HALTI Optifit Headcollar Size Medium, Dog Head Harness to Stop Pulling on the Lead, Easy to Use, Adjustable & Reflective Head Collar for Dogs, Professional Anti-Pull Training Aid, Black

We have a 120lb 4yo purebred German Shepherd male. He is by no means overweight and is much larger than most in his breed. Our problem with walking him is that he loves to chase birds and squirrels. A head collar gives us more control and diverts his attention back to walking when he gets excited and wants to chase something during a walk. I know the Halti is supposed to be a temporary learning tool, but our dog will need a head collar forever because he is so much easier to control this way than trying to keep him from chasing something with just his collar. We have been using a Gentle Leader with him for a long time and it has seemed to work great. My fiancé loves the simplicity of it and control it gives us with our easily excitable dog. I recently became aware of the Halti head collar and wanted to try it out vs. our Gentle Leader. We opted for the large Halti due to his size (by breed Halti recommends a medium). Gentle Leader Cons: thin straps with no padding that leave a mark (not a sore or cut, just a visible mark) on my dogs snout- doesn't seem to hurt him, but worries me. He can occasionally slip the nose piece off by rubbing his head on the ground (same with Halti). The snout strap comes really close to his eyes when he pulls in the oppsite direction of me (I would say more so than the Halti). Gentle Leader Pros: more control. Comes in many colors. Our dog cannot move the clip that adjusts the snout piece. Halti Cons: our dog can move the clip that goes under his chin to adjust the snout piece by opening his mouth really wide. Although I think this is just due to the face that for him to comfortably pant and drink it needs to be all the way down anyways, I still think this is something Halti needs to fix. This clip needs to be stronger. He also rubs his head on the ground and can get the snout piece off (same with a Gentle Leader too though). Halti Pros: by far outweigh the cons and the features of the Gentle Leader to me. Being 5'1" and not outweighing my dog by much the additional strap around the neck and backup clip that attaches to the collar gives me more control and reassurance. It has a much wider and cushioned strap on the snout that I feel is probably more comfortable for my dog- it does not leave a mark like the Gentle Leader. I also like the sliding pieces the connect the snout strap to the head strap. They also add support and control and help keep the snout strap away from his eyes (the strap still goes close to his eyes if he's being crazy and wants to chase something, but for regular walking works great- Gentle Leader does the same thing). While I think my fiancé would prefer the gentle leader, being smaller and more simple, he also is bigger and stronger than I am to be able to control our dog. For me, I think the Halti provides more control and requires less effort for me to feel confident and in control if our dog decides to try to chase something while walking. This is the longest product review I've ever written, but with a large breed dog with lots of energy it is hard to find good products and good reviews to help me make decisions on the best products for my dog. So I hope this helps someone else!

I love it. It mostly stops the pulling and I'm able to use a lot of nuanced slowing down, stopping, sitting, etc. I find this head halter very helpful if it's used regularly. In a stressful situation, it won't stop the pulling but that's where conditioning comes in and I'm hopeful in a few months he'll relax and not want to shake it off. I like the little bit of additional padding. I would like it if there was a thicker strap around the muzzle or a choice of widths of the muzzle strap and I do think the padding makes it less likely to hurt or dig into the dogs face, which would be counterproductive. Presently after a month of use my dog still isn't fond of it - but it's getting better with each walk. He's a boxer/pit/beagle mix with a foreshortened muzzle so the strap around his muzzle sits a little closer to his eyes than it does on a longer muzzled dog - although this one fits him perfectly. I think his resistance is because he's been free to yank and pull with his chest halter for four years with that powerful little pitbull bod. My husband is a strong man but I don't believe in that kind of wrong thinking - I don't want a power struggle and I prefer a more relaxed gait. I got ok results with the choke chain method but he's smart and stubborn and I figured repeated snapping, while a valid method, required too much snapping, I didn't want our walks to be a chore for both of us. Immediately after putting on this halter, the change in his walk was instantly and obvious. He may not love it, but that's because if he pulls he's uncomfortable. As I relax and set the speed and direction of our walking, he relaxes and pays attention to what I'm doing, so this collar is very helpful in teaching him to walk along without pulling and trying to be in charge.. When he was young we tried the basic Halti and nomatter how we adjusted it, he would squirm it right off.. Luckily for this knucklehead, my husband is a strong guy but he can't walk him now so I figured I'd give the newer version of the Halti a shot because it does have the additional adjustment that makes it a little less likely that he'll whip his head out now, although HE CAN and DID first day. WARNING: make sure you clip the Halti to the collar. Dogs CAN whip their heads out of the Halti if they're determined to. Make sure their regular collar is properly adjusted to not slip over their head - the halti will stay clipped to your leash and you'll still maintain control if his/her collar is securely on.

I bought this product about 4.5 months ago and genuinely waited to review it so I could see how it held up and performed over time. To begin, I just bought a new one which is good and bad. Bad because it ended up tearing (see below), but good because I liked it enough to buy it again. A quick summary: There are definitely some noteworthy cons, but almost all of them can be avoided with PROPER use of the product and making sure it fits correctly. With proper use, this is a wonderful tool. Pros: I'm a ~175 lb man with a dog who is only about 60lb, but a pit/aussie mix who's strength is only exceeded by his relentless energy and desire to chase everything from animals to kids to airplanes. This made walks with a regular collar and even a full body harness quite exhausting and stressful. Before buying it, I had tried a million things to stop the pulling with no luck. With the Halti, walks are MUCH more manageable. Although he still tried to pull (see cons), the strength with which he's able to pull is SIGNIFICANTLY less than before. The pulling is now more of an annoyance at the beginning of a walk, rather than a full body workout. With even the slightest resistance, he can't pull very hard before it becomes uncomfortable for him. So in a sense, it does what it advertises in a roundabout way. Another pro is that because the Halti attaches to his face instead of his neck or body, it is MUCH easier to redirect his attention when he becomes overstimulated by something. Instead of using a traditional collar or harness and pulling his body away while his head is completely turned and still focused on the stimulus, the Halti allows you to physically turn his head away from the stimulus and get it out of his eyesight. This in COMBINATION with a variety of other training techniques can become extremely valuable in making walks much more manageable with a reactive dog. Cons: The Halti is not magic. You can't buy a $13 product expecting it to just magically make your dog a dream on leashed walks...if you do, you'll be severely disappointed and still frustrated. This however should be expected. Additionally to be expected, it takes quite a bit of work to get your dog to be comfortable with this foreign object on its face. It takes TIME and PATIENCE. You have to work hard to develop a positive association with the Halti by continuing to treat while first introducing it to them, then resting it on their snout while treating, then clipping it for very short amounts of time, then longer amounts of time, then short walks on leash down a hallway, then longer walks back and forth, all while treating and slowly reducing spacing out the treats. If you don't have the patience to work with your dog in this manner, you will never get it on the dog for a walk, and you'll have wasted your money. The clip on this product that can be adjusted to fit your dogs face is lacking in strength and should be improved. At the end of almost every long walk, it has become a little bit looser than when I started. It doesn't become loose enough on a walk to reduce it's effectiveness, but it IS sort of a nuisance. Before every walk I have to make sure I adjust the clip to the correct position in case it got loose on the last. ---SUGGESTION: set it to the correct position for your dogs face, take it off, and mark that spot on the Halti with a silver sharpie. In reality, resizing the collar takes all of about 2 seconds, and if you already have the spot marked on the Halti to the optimal position, any extra time it takes to get it ready and on your dog before a walk is pretty much negligent. Lastly, but possibly most important: If the Halti is not PERFECTLY snug around your dogs nose, it can cause quite a bit of problems. The lesser problem is that if it is too loose and you're not 100% aware, your dog will be able to paw it off of his/her nose and you'll have to stop to tighten it and put it back on. Luckily, if this happens, you have the backup strap that should always be connected to their regular collar, so your dog still won't be able to go anywhere. The more significant problem, in my opinion, is that if its even a little too loose and your dog pulls directly AWAY from you with his face towards you (imagine him backing up away from you), the bottom strap of the Halti that goes underneath the chin, can get pulled up around their jaw and stuck in their mouth pulling at the back of their jowels. This can be pretty traumatic for the dog and damaging for the Halti. The first time this happened, my dogs molars actually tore the strap halfway through. It has held up for the past couple months even being torn halfway through, but this is the reason I am finally purchasing a new one. Additionally, please make sure the Halti is tight enough around their nose so that it does not injure their eyes. If it is too loose, the circumference becomes larger than their snout, and pulling on the leash can cause the Halti to move up and put pressure on the bottom of their eyes. Once again, this is easily avoided with proper use.

I've used many types of head halters for dogs over the years. There are several features that I like about this one. The little bit of padding over the snout is a nice touch. There is a good amount of adjustability, in the neck strap around the dog's head, as well as the snout strap to which a leash is attached. Once fitted properly, it is very easy to put on and use. The cheek pieces aid in keeping the halter in the correct position, no matter the breed of dog. The cheek straps are low on the dog's face, so no worry about the strap rubbing the eyes. The improved design also helps to keep the halter in place in the event a dog backs up or tries to get the halter off by slipping the neck strap. There is a safety tab with a snap that clips to the dog's normal collar, so in the event a dog DOES manage to slip the halter, your dog is still attached to the leash. And yes, it is recommended to use that "Safety Link" to provide extra security. The sizing is generous. I usually have several sizes on hand for classes and for demos. Although the large size listed the breed I was buying this for (Rottweiler), I found that the medium size was a much better fit. The instructions for measuring are clear. Go by measurement rather than breed, as each dog is different. Now I have a medium and a large, but that's just more equipment options in my trainer box of tools. If your dog has already been accustomed to wearing a head halter, there should be no problem adjusting to this one. If your dog has never worn a head halter, introduce it slowly, and with lots of treats, so it becomes a positive experience for your dog. Some dogs will rub their nose, or paw at the halter, if this is a new experience. This head collar is effective if your dog pulls on the leash. For someone small, frail or weak, or someone with a big, boisterous dog, this Opti Fit Halti Head Collar makes it possible to have an enjoyable walk with their dog. Finally, this piece of equipment is a tool to help prevent the dog from pulling on leash. Training for loose leash, polite walking should be a goal. There are other pieces of equipment that can also aid in preventing pulling, such as front clip harnesses.

ADDENDUM: We've had Stewie for two years and using the Halti has been effective, but the plastic clip on the noose broke when Stewie pulled backward. I ended up stitching it at the correct size. Also, the nose band rotates and presses just under his right eye. I am currently looking at a different style, as I am afraid the band may damage his eye. ------------------------------------------------------------------ We recently adopted an 85-pound rescue dog, a Lab/Shepherd cross. He has the loving Lab temperament but also has problem behaviors. He’s possibly a little older than two years, but he was a stray down in SC, spent time in a large shelter, was adopted out in NC, but somehow ended up with a different home in Maine. All told, we are his fifth home. Stewie gets along great with the other dogs in the neighborhood, but he lunges and barks at other dogs while we are out on the leash. He’s not attacking. I believe it’s a learned behavior, but it’s problematic. People out with their dogs believe he is attacking and it scares them. He also had no leash manners whatsoever. The first night we had him he took me on a gallop after a skunk. I’ve tried several methods of control, one being an older Halti we had for a previous dog. The original design did not work for Stewie. He somehow got the noose in his mouth and it was a struggle from there. I tried the English lead that tightens when pulled. Nope. I bought a ‘no-pull/easy lead’ harness. He did learn to walk correctly with that harness, but it definitely failed at the ‘no-pull’ aspect. I found myself on the ground when he saw some deer, and it does not prevent him from lunging. I still had to hold his collar. I bought the updated version of the Halti in the hopes the better design would be effective. It is. The updated design allows the head collar to be fitted well. I have more control of Stewie when we are out, and having that control is helping with training. He’s been in ‘Alpha Boot Camp’ for a while and he’s learned to yield to the command to back off, sit, and wait. The Halti reinforces the commands. He doesn’t like it and occasionally tries to rub it off, but the improved design thwarts the attempts. I recommend the Halti to anyone with a control problem, but I also recommend it NOT be left on the dog unless the dog is under direct supervision. It’s not a collar. The dog could get a paw snared in the loop. Also, DO NOT jerk the leash. The Halti band is around the sensitive muzzle. A gentle tug is all that is needed to bring the dog back in line. If the dog resists the Halti by backing up and pulling, don’t pull back. Walk toward the dog, letting it back up until it gives up and sits. That will reinforce the handler’s status as the Alpha. Great product.

- STRETCH - NONE, just comes loose. - THICKNESS - THIN AND CHEAP! Dog chewed right through it in seconds. - COMFORT - NONE, very UNCOMFORTABLE and he constantly tried to get it off. This was recommended by trainers for my dog specifically, however, this product did not work for my dog as it was described. He did not stop pulling and was more determined to fight with me and get it off. It came loose on several occasions getting caught in his mouth and if it were not attached to his collar he would have run off - he is a brand new rescue. When it got caught in his mouth he began to chew on it, chewing right through the FIRST collar in a matter of seconds the third time wearing it. So the THICKNESS is far below par on my opinion and experience and is a poorly and cheaply made product. I’m not sure what “Stretch” this review is asking for. It down NOT stretch. It has a clip that adjusts for tightness under the chip which comes loose at the slightest pull from my dog. Hence the reason for it getting caught in his mouth. As for “Comfort”, he hated it. I thought that was to be expected and with a little time and experience he would learn to get used to it. This was m the case. He tried to get it off every chance he had, running his face in the ground and pawing at over and over every time he wore it. I returned the FIRST HALTI COLLAR for a replacement as he chewed all the way through the collar (in a matter of seconds, remember). I returned the SECOND HALTI COLLAR for a refund. When he tried to chew through the collar this time I caught it in time before he chewed through it entirely. Thank goodness I had a second leash attached to him (training) as I had to remove the HALTI completely and immediately. I did try to repair this second collar with Gorilla glue which worked well, but the very next day he almost chewed through the other side. This is when I gave up on this collar!

We've tried them all. Best one yet. Robust enough for our energetic 70lb poodle, comfortable, easy to put on, and secured to the body harness or collar if you choose. Will buy this brand again if this one wears out.

While this doesn't work for my girl due to her being over sensitive, this is a great TEMPORARY tool to help your dog learn not to pull, or a full time tool if you have a service dog and need the feedback. It's highly adjustable and i think i prefer this over the gentle leader in appearance and with the reflectiveness. I think it's also good if you have dogs that slip out. I will be keeping mine to donate or use on a future dog simply because i suffer from chronic illness and various other things where having more feedback on what my dog is doing is helpful when im not directly looking. Please keep in mind that: A tool does not fix a dog's habits. a leash, a collar, a harness, etc are unnatural. you must STILL teach a dog loose leash walking with rewarding them with high value treats (like hot dogs) whilst luring them to your side even with a training tool like a head halter. some dogs will find a head halter extremely aversive - do not force it. please seek out a trainer that is cpdt trained and ideally LIMA at minimum or force-free/fear-free trainers that can help you with pulling and other issues. other notes: your dog should not be using this if they are reactive and lunge/pull. use it only in non reactive settings. you will damage your dog's neck. this should be loose but a good fit. this is NOT a muzzle, your dog can still eat and bite with this. no muzzle should fully shut a dog's mouth anyway unless it is absolutely necessary by a professional (vet/groomer) muzzles should have pant room. you should not be shoving this on your dog's face (my own mistake which made her dislike this even more) for even a try on session, adjust them to it for several weeks before trying it on. this is especially true if your dog is emotionally sensitive. PLEASE do not pull your dog when wearing this, and look out for discomfort signals (whale eye, lip licking, ears pulled back, trying to rub it off, running away.) and do not force your dog to wear something they clearly don't like. respect your dog when they show you they are not okay with something.

These Halti Headcollars actually really DO help prevent pulling, but the dogs really fight wearing them at first. We have a 9 month old lab who can already easily pull either of us over, or pull the leash right out of our hands, if she decides to take off. We cannot walk her without one of these collars. However, this is the 3rd headcollar we’ve had to try in an effort to get the right features. We originally purchased a different Halti Headcollar at the pet store that was designed so that the loop around the snout would release when the dog wasn’t pulling. Molly was quick to capitalize on that feature and hook her paw into the slack to pull the thing right into her mouth. After catching her in several successful attempts to chew through it, she finally caught me distracted and ruined it in a matter of minutes. So our daughter gave us an extra headcollar she had in another brand that was really very no frills. It was snug in the snout all the time, with no padding, so harder for her to get off - but after a walk she’d have a dent across her nose 😩 She hated it more than the first one and was constantly trying to get it off. Walks are no fun when the dog repeatedly throws herself to the ground to try to pry the thing off. This (3rd) new Halti Headcollar is the best of both worlds - it features a padded snout loop that is adjustable to fit snugly, but it does not have the release feature for when the dog stops pulling. It stays snug all the time. It also has the safety feature the first one had of a separate hook that clips to the collar so that if the dog escapes the head collar, the leash is still attached to her normal collar. Molly doesn’t seem to mind this one as much - I’m sure it’s more comfortable - so walks are much more enjoyable for all of us! Highly recommend Halti - and especially this particular model.

Cumple con su función perfecto!! A mis peritos les costó un poco de trabajo acostumbrarse al halty pero desde la primera vez que lo usaron vi una gran diferencia!! No más Jalones, caminan junto a mi sin querer salir corriendo, no les lastima nada y los puedo controlar con solo un pequeño gesto de la correa. MUCHAS GRACIAS POR ESTE EXCELENTE PRODUCTO!! Quiero hacer notar que no es para dejarlo permanentemente puesto en el pero, se usa para sacarlos a pasear, y trabaja junto con el collar. Luego se quita al terminar el paseo, y si esta bien colocado el Perro no puede morderlo no romperlo. Leer las instrucciones te da una buena idea de cómo colocarlo y cómo se usa. También revisar bien las tallas, compré la pequeña para mi corgi y la mediana para mi pero grande, y les quedan perfecto!!

Works exactly as iit should and fits perfectly Now a few months in and showing no signs of wear. Great quality product

Ik kreeg meer controle over mijn hond, maar na 3 weken is hij al kapot gegaan. Mijn hond bleef trekken, ondanks dit hoofdtuig, het bandje dan onder zijn ogen en onder zijn kin hoorde, kwam in zijn bek terecht, toen heeft hij die door kunnen bijten.

You need to train your dog to feel comfortable wearing this, before you can actually start to train your dog with it. I love how it has adjustable nose and head bands, so you can ensure a secure and confidante fit for your dog! It allows your dog to eat and drink while wearing it (though you can't really feed big items), so you don't need to worry about having to take it off or your dog going without, should they need to wear it for a long time.