Dog training collars, tips and tricks

As I walked my energetic Aussie past a family in the park this weekend, I overheard a parent telling her child, “he has a muzzle on, honey so you can’t pet him. He’s mean.” I laughed as I looked at my hyperactive ball of fur and explained to the family that, while they might be drowned in kisses, they wouldn’t be bitten and the head halter was not a muzzle but a type of dog training collar.

It got me thinking, though, that if non-dog owners could mistake the Gentle Leader my dog wore as a muzzle, new or inexperienced dog owners might make the same mistake. It’s important to note that head harnesses such as the Halti or Gentle Leader are not muzzles and will not prevent your dog from biting if it is so inclined.

While wearing a Gentle Leader, my dog is perfectly capable of barking, drinking water, carrying a stick or even a tennis ball. The device does not work by notably restricting the muzzle from opening, it simply passes over the muzzle to facility turning the dog’s head should he move beyond the limits of his lead. Please note, though, that a smaller dog shouldn’t be allowed to carry a tennis ball while wearing the gentle leader as it does restrict the range of muzzle opening slightly and may prevent your dog from spitting out the ball.

If you do have a highly aggressive dog with a known potential to try to bite, ensure you purchase an appropriate muzzle designed specifically with bite prevention in mind, not a dog training collar or head harness. The former will save you from a lawsuit. The latter will hopefully allow you to train your dog into a well-behaved, non-biting pal.