I have written over 3000 blogs, so occasionally I run out of topics. But, all I have to do is hop in the car, go for a walk, read something on the internet or be asked a question about dogs to be ready to rock, roll and blog. This morning I was driving my husband and Riggs to the starting mark for their run (they run home from there) when I got my topic.
As I drove through the neighborhood I saw a family walking down the street with their large dog on a head harness. The dog was pulling the man like a sled dog even on the head harness. As the man grew tired of being dragged along he gave the dog an almighty yank, inflicting a serious whiplash to the dog. Here was my topic.
Head harnesses.
Head harnesses came out quite a while ago, I clearly remember when I first started seeing them before trying them myself. I did use them on several dogs with which I gave safety usage warnings to the k9 guardian. I do not use them any longer and am not a fan of them unless someone has a huge dog that they cannot control unless it is on a head halter. But even then, great care must be used with harnessing a dog’s head.
Head halters of any type control a dog’s head, just like a head harness on a horse. But dogs have smaller heads and necks; a horse can weigh over 1000 lbs with hugely muscled necked. Dog’s weigh in from 3 - 200 lbs with much less muscle mass in their necks. So the biggest issue I have with head harnesses is the whiplash effect. I see people walking their dog’s on head halters and extension leashes. This is just an accident waiting to happen. The lack of control with an extension leash, differential pressure without control, constant pressure and the reeling in give it a dangerous combination for the dog at the end of the leash.
Then there is the resistance to the head harness. Some dogs seem to be okay with them but most try consistently to remove the harness. Going between your legs trying to rub it off, diving in the grass in attempts to get it off; there are all sorts of means that they attempt to rid themselves of the harness. This in itself is a negative association and it can grow, creating a negative association to whatever is happening while the harness is on.
Some dogs are simply upset by wearing a harness which you may not realize. When the harness is removed they perk up and are super happy…this is because the harness is removed.
Head harnesses are often very uncomfortable, too tight, riding too close to the dog’s eyes, rubbing on their skin etc. etc. Of course there are lesser and more comfortable models but they all can result in a negative association. For the dog today, out for his Saturday morning walk with the family, I’m sure that whiplash was not on his agenda.
Dogs with face harnesses also cannot communicate as well with their head wrapped up by the harness and attached to the leash. I love when dogs have free reign for communication without causing damage; either emotional or physical damage. Yes the face harness does give us more control but does that control replace training? I understand that it is easier to walk a dog on a face harness once they have acclimated to it but at what cost?
I am not saying that face harnesses should never be used. For those who have a dog that they cannot control or guardians who need it for some sort of control while training; using it as a training aid meant to be replaced by a harness later on maybe. But even then the guardian must be educated about the dangers of having so much control over a dog’s head. Whiplash is very easily inflicted to dogs with head harnesses on. As someone who has been in 4 rear end collisions leaving me with a completely screwed neck; I am very sensitive to the neck issues of our dogs.
So, if you are going to use a head halter or harness you need to educate yourself on how to use them safely. There is much training that goes into even putting one on a dog to begin with. Once you get through all of that training then great care must be used so as not to inflict a soft tissue injury to your dog. Never allow your dog to run to the end of the leash and take a neck impact. If you have a loose leash then be very aware if it starts to tighten. You must take complete precaution so that your dog does not take any head turning impacts from wearing a head harness.
It is amazing what we use on our dogs without thought, just because someone says it’s great. I’m sure the guy this morning didn’t realize or mean to inflict whiplash, but sadly he was. When in doubt, harness up. My favorite harness is made by Ruffwear.