hiya!

what would you say is the better of the two? Gentle Leaders or Dogmatics? I'm looking at getting them for my two labs.

thanks,

nic

I have used the gentle leaders and found them great but have just changed over to a gentle controller headcollar as I got fed up with the fiddly clips on the gentle leader.  Especially a pain in the winter when you have gloves on.  The gentle controller is much quicker and easier to put on and his walking on the lead is just as good as it was with the gentle leader. 

I bought a Dogalter headcollar for my Yankee but the noseband was too tight and was not adjustable, so I bought the original Halti headcollar which has a 'slip' type of noseband so if he doesn't pull it is completely loose on his nose, and he doesn't mind that nearly as much. Still not too keen, but I suppose when you try something new on a 3 year old he's bound to take a while to stop pawing at it and shaking his head!

I've used alsorts and find the gentle leader the best for mine, i guess its down to personal prefrence.

The dog matic was the best one we found but it is expensive but it doesnt go over their eyes or make them scrunch up.

Dogmatic every time!  Last a lifetime and don't ride up into the dogs eyes.

Sarah.

what you want is a "gen-con" gentle controller! totally brilliant.i dont really like the GL or halti,not tryed the dogmatic,but that looks nice (but expensive investment if the dog dosent take to it)
michelle

The nose on a Yankee is a bit of a problem, the Halti only just fits without poking him in the eye. Does anyone know of a halter or anything for mad pulling Cavaliers? Their noses are much too short for the normal headcollar. My friend said something about a harness that pulled under their arms if they pulled at it, but she didn't get round to showing me it.

I've used dogmatics and still do to an extent(if a cat jumps in the pathway) they are exceptionally good value considering they are leather (i do believe they have a nylon proto-type available soon but you'd have to email them about that it is a cheaper version).

We have used various 'headcollar' types and the best i have found was the dogmatic but i have very strong dogs so i guess it depends on the breed and how long you're planning on using it.

For smaller dogs i'd go for a harness everytime.

thanks everybody. I was swaying to dogmatics because they look a lot kinder, and less fiddley than GL's. My two don't walk on a set sides (luckily they do choose one side and stick to it rather than weave across the path), so the clippy thing on the GL would be a pain in the bum!

nicola

If you go for the dogmatic it is a bit stiff at first being new leather so make sure you soften it before use. I used Ko-Cho-Line, apply all over and place in a plastic bag for twenty four hours. I found I have more control with this, I had been using a Halti previously but my strong GSD needed something more.

My dogs do have harnesses, but I haven't found anti-pulling harnesses yet, they are just harnesses that allow them to pull without damaging their necks!

The leather on one of the side pieces has worn through on my freinds one (currently beign held together with cable ties), and when new they rubbed the coat on the muzzle off, so we had to sew some sheepskin over it.  She asked for a paffed noseband when ordering the new one and it came without, so looks like another pair of gloves need to be sacrificed.

Brainless is that with a dogmatic?

The chin strap i found was a lovely chew toy when one of my dogs i 'thought' was asleep on the grass beside us!
I phoned dogmatic to ask for a repair only to be told they don't do repairs! i had to buy another one! as they just design and sell them the maker is actually someone else.
Suffice to say i found a saddler that would repair anything leather for a couple of quid. :)
(If you need the address he is exceptionally good)

Ues but it is one of the side straps the one attaching the neck part to the noseband with the hoop thingy.

Hi Mygirl,

When I bought mine (a few years ago now though) they said they had a life time guarantee and would repair for free anything that was caused by a fault - although obviously if chewed by the dog that wasn't covered (shouldn't make them so tasty then :rolleyes: )

Having said that, the nylon loop on mine where the lead ring hangs was too long (went in dog's mouth if lagging behind) so I phoned and they said they'd adjust it (for free) or, as I wanted, change it for a leather piece at a small extra charge.  Because of the delay in posting there and back etc I took it to a local cobbler with a soft leather lead I didn't use and he altered FOC.  By having someone else do the work I knew it  negated the original guarantee.

Regards, Teri 

Oh how strange, i called them it was only in July this year just after an agility show were he chewed the blasted strap and they said no they now have a seperate company that makes the dogmatics.

I have emailed them twice on the nylon proto-type and they have declined to get back to me as i rather like the idea of them.

I still bought another tho as it made me realise i needed a spare as back-up.
The new type are all leather and i much prefered the old style as the nylon chin strap i found was alot more flexible as our dogs seem to get their jowls(have large hanging jowls) pinched in the rings as the leather isn't as free as the nylon.