Comfort Trainer Testimonial

I am a long time user of Halti's. Actually I have used a Halti for Luca and a Gentle Leader for Moon, the difference primarily has been on the way the fit, and the dogs individual comfort with the pieces of equipment. I have painful neuropathy in both of my hands, and any sudden pressure to my hands is extremely painful. I have chosen, therefore to keep the head halters as permanent equipment, even though the majority of the time, especially with Moon, I do not need it. Luca's impulsivity is a constant fact of life, so I cannot be without that added measure of control.

Recently, I decided to branch out a bit, and try another type of head halter, since I have never felt fully satisfied by either the Gentle leader nor the Halti. And since I regularly recommend head halters to clients, I thought I should find one that I truly like, and whole heartedly endorse.

Researching options on the internet, I came across the Comfort Trainer. After a conversation with Miriam Fields-Babineau, the designer, she agreed to send me one collar to try at wholesale cost, if I would agree to recommend it to others if I liked it. So, here I am with a report.

When it arrived I was immediately impressed by how small and light it seemed, despite the fact that it was intended for my large faced, German Shepherd. It fit him perfectly! I was a little disconcerted by the rather home-made appearance, a snagged thread here, an unclipped one there, and the color choices were not ones I would have made. Being a picky sort, I took those small matters as a real consideration - the item has a significant price tag of $28 retail. I decided to see what it would take to make a similar item myself. I harvested parts of a couple of old gentle leaders, and an ancient puppy size nylon slip collar, to come up with the same hardware on a Comfort Trainer, and sat down at my sewing machine.

About 4 hours later, I emerged with a respectable colorful replica of the Comfort Trainer, and the determination that Miriam earns every penny of the $28 she charges for the design and effort she has put into the Comfort Trainer Head Halter. Luca loves it! He rarely rubs at his face, as he did habitually even in the Halti which he had worn for nearly 4 years.

It is hard to describe exactly why the Comfort trainer is so much more comfortable, but when you see it on the dog it is fairly clear. The collar was designed with short muzzled dogs like chows and boxers in mind, which Luca certainly is not, but it works well for him as well. The multiple rings that connect the straps make it fit and work more like a horse's halter than do the other dog halters.

I highly recommend the Comfort Trainer.

Barbara Handelman, M.Ed, CDBC
IADBC Education Committee Member
www.DogTrainingAtHome.com