Gentle Leader - THANK YOU!!!!!!

Oh my gosh............ can I just tell you what a life saver this board has been with it's most recent post about the "Gentle Leader"......... I read that string and went out and purchased a "Gentle Leader" (with a frown I might add at the $25 price at PetsMart) - - - - but after only 2 walks with Dexter and this "miracle tool" - - I would pay $50 for the next one.

I cannot tell you what a difference it has made in our evening walks... previously Dexter would either try to strangle himself, break his neck or dislocate my shoulder on our walks. I put this head harness on him Friday and can honestly say was amazed at how pleasant our walk was. I cannot explain how it worked but by dang it did work.

On Sunday when we got ready to go out Dexter was not nearly as cooperating in getting the harness on.... but once it was on - he was an calmer dog.

If it hadn't been for this board and the post I would have never consider this option and want to say thanks for helping me enjoy our sheepie ever more!!!!!!

You guys ROCK!!!!!!

Respond to this topic here on forum.oes.org

I am so glad it is working for you too.
We have been on a few walks now with it and it is wonderful to be able to enjoy it.
Kids are the hardest thing for Mojo to resist. Yesterday there wera a lot of kids out. He still "tried" to go full force but was so easy to stop. And my arm is still in one piece!!!
I am really hoping to use it as a training tool and then switch back to a collar just because the harness is a little tricky getting on, especially to snap without catching fur in it.

I am definately getting one when the puppy arrives. You all are the best Consumer Report!

well now that you mention the kids maybe I spoke too soon........Dexter always has trouble with cars going by that need to be "herded" and of course we haven't encountered any of those yet......

and yes - trying to snap the collar w/o fur is IMPOSSIBLE......... but it doesn't seem to bother him.

I just got the Halti last week for Rags.
It's basically the same as the Gentle Leader a little bit cheaper in price... I also bought mine at Petsmart.
She fought it at first but after like a million treats who wouldn't like it?
She was wonderful on our walk.
My arms don't hurt at all.

She did want it off as soon as we got home though.

I'm so glad the Gentle Leader has worked out so well for both of you! Also, glad to know it works with a puppy as I'd like to start ours out with it too. You won't want to go back to a collar ever again. As the dog gets used it, it will be too hard to walk without it. Annie actually helps to put is in my sticking her nose through the opening. Cracks me up!

Now I am pissed :evil:

I paid 18.00

What size Gentle Leader would you get for a 10wk old sheepie puppy?
Would you get a small then upgrade to a large when he is older?

I'm glad it worked out for you!

For the dogs it does work on, it is usually immediate and amazing results. For more obstinate dogs, they will fight it and buck like a horse. LOL
I would recommend making sure you go to a pet supply store to make sure it is properly fitted. Even if you buy one online, take it in with you to where someone experienced can make sure it is fitted properly so that it is comfortable and safe for the dog and so that you get the best benefit out of it.

Proper fit is critical for the Gentle Leader.
They are sized by weight. If you are fitting a puppy you may go through several sizes.

I should have checked Amazon too. I think I paid a little over $20 at Petsmart!!! Mine came with a CD to show how to fit it and proper use. I don't know if the ones on Amazon do.

Just got one yesterday and put it on our 8 month 75lb German Shepherd Dog (Deuce Lee) while we were at Petsmart, before we left Petsmart he was walking like he should. I have never been able to take him for a walk by myself with out the help of my husband, but I walked him twice up and down our street and I was in total control.
THANK YOU for this product it is a life saver!!!!
We paid $21.99 and it is worth triple that.
Happy Mommy in Independence, Mo.

i could never walk my boys without one

Agreed!

I think it was Vance that told me to get one for our Nola who is insane when it comes to bikes/rollerbladers/skaters etc. She has pulled me over multiple times, barked outrageously, lunged, etc etc etc. It got to the point where I couldn't walk her any more without feeling anxious! It just wasn't fun!

ANYWHO, I bought one last week and it's amazing! She still lunges but is a lot easier to calm down, control, and the best part is is that I'm alive and in one, CALM, piece when it's over. :phew:

I'm a big GL/halti NOT fan. They do no training, they just give physical control - basically by making the dog unable to move without hurting themselves. Please, train your dogs!!
This is all just bad behavior, and totally trainable to get through. You want to train where you and your dog are a team - not a situation that involves you using a devise that makes physical control it's only virtue...
Using a GL just makes the dog physically incapable of moving...it does not in anyway work on stopping the behavior. Without it on, they still have the bad behavior. It's a cop out!

gentle leaders do not hurt the dog. I was struggling with Moe trying to chase cars and bikes while walking.Used gentle leader..along with commands..for two months. Moe now has been walking for six months on regular collar..in fact we are now beginning off leash training. These are great tools to use as a part of a training program.

idagin wrote:

Sadly - most people who use a GL don't also train...they are just satisfied to let the device control the dog.
As an orthopedic nurse, the fact that if you do something - like trip on the sidewalk and jerk the dog's nose and head - you can cause cervical damage to your dog, through no fault of the dog.

I cringe seeing people biking, etc with them on. Or the truly energetic dog, who still reacts and pulls.... the atlas/axis vertebrae are easily damaged by a sharp pull.
The GL's/haltis also ride on the bridge of the muzzle, pressing on pressure points. Sensitive dogs are driven batty with this - it's like electric jolts to them. That's why some dogs just can't stand to have it there and paw/claw at their nose to get it off. These points are used in acupuncture/accupressure, so deadening these over time can be an issues as well (granted, most won't need it, but it's there).
A way better choice if you want control and don't want to bother to actually train your dog is to use the harnesses with a ring in front of the chest. This does effectively stop the dog, but is on a much safer location of the dog's body.

I went from gentle leader to harness to collar..to working on off leash. I believe that you have to use the tools along with training. I agree with a very energetic dog..the to..can harm.I cringe at all of the people at the park that use prong collars..It usually is the case that the owners need training as well as the dogs. A lot of people do not take the time to train..but for a responsible pet owner the gentle leader works well.

got sheep wrote:

idagin wrote:

Moe now has been walking for six months on regular collar..in fact we are now beginning off leash training. These are great tools to use as a part of a training program.

Sadly - most people who use a GL don't also train...they are just satisfied to let the device control the dog.
A way better choice if you want control and don't want to bother to actually train your dog is to use the harnesses with a ring in front of the chest. This does effectively stop the dog, but is on a much safer location of the dog's body.

Dawn, I think this is the first time I have to disagree with you. I tried a pinch colar with Nola first (this is what we use on Sam and we wanted to be consistant) She was fine until we realized that Nola was afraid of bikes. Her fear issues with bikes has made her absolutely uncontrollable on walks. If she sees one she turns into Satan Dog! She lunges, barks like she's rabid, and has pulled me over on numerous occassions and was hurting because the colar was choking her. We have tried numerous training techniques and all have failed at all of them. She responds about 2% of the time. Finally I had enough and bought the suggested harness. This made me feel better because at least she wasn't choking but it also made her stronger and therefore, when said bikes would come along I went boom. SO, with that having tried and failed I bought the GL. In the 1 week that we've had it Nola has improved significantly!!! She still lunges on occassion but usually only when the bike is right on top of us. She's easier to control and I can get her attention easier. She doesn't pull and responds to us a LOT better! We are still using our training techniques and I would say that this is NOT a long term solution. My goal is to use this until she's ok with bikes and then go back to something she's more comfortable with, but in the meantime, this has been a serious lifesaver!

Ikes, what a rant! :oops:

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