How does tethering dogs pose a danger to humans? Tethering is not only bad for dogs—it is a high-risk factor in serious dog bites and attacks. Dogs unable to retreat from perceived or real threats can act out aggressively when approached. Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive.

Never use a choke, martingale (limited slip), prong collar, head halter, etc., to tether. You should use a body harness for tying out to help reduce the chance of injury to the neck – do not use a no pull harness or a harness where the tether will attach to the front.

A dog harness for a tie out instead of a collar makes it easier to control and manage any dog. Harnesses also are significantly safer than a collar because they help you control your dog without pressuring their neck muscles.

Using a dog harness instead of a dog collar makes it easier to control and manage any dog, even those with leash manners that aren’t quite perfected. Harnesses have other advantages, too: A harness disperses pressure over a larger area of his body, reducing strain on his neck and back. Harnesses discourage pulling.

Gentle Leaders Are Safer Than Standard Collars When you attach a leash to the dog’s collar, the collar will pull on the neck when the dog pulls on the leash. This can choke the dog, cause bruising and irritation, and even damage the throat.

The gentle leader is an extremely beneficial tool that can reduce excessive leash pulling, barking, lunging, and/or jumping. The gentle leader fits securely over your dog’s nose, and helps to redirect and refocus your dog. A large issue with leash walking is that the dog’s momentum and intention are all moving forward.

When reintroducing the Gentle Leader®, be sure to take it off each night. We recommend that the Gentle Leader® not be left on any longer than 18 hours per day.

The Halti has an extra strap that can attach to your dog’s collar. Unlike the Gentle Leader, the Halti has a safety strap. In case your dog backs out of the Halti, he’ll still have the safety tab attached to his collar so that he won’t get loose.

How long does it take for a dog to get used to wearing a Gentle Leader? In my experience, for the average dog owner who goes through the full desensitization process, it can take up to two weeks for the dog to fully acclimate to the head collar without pawing at it or trying to remove it.

Hold the headcollar by the nose loop so that the snap clamp is up against the centerbar ring. Hold a treat so that your pet places their snout through the nose loop. Let your pet remove their snout once they have received the treat. Repeat until your pet is comfortable placing their snout through the nose loop.