24/05/2026
As someone who has personally used a head collar in the past, this post really resonated 😥
As with most things I did years ago with my dogs, this is another that I now deeply regret!
I didn’t question their use, back then I really didn’t question anything 😳
I learned the hard way, when my dog suffered a severe neck injury. I saw the jolt happen, he felt it and then I spent the rest of his life managing it.
Pain relief, massage treatments, physio, not to mention the guilt, all because I chose to inflict something on him to make MY life easier 😬
When I trained and qualified as a canine massage therapist I came to truly understand the potential for injury and the increased likelihood of cervical damage and compensatory issues, not to mention the behavioural aspect 🐶
This isn’t a post to make anyone feel bad if you do use one of these, it’s about reminding pet parents to question EVERYTHING.
It’s so easy to buy things for our dogs and cats that we assume are safe but actually many things are about making life easier for us, not them 😅
Head halters are often recommended as a “gentle” option for dogs who pull, and I understand why people reach for them. When walks feel stressful, anything that promises control feels like a lifeline. But head halters don’t sit comfortably within a welfare‑first or fear‑free approach, and it’s important we talk about why.
Dogs communicate with their whole body, especially their face. When we cover or restrict that area, we change how they look, how they move, and how other dogs read them. We’re already seeing more misunderstandings between dogs, and altering facial expression or posture only adds to that.
Emotionally, many of us remember how it felt wearing masks during COVID. Some were fine; others felt anxious, restricted, or overwhelmed. The difference is that we understood why we were wearing them, and we could take them off. Dogs don’t get that choice. They simply feel something on one of the most sensitive, expressive parts of their body.
When we teach loose‑lead walking, we’re really helping dogs regulate themselves in the world. That requires comfort and safety. Controlling the head interrupts that process. A dog who is anxious, in pain, overstimulated, or struggling emotionally will pull because their body is dysregulated. A head halter doesn’t resolve that; it suppresses it.
There’s also the physical risk. The neck and face contain delicate muscles, nerves, and vessels. A single lunge, a squirrel, a sudden bark, a moment of excitement, can create significant force through the cervical spine. Many canine movement specialists now warn against head halters for this reason. And “they’re fine if used properly” doesn’t help when real life happens and a dog reacts faster than we do.
If a dog is pulling so hard that we feel out of control, that’s usually a sign to look deeper: pain, anxiety, over‑arousal, poor socialisation, or biomechanical imbalance. These are the things that need attention, not the head.
This isn’t about shaming anyone. People use head halters because they’re trying to cope. But they don’t align with welfare‑first handling. Good walking comes from comfort, understanding, and supporting the dog in front of us, not from controlling their face.
A 2025 training and movement review reports that sudden leash pressure on a head halter can cause whiplash‑like injuries, with around 20% of dogs showing neck discomfort. It also notes that nearly 30% of owners observed increased resistance or anxiety when their dogs wore head halters.
Added due to people being upset: I never write posts for click bait. I think the idea of upsetting people to get reactions is abhorent. I always write my posts with empathy for both human and dog. If I ever feel defensive over an action I take I ask myself why. Is it because I think what that person is saying is ridiclous or am I not entirely comfortable with my action. As soon as we use a tool as a professional we are spreading the idea that this tool is safe to use. We all have a resonsibility about the education we put out into the world. I am not judging anyone for using them. I get it. But I also know that professionals taking extremly difficult cases on dont use them. There are other ways and other ideas. And most of the dogs I see with them on could be easily taught in a kinder way
