multiple clips is it is very easy to tie your dog up with it. For example if you are on a campsite, or in a pub. You don’t have to take the lead off your dog in order to attach it securely to something, like you sometimes do with other leads. You can get the Halti Training Lead from Amazon here.
How would I rate our experience using the Halti Harness?
I would highly recommend getting this harness. It is a fantastic training tool to help you feel like you have better control over your dog. The harness really did make her strong pulling feel more manageable.
I would recommend getting the Halti Training Lead as well, which is the perfect accompaniment to the harness. The versatility of the different ways you can use the lead and harness together gives you so many options to try and see what works for you and your dog.
It took the stress on walking my dog in situations where I know focusing and training were going to be hard for her. Like when walking with friends, other dogs, or in a new environment. When you meet up with for a walk with friends, it can be difficult to stay on top of your loose lead walking training techniques. Therefore it is great to have this harness so you can take the pressure off yourself, and enjoy your walk without being stressed out.
Is there anything I don’t love about it?
Yes, there are a few features I don’t love about this harness. First of all, the way to put it on is over your dog’s head. My dog really doesn’t like this – she cowers and hides when she sees the harness come out. A harness with clips that doesn’t go over her head (Like this Tough Trails Harness from Pawsone Paws Boutique) is easier for us to put on.
The second feature I don’t love is the long tail on the back of the harness which you attach the lead to. When we want to let the dog run around off lead, we have to tie this loose piece of the harness up so it isn’t flapping about.
Final Verdict
This is a great harness to have in your arsenal. It might not be perfect for every occasion like off lead times or car travel, however in general it will suit a lot of your needs. It really does help you manage the pulling of your dog and is a fantastic tool to help you practise that loose lead walking. The price is amazing for the quality of the product, and I am so glad we found it when we did. Click here to purchase a Halti No Pull Harness from Amazon.
