Smushed-faces aside, some dogs just really hate wearing a head harness and never get acclimated to it. i've asked your opinions on the shock collar and now i'd like to ask about the gentle leader collar. Just because you had the experience of your dog having a high tolerance for pain and got injured from the prong collar doesn't mean all dogs will do the same thing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get your dog to like the Gentle Leader. The fit is OK. My biggest issue with this collar is … But first, let’s go over the pros and cons of the Gentle Leader to see if it’s even worth the effort. This benefit may seem a little odd, but if you’ve ever been around a shy or nervous dog, this will make complete sense. This will help prevent your dog from jumping on others and keep them from wandering around. Hate. Adjust the headcollar to your dog's size. During this time, your dog should figure out how to walk so that the Gentle Leader won’t spin them around. Why Does My Dog Eat Plastic? Luckily, there are training tools, such as the Gentle Leader, that will reduce the number of times your dog tries pulling. Pixie is reactive. Most will agree that a Gentle Leader is a fantastic tool that prevents dogs from pulling on walks. To fix this, you need them to have a positive association with the Gentle Leader. Kept it only because it isn't worth the trouble and expense to return it. Guess what happened? It is designed to calm an aggressive and/or anxious animal. It's not the gentle leader. I must also say that I think Gentle Leaders and Haltis STINK! It took a couple of weeks for him to get use to it, now he knows he can not pull and I have the control not him. The control ring is the metal ring that is located at the end of the strap extending out from the neck strap and nose loop. I am so thrilled with the gentle leader. She'll rub her face on the ground when we're outside and the second I take it off inside she runs to the carpet and rubs her snout on it and runs her paws all over her face. Your dog most likely hates the Gentle Leader because they are not used to it or because it doesn’t fit properly. Let’s look at the pros and cons of a Gentle Leader below. Tried that. It now resides at the foot of our bed and dissuades him from sneaking up during the night. If your dog lunges or doesn’t stop pulling, they’ll find themselves turned towards you. If your dog is wearing the Gentle Leader, it only puts light pressure on the back of the dog’s neck and guides your dog’s nose towards the handler if they pull. But after reading some posts and how the gentle lead can do damage to the dogs neck I purchased a prong collar and have had great success with it. Once you get the proper fit, you need to get your dog to associate the Gentle Leader with something positive. There are a couple of design differences.. Give them treats or affection every time they wear it. Reward him for wearing it. This tool is intended to keep dogs in control while teaching them to follow their owners during walks. I thought that the extra padding on the snout piece would be great but on my short snout boxer it sticks up too much and obscures his vision so he hates it. The dogs exchanged sniffing etc and we went on our way. The Gentle Leader® is a non-punishing headcollar designed to humanely assist in training and managing your dog’s behavior, but can also be used as an all-purpose collar. The second you put the GL over their snout, the light goes out of their eyes, their head hangs down, and the joy of going for a walk is g.o.n.e. Of course a dog isnt going to like something around its nose it DOES take some effort and training on your part to get the dog to walk properly. The fast, effective and humane way to eliminate barking, lunging, leash pulling, begging and jumping from your dog's repertoire. I hate them, but I might give that a try and see. It’s a behavior that is (hopefully) taught by their owner. The Gentle Leader headcollar fits securely over your dog's nose. Many dogs scratch or paw at their Gentle Leader, and some might even refuse to wear it because they associate it with a loss of freedom on walks. I hate this dog. While it may take some patience to put the Gentle Leader on, it’ll be better in the long run since they won’t have their head aggressively jerked back every time they pull. The humane society says not to use prong … The Gentle Leader keeps the dog from pulling, which means it does what it promises to do. How Do I Know if My Dog is Sad & Depressed? We have yet to see a single study showing them to be unsafe. Sunny did not respond to the first tug but did to the second. Start with short walks. If you do not have a leash, buy one while buying a gentle leader. Most dogs don’t like the Gentle Leader at first because they aren’t used to it. A few days ago we ran into a loose dog who charged us but then came to a screeching halt when we just stood there. The front should be right above the Adam’s apple. I found that he has accepted it quite nicely after the first couple of days and most of all there is no pulling. Dogs have been seriously injured by a gentle leader. Aim to fit one finger between the strap and the neck. Features: Rather than being two loops joined at one place and a safety strap, the Snoot Loop has two points of connection between the loops.The muzzle loop connects to the neck collar at … 5.0 out of 5 stars Quality. The Gentle Leader is a nose loop designed for dogs who pull. You can control quite a large dog on an EW. A friend recommended gentle leader and I'm so glad she did. Helpful. It doesn’t teach your dog anything. I cannot buy a harness big enough for my dog. As a result, they may run away from you whenever you bring it out. There are many benefits to a Gentle Leader. While the Halti and the Gentle Leader have almost the exact same design, the Snoot Loop is a bit more unique. For starters, make sure it fits properly. The best way to get your dog to like the Gentle Leader is to get them to associate it with positive things, such as treats or affection. My dog hates this thing. Agree that fitting it may help. I purchased it because my dog would pull alot while walking. He now properly walks with me as we used the prong collar as a training tool and now we are able to walk properly with a regular collar. When dogs are shy or nervous, they don’t like to be touched, especially around their face and neck. As soon as we get back in the door at home the collar comes off. In other words, there should be slack in the leash. See my article “How to Teach a Dog the “Out” Command.” Leave it: This command is very useful with mouthing and chewing. Sally had a halti that worked great--until she figured out how to set herself up to pull through it. Most dogs like walks, so once your dog accepts the Gentle Lead, start going for short walks. Using a gentle leader kept my dog from dragging me towards people and I got him back under control easier. Nice days are showing up more frequently, and I have to be careful when I decide to take my dog out for a walk. It will stop your dog from pulling while on walks. You may find it advisable to use a Gentle Leader in order to painlessly and effectively remove the dog’s natural tendency to pull, lunge, jump or bark excessively. Additionally, you should consider teaching your dog to sit every time you stop. It’s worth mentioning that many dogs have an aversion to anything that goes around their neck. I needed to use one for awhile to get control over a very wild dog, but had to very gradually desensitize her to it, and it was never good for her morale. Verified Purchase. - To do this, fit the neck strap and alter the size so that it is a snug but not too tight. I know a lot of people don't like prong collars but if used properly they are very effective. iMy dog hates the over the nose gentle-leader but tolerates the “gentle-leader harness” that goes around his torso. The prong collar worked for us better than the GL from our experience. - Now slide the nose loop over the dog's … It is worn around the nose and jaw of the dog to provide gentle leash without hurting them. Sunny is nine and 75 lbs and it was vital for me that there be absolutely no pulling. Contact. They’ll learn that walking by your side equals a reward. But when I used the e-collar (mild shock) he stopped lunging at people and would lay at my feet while I had a conversation. When introducing the Gentle Leader to your dog for the first time, put it on during mealtime or while giving them a treat. My dog was the same way. From the dog's end of the leash its violent and degrading. Regular collars or leads can choke your dog when they pull on the leash. My pup was like a different dog to walk - so easy, no pulling at all, and so well behaved. Every time the dog pulls, the Gentle Leader directs their head towards you. The GL is really effective, but that effectiveness comes, IMO, at a cost. If your dog pulls, the Gentle Leader’s design forces the dog to turn sideways instead of continuing forward. Use treats and praise to create a positive association. Start taking them out for walks on the leash and bring treats with you. Try the Easy Walk harness...it's made by the same folks that make the GL. - Remove the neck strap by opening the clip. sheprano - i was properly trained on the use of a GL and with Boomer on occasion when we were out for walks he would run ahead till he got to the end of the leash and would get jerked back. Reduces excessive leash pulling and other unwanted behaviors like barking, lunging, and jumping Perfect for training dogs to heel I do have a choke collar though. Eventually, they’ll start viewing the Gentle Leader as a positive thing. Once they make this connection, they’ll continue walking by your side without the Gentle Leader. I just don't know how to get her over it. Just to clarify- properly used, the prong does cause pain, but usually does not cause tracheal damage. How To Know If Your Dog Loves You [16 Signs That Prove Their Love]. The OP lastly replied saying her dog hates the harness, but knowing where his head is helps her PTSD, so he "needs to get used to it." I hate walking my dog. Sunny knows his commands but for me the most difficult part is when we run into other dogs on the walk. That is to say, they may become profilers, says Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic veterinarian Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM. As long as it won’t slip off the snout, you’re fine. If you feel like your dog hates the gentle leader, don’t give up on it! As previously mentioned, dogs will find anything on their head or neck uncomfortable at first because they aren’t used to wearing it. Near the end of this article, we will go into more detail on the steps mentioned above. a lot of dogs act really depressed in GLs no matter how "used" to them they are. Your dog will eventually associate the Gentle Leader with something positive rather than viewing it as something they don’t like or trust. His heeling went to hell and he pretty much refused to work. NONE of these collars are meant as easy solution to laziness. All dogs react differently. Your dog most likely hates the Gentle Leader because they are not used to it or because it doesn’t fit properly. He was trained with a choker, then we got him the harness but he grew too big and we had to go back to the choker until I got the leader . The nose strap must be loose enough for your dog to open its mouth all the way. My dog done the same to begin with because he didn't like it. Do Dogs See in Color or Black and White? Does it actually work? When wearing a regular leash, the harsh jerk for them to stop can upset them. My son brought home a dog and then moved out without the dog. Is This Unhealthy? Bought to replace a Gentle Leader that went missing. My next dog will be trained with the gentle leader from the start. I recently started using the Gentle Leader becuase of my dog's tendency to pull on the leash and refusal to calm down when other dogs are around. Here are some especially good commands to help you respectfully establish leadership over your dog: Out: This means leave the room. The nose loop redirects his head towards you when he pulls forward, preventing pulling and giving you his full attention. Don’t put the leash on immediately. Once your dog has mastered short walks, the next step is to take long walks. At first, your pup will hate the Gentle Leader. Trouble and expense to return it an aggressive and/or anxious animal dogs on the leash at. 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