bought a 'gentle leader'

WOW what a difference

wish i had used it from a pup

although says "ideallyto begin using on puppies at 8-10 weeks
BUT
no dog is ever too old to benefit from wearing one"

my dog is a 2 year old Border Collie

does anyone else use this one?
Helen

I have used them in the past on one dog who would just pull and not listen, however a different dog with the gentle leader on.

however I would never use them on a puppy of 8 - 10 weeks. I find if you start early enough my breed will walk perfectly on a lead. Just takes a few minutes a day whilst first allowed out after injections oh and a piece of sausage.

I wouldn't use one personally, but I am pretty sure most puppy classes onyl allow plain, flat collars on puppies anyway.

I have used the equivalent a Halti. But used to (10 years ago) use it on Gemma a 6 month Rottie cross at the time. It ended up her neck muscles were so strong you couldnt move her neck at all, so it made no difference and she still used to pull like a steam train!!!!
So using it on a 8 week old pup would not be a good idea at all
But use it every so often on Ebba(3yo Rottie) (not so much as she does walk well on the lead, more when I am going somewhere that needs her under complete control) And it is great :)
Lea :)

I don't use the Gentle Leader type head collar for Jessie who I have only had for just over 8 weeks(she's nearly 17 months ol) I use a figure of eight collar that works like a T Touch calming band & cannot ride up like all the other head collars can. I don't usually use head collars as my dogs are taught to walk to heel off lead at home before I put a lead on them

Hi
Harvey's 'gentle leader' doesnt ride up at all

Harvey walks to heal perfectly at home and at tranning and agility
BUT i guess the excitement of all the noises of cars, busses, lorries (and the worst motorbikes) he will, one day, definately pull me over

i bet your thinking distraction !
yes distraction did, like many things i've tried - worked a couple of times
But trainers have said Harveys too intelligent to get caught out- so i try something else, when that no ,longer works i either try something else or go back to another method i've used before (MY WHAT HARD WORK HE IS! ) - but really worth it

Helen

Hi Helen, I use one for my GSD & it is a godsend! I wouldn't be without it, he is strong, he knows what heel means, but still tries it on. I was pulled over once & don't intend it happening again. My boy sounds exactly like yours. Fine at training etc. but is sometimes 'on a mission' when going out for walks around his home territory, completely deaf & intent on taking me out on a walk instead of the other way round. Thumbs up to the gentle leader.

Hi Jackson
why wouldn't you use one personally?
YES i also agree 8-10 weeks is far too young
thats why my dog at 2 years old with training and Perseverance STILL hasn't stopped pulling , although has gradually calmed down and nowhere near as mad - Still a problem (hopefully no more!)
Helen

I wouldn't use one personally because I think there are better ways of getting a dog, especially a puppy, to walk a loose lead.

i wouldnt use them on a pup, with their head still growing, I use head collers on my adult dogs as the pull hard! but they are collies & i dont mind really!

Hi Michelle

Thanks for letting me know

i bought the 'gentle leader' yesterday and have now used it 3 times
i saw a 1 year old collie with one (although wasnt the first time i have seen them)
when i asked the owner about it she said she would never be able to walk him without it - he is too strong and excitable without it
so it made me think what have i got to loose with my bc being 2 years old?

when i first put it on i followed the instructions with lots of praise and treats-it worked great

must have been really lucky-he didnt seem to mind it too much (previously had a cocker spaniel from a rescue centre and i was recommended a Halti- well what a different story- he laid down, refused to budge and kept trying to take it off-as hard as i was being persistant- no way he was gonna try it- 8 days later he was still at the first stage, so gave up)

i am thinking that i will use this to enhance all the walk to heel training i have and will continue to do with Harvey and eventually wont need to keep using this?
do u agree with this or Collies being Collies need this calming method for most of their life?

Helen

Have a look at my pics, Flynn my oldest dog works Championship obedience  & still walks with a Gencon, on his walks!!!!! I like them , collies like to be in front & doing,& i dont want to nag them all the time ot end up witth a choking dog or huge bisceps!!!!

Nellie dosaent pull she never has, Mav is ok on his own, but wears a dogmatic when out with the others.

Some people are really good at teaching dogs not to pull. Im not i find it very boring & hard work with the collies!!!I dont have a prob of using a headcollar for as long as they do pull, i guess they may calm down when they are 15 or so!!!!

Used it on a foster spaniel this time last year, he was 9/10 months (we think) and seemed to have had no lead training whatsoever - VERY strong on lead (he was a dinky springer, I couldn't hold him and I've held a grumpy great dane before!) and just wouldn't listen outside the house unless he was being fed a constant stream of cheese.  We never got beyond that point, every time I tried to have him walk further for his reward he reverted to pulling.

The GL didn't stop him totally but it made him manageable, I used it for about a month before he was rehomed and it did help - he still pulled a little when he went but he was much, much better.

what exactly is the gentle lead.  sometimes people try all methods and still cant get there dog to walk to heel, so if you find a method that works keep doing it. someome said they would not use one as they would prefer different methods, but when my springer was young i can honestly say we tryed everything with him, he knew what heel was as he dont it for my partner perfectly but everytime i took him out he just went nuts. it got to a point where i got that stressed i would not take him out anymore.

Here is a good picture for you. http://www.lamp-post.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CH9336

I like this one over some others as there is a black clip under the chin that allows you to make a snug fit under the chin so it doesn't pull around or ride up.  Also the webbing edges are soft, so less likely to make a mark in the face coat.