Often, we are confronted with a dog that has been "spoiled" and, as a result, has become headstrong. The dog pulls while being walked and/or jumps up. In some cases, the canine student has learned to respond aggressively when meeting other dogs or people. Most canine owners do not realize how much their behavior and reactions promote these negative responses and tend to make matters worse by pulling and yelling. Using treats to redirect attention while the dog is distracted rarely works. A frenzied animal will not care about the food, only about reaching the object of its contention.

The absolute worst thing a trainer could do in this situation is to further incite the dog by using a painful training technique. Yanking the dog by the neck, shocking him or pinching with a prong collar, all fall into this category. Since Alice DeGroot invented head halters for dogs in the late 1970's there has been little need for using these negative reinforcement training methods.

Head halters teach dogs in a way they understand.

How often do dogs choke or shock each other? How often do they hit? Never. These behaviors are not in the canine repertoire. When one dog corrects another dog it will growl in a low tone. Often, the dominant dog will push the other dog downwards by the neck or muzzle. When a mother dog corrects her pups she puts their muzzle or other part of their face in her mouth and gently pushes downward as she growls.

Head halters work the same way.

When correcting the dog, pressure is applied to the dog's muzzle as the trainer "growls" a verbal correction. The dog immediately recognizes this communication and responds. The dog is humbled. Within a short time a dog that is charging aggressively is stopped and taught to control the outburst. All without pain!

A dog that insists on pulling on the leash is quickly taught to heel. Often in less than 10 minutes with the proper use of a head halter. Where the head goes, the body follows. How can a dog run toward another dog if his head cannot first turn to look at the other dog? Hence, he learns to watch his handler and ignore distractions.

There are currently over five different types of head halters on the market. These are broken down into two types: Conventional and Figure 8. The conventional head halter was the type developed by Alice DeGroot, DVM. It most resembles a horse halter. It offers freedom of jaw movement and is the least likely to irritate the eyes, for it is worn loosely. The figure 8 head halter is worn tighter, often causing eye irritation and restricted jaw movement. Both work equally well when it comes to teaching basic obedience. In many cases, however, the conventional head halter may be easier for the dog to remove than the figure 8 halter. However, this will not be problematic provided the handler keeps a vigilant eye on the dog while the head halter is in use. No dog should ever be left alone while wearing a head halter.

The most recent head halter to be introduced on the market is the Comfort Trainer. The Comfort Trainer is a conventional head halter, much like Alice DeGroot's K-9 Kumalong. It offers freedom of jaw movement, remains below the sensitive eye area, and is made of a non-slip soft material. Dogs adjust to the use of the Comfort Trainer far faster than any other head halter currently on the market.

Not every dog requires the use of a head halter for training. Many will respond well to click and treat or lure and reward methods. There are some dogs that feel so humiliated while wearing a head halter that other methods should be investigated. However, when one meets a dog that, when aroused, does not care about food or toys, head halters offer a humane alternative to painful training methods.

Miriam Fields-Babineau has been a professional animal trainer for over 20 years. She has published 20 books on the subject, including Dog Training with a Head Halter, published by Barron's Educational Series, Feb. 2000. Her head halter design, Comfort Trainer, is currently undergoing the patent application process, but is available to those who wish to use a head halter that offers comfort to the dogs and efficient utility to the handler.