Product Review - Hali Dog Headcollar

Nowadays Zorra walks very well to heel and does not pull, I can even let my mother who is not as keen on dogs take her for a walk and not worry about her being dragged around the block sled-dog-style by my overexcited retriever. This was not always the case. Zorra went through a period of lunging/pulling/general maddness when out on a walk. I tried various methods to stop this; circling, pulling back at her and yelling, sharp tugs, and finally the Halti. I never used a choke collar/chain because I don't think dogs learn from these, but if they have worked for someone I wouldn't judge them for it.

So we got our Halti, I was very excited and Zorra was slightly concerned. I put it on her and it looked exactly like the photo; I was pleased that it fit and expected it to work brilliantly. The photo looked something like this:

Taken from http://4pawspetsitting.com/collars-vs-harnesses/

In fact, Zorra looked so like the above photo that she even mimicked the flat back ears and worried expression. 

We started to walk and Zorra immediately tried to swipe the Halti off with her paw. If we stopped for more than two seconds she would successfully get it off and it became obvious why the Halti has a safety strap to give you some semblance of control once your dog has successfully removed it. 

As long as we were moving forward Zorra would not get it off, and although she would constantly toss her head and prance with her paws in the air it has to be said that she was not pulling. I'm not sure how effective this was because whenever we did not have the Halti I continued to pull her back sharply or turn in circles. 

I think the most important thing to do when a dog is pulling is ANYTHING! Too many people let their dog lean on the collar and pull the human along. I hate to see this. It almost causes me physical pain to watch because this is something that is so easy to fix, yet many dog owners just accept it and resign themselves to having a dog that pulls. The longer this goes on the more ingrained it is in the dog's behavior. 

Overall I would recommend the Halti. Zorra definitely was not in pain, even though she did find it a bit annoying. I've seen many dogs with them walking calmly and it is certainly better than nothing. One of the most important things a dog needs to learn is to walk calmly next to a person. This is important for safety (being in control of your dog) and because when a dog leans on you it is RUDE! If you dog pulls, please do something about it! 

Begging Dogs

If you have ever owned or even known a dog you are probably familiar with the "sad puppy eyes." These are deviously effective at making any human in possession of food feel guilty and sometimes they are so effective they cause said human to relinquish their food to the dog. This form of begging is seen often in pubs, where a human's delicious burger is placed right at nose level for many dogs.

This behavior might be cute, but it can lead to whining which upsets other customers and may get you and your dog kicked out. At the very least it may put you off your food which defeats the whole point of going to the pub or restaurant in the first place!

The best way to deal with this is to completely ignore your dog while they are begging. It's much easier said than done! I have been known to slip a french fry or 12 to my dog under the table, but ONLY when she is minding her own business, and this is still not advisable for dogs that beg badly (it's probably not advisable for my dog either, but she has me well trained)
. Definitely don't give your dog any food if they make any noise.

You can also try practicing at home, have your dog at your feet while you eat your dinner and completely ignore any noise make while you are eating. For some dogs bringing a bone with you to the pub might help, that way they have something tasty to munch on while you have your food.

I would love to hear any suggestions, please comment if you have any tips or tricks for stopping dogs from begging!

Not Everybody Likes Dogs - Stop your dog from jumping on the wrong people

It may seem strange for Dogs Allowed to be blogging about people who don't like dogs, but in many ways they are as, if not more, important to think about when you are taking your dog out in public. My crazy, lovely, adorable Flatcoat loves people and has learned which people love her. It's amazing to watch how she reacts to different people.

Gordon's Wine Bar last night proved the perfect example. We were standing at a barrel at Gordon's with our wine and Zorra was on a lead but was standing in the path between the rows of tables. Most people Zorra looked at and wagged her tail, but did nothing more when they simply walked passed. Others stopped and said hello, and she wriggled and licked them and generally got happy and excited. Nothing, however, could compare to her reaction to a man who actively wanted her to jump on him. I've seen this happen several times, Zorra gets excited because someone is giving her attention, and it escalates until she has her paws on the person's shoulders licking their face and ears. It usually happens because the person ASKS her to jump on them!

For many people, this is not the reaction they want from a dog. As a dog owner you have to be very aware of how people are responding to your dog's presence. Particularly with young, excitable dogs it is important to keep them under control whenever a new person comes to say hello.

1) Before taking your dog to a public place try to wear them out by taking them for a run or other exercise.

2) If your dog is particularly hyperactive keep treats to distract them when small children are around. Kids and dogs can be great together, but you can also put someone off dogs for life by scaring them when they are a child. Introduce your dog to children when they are puppies, if possible, so that they stay calm when they see them later in life.

3) YOU take responsibility for your dog. If your dog is too young or inexperienced to gauge people's reactions then you have to do it for them. If someone seems hesitant, then hold your dog back.

4) FIRST teach a dog NEVER to jump up, then when they are older and they can understand when someone is asking them to jump up they can be allowed to do so. Some dogs should never be allowed to do this, it all depends on the individual. I am blessed with a particularly socially-aware dog who can tell the difference, but not all dogs can.

5) Teach your dog to sit before they are allowed to say hello to someone, this will help your dog learn to control themselves.

The more crowded the place the better behaved your dog has to be. As dog owners we act as dog ambassadors every time we take our dog in public, please take steps to make sure you make a good impression! Also see our tips on getting your dog to behave in public.

Dogs on the London Underground

I've seen loads of dogs on the London Underground. Some seem to be enjoying the experience much more than others! I've chatted with dog owners of all different types and come up with some basic tips for taking your dog on the tube.

1) Try to travel when it's not crowded

2) If you dog is little, pick him/her up. At best they'll be scared, at worse they'll get stepped on!

3) DO NOT let your dog on the tube if they are not house trained UNLESS you intend to carry them the entire time. Accidents are a great way to get dogs banned on the underground.

4) Check when the underground stops operating if you are traveling at night, it usually shuts at 12 and opens again at 5 but this can vary.

5) Use the luggage gate... I went through the normal gates and Zorra got whacked in the bum. She was  not impressed.

Taking your dog on the underground is a great and cheap way to travel around London, but as always you MUST make sure your dog is socialized and friendly before taking them in public.

Zorra on the Tube after drinks at Gordon's Wine Bar

Pub Etiquette for Dogs

10 useful tips for taking your dog to a pub or restaurant:

1) If possible, take your dog for a short trip to the pub or coffee shop when they are puppies. Sit outside with a cup of coffee and just let them get used to strangers saying hello and being tied up. Make the first few trips short so your dog doesn't get bored and misbehave.

2) Bring a rawhide bone with you to give your dog under the table so that he/she doesn't get bored.

3) Start off with quiet places than gradually work up to busier places when your dog gets used to being out in public.

4) If possible go with a quiet, well behaved dog who is used to pubs and restaurants. Your novice pub-going dog will benefit from watching a more seasoned pub veteran.

5) Take your dog for a long walk first! Go to the pub when your dog is tired so they just sleep while you eat.

6) Take a doggie blanket with you, your dog will appreciate somewhere to lie down and they are more likely to settle if they have somewhere to curl up. Most pubs and restaurants have hard floors which dogs, especially thin breeds like whippets, don't like to lie on.

7) Before you take your dog to the pub be sure to socialize them. Take them for walks in town so they can meet lots of people and be used to being pet by strangers and children.

8) Make sure your dog is comfortable with being tied up and having you walk away. If you need to go to the bathroom you don't want your dog howling the entire time you are away! Practice this at home, it's important training anyway. We will cover how to do this properly in a later post.

9) Socialize with other dogs first, you will probably meet some when you are out and you need to make sure that your dog isn't dog-aggressive before you take them in public. We will also cover this in detail in another post.

10) ALWAYS carry poop bags! This is the least glamorous part of owning a dog, but it is so important! Not only is it gross and unhygienic to leave dog poo behind, it's against the law in most places. Take more bags than you think you could ever possibly need, and if you see a fellow dog owner caught short please give them one! Watching someone else scramble to pick up poo with newspapers and grocery bags while you have dog poo bags in your pocket is not very kind - you never know when that will be you!


Follow these steps and enjoy! Watch this space for more tips on dog training and socialization.

Zorra at the Tunnel House