Head Collar Comparison: Blindfolded

Head collars are a wonderful tool that can make loose leash walking almost an instant possibility for many dogs. Although it is preferable to train a dog, especially a service dog, to behave without a training aid this may be unrealistic for certain people or dogs because of physical or psychological limitations.

Several types of head collars have been developed to improve a dog handler’s control. This article will compare and evaluate seven different models all with the same relative effectiveness (Decrease Pulling & Increase Focus). Since OccuPaws trains dogs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, this article focuses on the ease with which each head collar can be Put On, Adjusted and then Removed by someone with no vision (simulated by a Black-Out Blindfold).

Canny Collar:

·        Manufactured by The Canny Company (www.cannyco.com)

·        Available in 8 Sizes and 4 Colors

·        List Price: ~$25

·        Attachment Type: Behind the Head

·        Points of Adjustment: 1 (Buckle)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 70 seconds (1:10 min)

·        Pros:

o   Does not ride up into the dog’s eyes

o   Easy to size correctly

o   Can be converted to a Collar

o   Safe if the nose piece slides off (Can occur even if sized properly)

o   Comes with a Lifetime Guarantee

o   Fewest points of adjustment for ‘Behind the Head’ models

o   Fastest ‘Behind the Head’ model to Put On, Adjust & Remove

·        Cons:

o   Prong of buckle was difficult to locate and insert into hole without vision

o   Nose loop tends to slide off of nose when the dog is not walking and is easily pawed off if tension is not maintained in the leash - Difficult to detect removal without vision

o   Widest, most noticeable noseband

EZ-Lead:

·        Manufactured by Timberwolf Pet Products (www.timberwolfpetproducts.com/collars.htm#)

·        Available in 4 Sizes & 10 Colors

·        List Price: ~$10

·        Attachment Type: Under the Chin

·        Points of Adjustment: 1 (Cord Lock)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 50 seconds (0:50 min)

·        Pros:

o   Made of soft braided rope to minimize chafing, pinching and discomfort

o   “Clip-On” design utilizes the dog’s existing collar

o   No possibility of becoming tangled

o   Small size makes it easy to carry in a pocket and pull-out when needed

o   Cord Lock for nose loop adjustment was easy to push and slide

o  Least expensive of all models

o   Fewest points of adjustment for ‘Under the Chin’ models

o   Fastest ‘Under the Chin’ model to Put On, Adjust & Remove

·        Cons:

o   Difficult to keep on nose if the dog’s existing collar is not properly sized

o   Moderately unsafe if the nose piece comes off

Gentle Leader®:

·        Manufactured by PetSafe (www.petsafe.net/gentleleader)

·        Available in 5 Sizes & 9 Colors

·        List Price: ~$20

·        Attachment Type: Under the Chin

·        Points of Adjustment: 2 (Neck Strap & Snap Clamp)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 60 seconds (1:00 min)

·        Pros:

o   Does not apply pressure to the dog’s throat

o   Fairly difficult for the nose loop and neck strap to become tangled

o   Available at most US pet store chains

·        Cons:

o   The clasp under the dog’s chin was difficult to open and close without vision or with limited dexterity

o   There was a little difficulty in feeding the neck strap through the buckle to adjust it to the proper size

o   Moderately unsafe if noseband comes off (Should not occur if sized correctly)

o   Slowest ‘Under the Chin’ model to Put On, Adjust & Remove

HALTI Headcollar:

·        Manufactured by The Company of Animals (www.companyofanimals.us/products/halti/halti-headcollar)

·        Available in 6 Sizes & 4 Colors

·        List Price: ~$20

·        Attachment Type: Under the Chin

·        Points of Adjustment: 2 (Slide Adjuster & Snap Clamp)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 55 seconds (0:55 min)

·        Pros:

o   Padded Noseband for minimal rubbing

o   On/Off closure of Muzzle to quickly stop barking or growling

o   The padding on the nose band made the nose-section easy to detect without vision

o   The neck slide adjuster slid easily making it simple and quick to adjust

o   Nose band cannot be pulled off by the dog

·        Cons:

o   There is some possibility of the neck straps becoming tangled with the nose band making it difficult to tell them apart without vision

o   Cannot be converted to a Collar

o   Most ‘muzzle-like’ in appearance

Infin8 Halter:

·        Manufactured by Black Dog Wear (www.blackdog.net.au/index.php?route=product/category&path=64_76)

·        OccuPaws is an authorized dealer of the Infin8 Halter (http://occupaws.org/buy-infin8/)

·        Available in 5 Sizes & 6 Colors

·        List Price: ~$35

·        Attachment Type: Behind the Head

·        Points of Adjustment: 3 (Slide Adjuster x 3)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 145 seconds (2:25 min)

·        Pros:

o   Applies pressure at two locations - Across the nose and on the back of the neck

o   Can be converted to a Martingale Collar

o   Safe if the nose piece slides off (Can occur even if sized properly)

o   Easy to transition dog from using an Infin8 to a collar

·        Cons:

o   Difficult to size properly

o   Difficult to adjust nose band

o   Can twist/shift around the dog’s head (Should be minimal if sized properly) - Difficult to detect without vision

o   Most expensive of all models

o   Slowest of all models to Put On, Adjust & Remove

The Infinity Collar™ No-Pull Training Aid:

·        Manufactured by Bold Lead Designs (boldleaddesigns.com/shop/the-infinity-collar/)

·        Available in 5 Sizes & 6 Colors

·        List Price: ~$15 (Woven) or ~$35 (Leather)

·        Attachment Type: Side of the Head

·        Points of Adjustment: 1 (Adjustment Fob)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 40 seconds (0:40 min)

·        Pros:

o   Made of soft woven, lightweight material for minimal rubbing (also available in Leather)

o   Applies pressure to both the top of the neck and under the jaw

o   Fastener-free design is great for those with limited dexterity

o   Also available as a collar and leash combo ($20)

o   Simple & Quick to adjust to the proper size

o   Only one piece so minimal risk of becoming tangled

o   Can also be worn as a ‘Behind the Head’ head collar

o   Can be converted to a Kennel Lead

o   Safe if the dog somehow removes the nose piece (Should not occur if sized correctly)

o   Fastest of all models to Put On, Adjust & Remove

·        Cons:

o   Some possibility of twisting/shifting around the dog’s head

o   Advertised sizing runs large - Order a size smaller than recommended

Sporn® Head Halter:

·        Manufactured by The Sporn Company (sporn.com/training/sporn-head-halter/)

·        Available in 4 Sizes & 1 Color

·        List Price: ~$20

·        Attachment Type: Behind the Head

·        Points of Adjustment: 3 (Slide Adjuster x 2 & Cord Lock)

·        Average Time to Put On, Adjust, & Remove: 90 seconds (1:30 min)

·        Pros:

o   Works on Extreme Pullers

o   Does not apply pressure to the dog’s face

o   Cord Lock adjustment for noseband was easy to push and slide

o   Can be worn as a Standard Collar

o   Safe if the nose piece slides off (Should not occur if sized properly)

·        Cons:

o   Bulky/Heavy design

o   Difficult to adjust the neck straps (Collar portion) – Difficult to feed strap through buckle and buckle was tough to slide

o  Leash attaches far from the dog's head

Please leave comments or ask questions.

Miracle Training

As a puppy raiser who starts many young puppies, I hear all the time about what a !!MIRACLE!! it is that the puppy behaves a certain way or demonstrates a particular skill. However, raising a future guide dog has very little to do with ‘miracle training.’

Raising a puppy is not a cycle where a raiser takes a dog into a novel environment and expects the dog to miraculously perform skills which they have never successfully completed.

Raising a puppy and making decisions about that puppy’s training is not an act that relies on faith. It’s not about having faith that exposing the dog to a particular environment will suddenly cause the dog to overcome their struggles and succeed. We don’t raise a puppy believing that things might actually come together if we just put the dog ‘out there.’ If so, expect a train wreck.

I’ll admit that at times, I have attempted miracle training - believed that a dog would succeed when deep down I knew the possibility was unlikely. Most trainers have. But, raising a puppy entirely on a string of miracles, now that’s an ??INTERESTING?? concept…

Sure, raisers sometimes make bad decisions on behalf of the puppy. Too bad, it may have cost you a small setback in training; a few extra hours of work. On the bright side, this mistake probably caused the raiser to train with a more acute sense of purpose and exposed a weakness in one’s training plan. That’s perfectly alright; it gives you an opportunity to break down the experience and address where things went wrong. I know a lot of raisers who don’t ‘get serious’ about raising a puppy until that puppy has made some mistake causing them a little embarrassment. If that’s what it takes to motivate that raiser and change things for them, fine. Raising a puppy is nothing if not humbling.

However, raising a puppy isn't about compounding bad decisions by not only choosing to set the dog up for a mistake but then believing that miracle training will somehow get the dog through the experience. I’m not saying miracles never happen. I've seen dogs that were ill-equipped for a situation and should have had a horrible experience miraculously come out unscathed. But, that’s the nature of miracles – they are bound to happen if you’re around long enough. They are rare, special, and unlikely to be repeated. But, raising a puppy isn't about the belief that a miracle COULD happen again if one just has enough faith.

The problem with miracle training is the emotional toll it takes on both the dog and handler. Being subjected to failure is never easy or pleasant for anyone. Prayer is great, and with some puppies you’ll take all the help you can get, but training is even better!

So, when a puppy raiser takes a puppy someplace and he behaves and completes a skill as desired, IT IS NOT A MIRACLE! It is a carefully planned and executed training exercise designed with the ultimate goal of producing an ideal guide dog; not an experiment to see how badly the dog will screw up. It is hard work and a lot of training. It is not a spontaneous act. Someday, these puppies with change someone’s life, but it will be a puppy raiser’s time, training and dedication, NOT A MIRACLE that got them there.

Conversations with a Puppy

PSSSST! I've got a secret...

For my first blog post, I thought I’d let all the readers in on a little secret. So here it is - the noteworthy, intellectual, and perhaps a little crazy conversations I have with my big brother Merit. Enjoy!

Triumph: The humans keep saying I have an “important” job to do. Merit, do you know what “important” means?

Merit: Yes, I do. What do you think it means?

Triumph: Um, I think it means when you have to get out of the house right away and go potty.

Merit: You’re right, that is an important job.

Triumph: Merit, you should come to school with me forever.

Merit: I can’t go to school with you, Triumph. I’m too big now. I have to go to work.

Triumph: Just don’t eat your dinner and then you will shrink and then you can go to school again.

Merit: Triumph, why is there a mouse in my dog dish?

Triumph: I don’t know, maybe he’s hungry.

Merit: Did you catch him and put him in my dish?

Triumph: Not sure…

Merit: What do you mean not sure?

Triumph: He doesn’t have a head. I only catch the ones with heads.

Merit: Are there any ones with heads in the house?

Triumph: Not recently… Although, I did see a head without a body in your crate…

Merit: What did you learn at training class tonight?

Triumph: The flowers are all gone, the animals have all disappeared and snow is falling; it’s now wintertime.

Merit: Wow, that has nothing to do with dog training.

Triumph: I don’t make the curriculum, Merit. I just listen and follow along.

Triumph: Some of my friends are yellow and some are black.

Merit: Yes, you’re right.

Triumph: And some are brown. The brown ones are the best! But I like the yellow ones too, even if they're a little red. I like everyone really.

Merit: ??

Triumph: I’m black, but I shouldn't feel bad about it, one day I’ll be brown, just like you.

Merit: ??

Triumph: But first I need to jump in the mud, and then find some rabbit poop to roll in…

Merit: What happened to all the toys I had?

Triumph: Which ones?

Merit: All of them. There’s only one left in the box.

Triumph: If there’s only one left then you’re not missing all of them.

Merit: Don’t be smart with me Try!

Triumph: OK I’ll be smart with myself then, but I think you could use my help. This is basic math.

Merit: You’re a real funny girl.

Triumph: I’m smart and funny? Wow, I must take after you.

Merit: How sweet. Now go find my toys.

Triumph: All of them???

'Birth Order'

We often compare how raising puppies is like raising your children. Just like birth order effected how you raised your children, experience also effects puppy raising. Think about that first puppy (or baby). Every day was a special celebration. You were excited about everything and left nothing to chance. That second puppy (or baby) was also a great joy, yet in many ways a very different experience. And then the third, fourth, fifth... puppy (or baby) and well…let’s just see if our experiences are anything like yours.

FYI: This is intended as a joke. We love all of our puppies and work our hardest to help each achieve their full potential.

Lukas - 15th Puppy

Effects on Set-Up:

1^st Puppy: You had the crate, exercise pen and toy bin all set-up the moment you heard your puppy had been born.

2^nd Puppy: You rushed home to set-up following puppy visitation day. T minus 7 days to arrival.

Nth Puppy: No need to set-up, you’re still working up the energy to take it down after the last puppy.

Stryker & Sully - 25th & 26th Puppy

Effects on Preparing for the First Night:

1^st Puppy: You start sleep training weeks before the puppy arrives home. A little mind-over-matter and you’ll be an expert at waking up every 2 hours.

2^nd Puppy: You don’t bother adjusting your sleep schedule. It didn't do squat last time anyway.

Nth Puppy: Piddle Pads and Sleeping Pills are now your best friend.

Brewer - 1st Puppy

Effects on Puppy Toys & Gear:

1^st Puppy: You purchase every recommended toy in your puppy raiser manual and color coordinate all their collars, leashes and vest.

2^nd Puppy: You check to make sure the toys aren't broken and the collars & leashes aren't snagged, then discard only those still hanging on by a thread.

Nth Puppy: Pink looks good on a boy – Right?

Quinn - 23rd Puppy

Effects on your Worries:

1^st Puppy: At the first sign of distress – a whimper, whine or bark – you run to the puppy and soothe them.

2^nd Puppy: You ask nicely for “Quiet” but when all else fails, “Shut-up” is right in your back pocket.

Nth Puppy: You train your older dog how to drape a blanket over the top of the crate.

Praxis - 22nd Puppy

Effect on Treat Giving:

1^st Puppy: If a treat falls on the floor, you put it away in your pocket and toss it in the trash later.

2^nd Puppy: 10 second rule sounds good.

Nth Puppy: Your puppy eats grass, bugs & wood chips anyway, so you’ll just consider it as frosting.

Barron - 11th Puppy

Effect on Housebreaking:

1^st Puppy: You set an alarm and take the puppy out every half hour, whether he needs it or not.

2^nd Puppy: You take the puppy out every 2-3 hours, IF needed.

Nth Puppy: Here’s the door, there’s the lawn…no further explanation required.

Maizy - 19th Puppy

Effect on Training:

1^st Puppy: If there’s a training class offered within 90 miles, you’re there.

2^nd Puppy: You've got the basics down, now it’s time for some competition training.

Nth Puppy: 5 minutes squeezed in while you wait for the water to boil in preparation for making dinner.

Scout - 12th Puppy

Effects on Vacations & Travel:

1^st Puppy: The first time you leave your puppy with a sitter, you send the puppy with a 10 page instruction sheet, every item they own and then you call and email every 12 hours.

2^nd Puppy: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to grab a bag of food, some toys and jot down your contact information.

3^rd Puppy: Ring the doorbell, hand over the leash and inform sitter to only call if they see blood.

Gypsy - 3rd Puppy

Effect on Medical Emergencies:

1^st Puppy: When the puppy swallows stuffing, squeaker, rock, stick, coin, etc., you rush the puppy to the vet and immediately demand an x-ray.

2^nd Puppy: When the puppy swallows stuffing, squeaker, rock, stick, coin, etc., you carefully watch them for a few days waiting for it to pass.

Nth Puppy: You've seen so many things go in one end and out the other, nothing’s really a surprise at this point.

Food Bowl Myth

I've heard rumors of this mecca to which ordinary dogs travel. Most call it a Food Bowl, but to me it is pure myth.

The myth says that food gods descend three times a day and use their magical powers to grow kibble in a shiny silver bowl. If you drool, beg, stare and whine loud enough, the gods will hear you and you shall be fed. I have searched in vain to locate this magical place but it appears I landed in the only house on earth without one! I thought I had discovered it, however, the only thing growing in the shiny silver bowls I found, was water. What a jip!

After nearly a week of unsuccessful attempts to locate the Food Bowl, I consulted my wise mentor, Merit. He nearly fell off his Place laughing so hard - How Rude! When he regained his composure, he informed me that his magic bowl did not arrive until he was eight months old and that even when it did arrive, it only produced a small percentage of his daily rations and the price... even more torturous lessons involving #theskillthatshallnotbenamed {Impulse Control}. How will I ever survive in this crazy place?

You see, my human has this philosophy that if I have to earn my food, then I will work harder and extend more effort toward my training...
I must concede that she is right - Don't tell her I said so. It took me awhile to give into the idea that food isn't free around here, but now that I'm on board, I am learning quickly and picking up many new skills. At only 7 weeks old, I am already staying on my Place with distractions, targeting with my nose & paw, and doing Sits/Downs/Stands and finding Heel position all on a verbal only command - Yep, I rock! I must admit that training has become a lot of fun and I get more excited each day to use my brain to think harder and learn more. As long as I'm hungry, I will always have time for more training, and since I'm a lab I guess that means I get to have this much fun FOREVER!

I can't speak for other dogs and their Food Bowls, but this pup is happy to remain in a place where the Food Bowl is just a MYTH.

1 Days Food to Training Ratio - Merit (L), Trust (R)
*Trust earns hers one piece at a time. Merit works for small handfuls.