Your post has just prompted a memory of mine when he was in rescue kennels, they were, in my opinion, a little rough with him - they told me that he was better with a collar and reacted very badly to a figure of 8, I'd never heard of them before but now realise they're similar to a halti. It's funny because he is perfectly happy to wear his muzzle and i think that's because I was very very careful to introduce him to it and made it very positive for him.

I'm sure head shape has a lot to do with it, along with proper fitting, training and I guess how much the dog uses his head - some have shaky heads that move a lot.

My dog is strong (staffie/boxer) but I am stronger and bigger so if and when he kicks off I'm normally able to get hold of him quickly, I have been using a harness which has a very good "handle" on his back, once he feels my hand on this "handle" I like to think he knows he's beat!

I was part of a thread on here about the value of obedience training. I've come to the conclusion that some dogs absolutely thrive on it as do the owners. Mine didn't enjoy training classes at all, I think he became very frustrated and impatient. I think it also depends upon what you want or require from you dog and of course how many dogs one has .

I don't really need my dog to be perfect on a lead as he's not often on one i.e when we're on lanes, roads, around children, or "flash" points with dogs like corners. When off lead he'll charge off - I used to get in a terrible state about this and labelled it unacceptable, now I largely let him get away with it because it was such hard work and frustrating to stop him doing it, he doesn't do any harm when when he's a field ahead, he checks back to see me. The only time he's aggressive with other dogs is when I'm right there with him.

Anyway beginning to go off topic altogehter now - but I do find this really fascinating.

with mine its not that they 'kick off' they have extremely high prey drive as stated not a problem if i see prey first but if they catch me unaware it is 3 dogs lunging hence biggest one on a dogmatic - although i dont put it on him he puts his head into it then i fasten same with the CPs they put their heads through the collars then sit waiting for me to attach lead

prey drive - such a nuisance! My one walks up the lanes and pokes his nose into every single driveway looking for cats!

i to hate prey drive, something phoebe didnt have till the age of 5 (wish i knew where it came from or who taught it her) now every small fury is of high importance to phoebe. i have to have my wits about me all the time trying to spot them before she does so i can give my "leave it" warning in the voice of doom as this is the only thing i have found works but it doesnt work when we see other dogs sadly

I have just today got rid of Cora's Halti today. I always hated the thing, though started using it on recommendation from a friend as he believed it would be a useful tool to aid training her to walk to heel on leash. A few days ago though I decided to try something new (to me) and instead of holding her long training leash in hand I fastened it over my shoulder/across my body (like a sash). It has made me think that perhaps the problems I encountered previously were down to how I was holding her leash (too long, followed by not long enough, winding around my hand when approaching likely kick-off distractions etc).

Now with the leash fastened across me it gives me 2 free hands for treating, and engaging attention, and encourages Cora to stay in a very specific, consistant position in relation to me as we walk. It has made holding her focus so much easier! She is more responsive to commands and keeps looking up to me more than ever before.
I think this breakthrough has really perked me up too, so I've been better at recognising her attention being with me, quicker to mark with the clicker, praise her and treat reward her for her compliance.

As it is still a work in progress there are obviously times when she does still pull, or occasionally lunge when she sees other dogs across the street or along the road. But when she does this it is now against my full (very full!) body weight, while I retain a good centre of gravity and instead of my arms being pulled from their sockets, my hands are really just an added help to bring her attention back to me quicker than I could before. I'm feeling much more confident with our progress and it has given me a renewed drive with her training.

Our pavement walk today was the best I've ever had with her, and made me so happy that I feel that with consistent practice I will no longer be ashamed of looking like my dog is walking me!

I have to concede though that I'm glad we introduced her to a head collar at this young age, as it will hopefully make it easier should we need to use one when she is older. I think just due to the size and strength she is likely to grow to I would feel safer with my parents and in-laws walking her on a dogmatic or the like when she stays with them on the odd occasion.

I found your posting really uplifting - I find I'm happy for days after I find something that works, it's often after a series of recommended techniques (all offered with sincere goodwill) it just goes to demonstrate we're all different just as our dogs are.

I love and despair all at the same time when i see a really well behaved dog trotting along nicely on a lead unlike my one that swings from left to right, sticks his nose in every garden gate, his entire body language is up and alert.

Loki hated the halti and I didn't like it either. I got a Canny collar, which was much kinder but still didn't like them. I moved to a harness and Loki was fine with that and stopped pulling me Once she learnt to stop pulling me, I changed to a collar and lead and it is me who has to pull her now

Oh yes indeedy..........mine does that too