Pro's and Con's of Halti/Gentle Leader/Head Harness

I am struggling to train my 4 year old rescue GSD/Border Collie, who I've had since early June. Indoors she is an absolute gem, but outside is a different story. I take her to training once a week but walking to heel is proving to be a nightmare. She lacked socialisation when I got her and meeting other dogs is helping with that aspect but she will not respond to a jerk on the lead and the command "heel". I have researched the PAH website and read the reviews on the Halti that is produced by Company of Animals and wonder if this is the answer to all my prayers. When we got her she had a webbing collar and a lead with a long choke chain which meant she walked about 6ft away from you. She now wears a webbing collar with a short chain connection (as sold to me at dog training) and I use a short lead but am still having problems. Can anyone give me some guidance on this please

I really think you should change your training club. The jerk & shout method is extremely bad for your dog`s spine - let alone not being very effective (and very unkind).
To teach a dog to walk without pulling, use a simple collar and loose lead. Every time the dog walks ahead of you, change direction. Keep swerving round till the dog follows you. When the dog is in the right place, click and treat or praise and treat.
Repeat till the dog gets the idea.
Because your dog probably has a lot of bad habits it will take time and persistence. But it does work.
I use a Halti alongside a flat collar with a double ended lead for a reactive dog so I can control the sharp end if needed. I wouldn`t use it to stop a dog pulling. A dog can pull against anything if determined enough. And a jerk on a Halti can do awful damage to the dog.

None of the above..

Get a dogmatic

What is a dogmatic?

What`s wrong with training a dog to walk properly, Louise?

Sometimes it isn't so easy to train a really determined dog to stop pulling, no matter what you try.

We use the Gentle Leader with Storm and I can't see an awful lot of difference between that and the Dogmatic really?

Storm doesn't like wearing the GL, but we have tried everything to stop him pulling and it is the only thing that has worked. He walks tonnes better with it on and we are beginning to resign ourselves to the fact that he may always have to wear it, whenever we are walking along main roads.

Thanx for your advice ClaireandDaisy, have just tried your method on the walk with a small degree of success, obviously needs more practice. I was only heading in the Halti/Gentle Leader etc., direction because I have just finished reading John Fisher's book "Why Does my Dog...?" and he recommends the Col-leash, which I have found by research, is no longer in production, but the company I approached suggested the other head harnesses. I have severe arthritis in my neck/shoulders area and Tia's constant pulling is a big problem to me.

Whatever product you buy (and remember that different products will suit different dogs/owners - I personally am a fan of Dogmatics as well, but I can only speak for the leather ones), remember that it's a training aid, rather than a quick fix.
I think they're fab in cases like yours where health conditions may eventually cause walks to become shorter or even stop because it's a case of walk and be in pain, or stay home to prevent the pain, or rest the pain caused by the last walk. Putting a headcollar on (remember to introduce the dog to it carefully though, using positive reinforcement) for those essential walks to the park/around the block will give yourself, and the dog (important in breaking the habit) a break.
However, don't think that you just pop a headcollar on and you're done. Training, with an effective method, needs to be done with the idea that you wean off the headcollar (unless you need it for extra control - in your case I would be tempted to aim to walk the dog with a comfortable headcollar on a double ended lead with the other end attached to a collar/harness - using the collar/harness end mostly but having the headcollar there if you need extra control without injurying yourself)
I personally recommend the 300 peck method a lot as it's one I've used on a stubborn dog and it worked very well. If your computer can read PDFs then there's a good explanation here, if not then try google or let me know and I'll copy a description I posted up on someone else's thread a while ago
http://www.druidalegsd.karoo.net/300_peck.pdf

A dogmatic is similar to those mentioned but just seems to work and fit better than those mentioned

Bruce my Labrador pulls like mad on the lead. I bought him a gentle leader but he hated it. Worst bit is trying to get it on him. I have just looked at the Dogmatic website and see they are £28.50! My husband will go mad if I buy one! In his opinion it's my fault Bruce pulls as I am not strict enough with him etc etc!
I would be very interested to hear what you get and how you get on!