Discussions on headcollars come up in our Facebook group from time to time and can be a surprisingly controversial topic, so I’m going to start with some facts, then move on to differences in opinion as to the benefits and disadvantages of both body harnesses for dogs compared with headcollars such as the ‘halti’ or ‘gentle leader’
Management tools
The first thing to say is that both dog harnesses and headcollars (also known as head halters) are management tools rather than training tools.
And in comparing the two, we are not comparing apples with apples. Because these two tools have different purposes. And very different impacts on the dog.
A body harness is primarily for managing restraint from hazards, while a head collar is primarily for managing pulling. Having a harness of either type fitted for the first time may be scary for a dog, and they need to be introduced carefully via a short training process.
Once fitted, a good body harness is comfortable for the dog to wear, and to move around in. We’ll look at these first.
Body harness
A dog harness is not really an effective no-pull device, although some may be marketed as such. Some harnesses may reduce pulling slightly if you attach a leash to the front of the harness rather than the back. But a strong dog will still be able to pull in a body harness.
It’s better to think of a dog harness as a safety device. Something that you attach a leash to that prevents your dog from running into the road and playing with traffic. In the same way as a traditional neck collar. And I’ll look at why the dog harness is superior to the dog collar in a moment.
Don’t body harnesses encourage a dog to pull?
I’m not quite sure where this myth came from. Possibly because sled dogs wear harnesses, and sled dogs pull sleds.
And possibly because tracking dogs, that are taught to work out in front of their handler, also wear body harnesses.
Either way, it isn’t true. Body harnesses don’t make a dog any more likely to pull than a traditional neck collar.
Many, many dogs pull on a leash. Simply because they like to walk faster than people, and because pulling has become rewarding for them. See “When Your Dog Will NOT Stop Pulling” for more information.
In fact a body harness has little or nothing to do with pulling. Unless you train the dog to pull when they are wearing it (more of that in a moment), a harness neither encourages pulling nor prevents it. Only training can effectively do that.
Head collar
A head collar has a very different purpose, it is designed to make pulling uncomfortable. That is its purpose. And in doing so a head collar can reduce pulling in some dogs.
The reason that head collars are controversial is because strictly speaking they administer a ‘punishment’ to the dog when they pull.
There are differences of opinion as to whether this type of punishment is an acceptable ‘pay-off’ for the reduction in pulling.
And even some debate as to whether a head collar is a ‘punisher at all.
In my view it is. Although I can see scenarios where it may be the best case outcome for the dog, on a very temporary basis. Let’s first look at why I believe a head collar is a punisher, or aversive.
What makes head collars aversive?
Most of us think of punishment as something administered with the deliberate intention of hurting, or frightening the dog into behaving differently. When defined in this way, it is often unclear whether or not an action is punishing, or whether a tool is aversive.
But the definition of punishment in behavioral terms is very clear. Punishers are changes that reduce the behavior they accompany. They don’t have to involve pain, though they will almost always involve some level of discomfort or fear.
A punisher can be something you administer such as a smack or a squirt of water, or it can be something that happens when the dog takes an action such as pulling into a prong collar or head collar. The prong collar administers pain, the head collar turns the dog’s head to one side. Both are disliked by the dog, and both can reduce pulling behavior in some dogs.
Because head collars are aversive, I don’t think they are good management tools for long term use, and I think it is a shame that so many head collars are purchased for this purpose. That’s my view.
When might a head collar be appropriate
We prefer to teach dogs without making them uncomfortable but I can see a use for a head collar on a temporary basis. Perhaps for someone that is unsteady on their feet, and has no option but to walk their dog from A to B.
A headcollar might also be useful with a large, powerful and untrained dog that is in the process of being trained.
In both cases, the use of the head collar will ideally be short term and occasional. Used for essential outings, while the person on the other end of the leash is separately addressing the cause of pulling.
Body harness vs traditional collar
So if a body harness is essentially just a way of keeping a dog safely attached to their human, why are so many people switching from traditional collars to body harnesses? What’s the point in that?
It’s mainly a question of safety.
Most veterinarians are very familiar with dogs that have permanent damage to their throat and larynx through years of pulling into a neck collar or choke chain. I had a rescue dog here recently with such damage.
Modern training often makes use of a training leash or long line in training. They are an important training tool but they should never be attached to a traditional collar. That’s because there is a risk of throat damage from the collar. when the leash brings the dog to a halt.
The body harness avoids the risk of throat damage and allows the force of the dog when it moves forwards, to be distributed across the stronger, wider, structures of the chest
It’s also worth considering that some dogs, especially dogs with narrow heads, find it very easy to slip a collar. For most dogs it is much harder to slip a harness. Especially if it is well fitted.
Which is best – body harness or head collar?
My preference is for a body harness as a safety attachment, together with training to prevent or resolve a pulling problem. Once a dog is reliably walking to heel off leash amid distractions, I see no problem in switching to a traditional collar, or even a sliplead. Though I know not all trainers will agree.
In the meantime, I strongly recommend that you spend time teaching your dog to walk at your side without a leash. And then add leash walking into the equation using a body harness.
I know that some dog owners won’t want to put the time into training that this involves, but I do want to emphasise that this can be done in a very few minutes each day. You can find instructions in our core skills course, and in articles on this website.
I hope this explains why I think headcollars are not great tools to use in the long term. And I hope that after reading this, you’ll consider training your dog to walk next to you without a leash where it is safe to do so, and with a harness and loose leash where there are hazards.
Good luck with your training, and do join our support group if you have any questions!
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