I have read before on this forum that a gentle leader is a good thing to buy for a dog that is pulling quite a bit still?  Misty (GR) who is just 2 is still insisting on pulling and I thought that maybe I should give this a try?  Would anyone recommend one and if so where could I get one from (I dont have any petshops near me so I would be buying online without seeing one in action so would like to know whether it could help or not first).  I have tried a harness which seems to help a little but I know that its not necessarily the best thing for her front legs.

Kerri x

They are the headcollars I have used when needed -none of mine no longer need them as they stopped pulling after using hem for a while. You can find them on various places on the net but I found they have their own website as well: http://www.gentleleader.co.uk/

Hi Kerri

I used a canny collar for Harley - use it when out and about after dark and fireworks may be going off as they send him into a blind panic following an  incident where we lost him all night due to a firework.

The canny collar is available on line and works particularly well for Harley. Unlike other headcollars the lead is attached at the back of the neck like a normal collar so they can't put their paws over the lead in an attempt to take it off. You can also leave the collar on when they are off lead as you can clip the two ends together round the neck ( you buy an extra attachment for this but we just put a spare clip on it and it works fine). It is really easy to put the loop over the nose and you can just slip the loop off when not needed and continue to use the collar as normal.

If you google the canny collar co you will find a link to the firm who makes them and there are videos on there to show how they work. :)

Thanks Marianne, that response was quick!  Just another quick question, having looked online there is a difference in the description of which size to get.  One site said medium (also suitable for labs etc) as the large was for Newfies and the like, yet another site said get large??  (also stating large for Labs etc)??

I was going to get a medium but now I am not so sure??

ETA sorry Liz, didnt see your reply.  Will have a look at the canny one as well.  x

Those I have can be adjusted really easily to fit almost any dog. Mine are medium and have been used on Goldens and Malinois both -Malis have much finer heads but the medium size seems to fit them all. :)

Hi
i have been using my gentle leader on my 2 year old for about 6 months
its been absolutely great & wouldn't go out without it
now he's so much better will hope to wean him off it
one thing i have found although it doesn't bother him with it on and when his walking
he does try to take it off whilst sitting in a queue (at the post office!)

Well, I decided on a gentle leader in the end and it arrived yesterday.  I ordered the medium and have to be honest and say that the neck part is ok but the nose strap could have done with being a little larger as I cannot adjust it any further but it does seem to fit ok.  Put it on Misty yesterday and yes she did try and take it off.  I took her for a walk up and down the road outside the house and she kept trying to paw at it but eventually with a few little treats she calmed down (and after praise every 2 seconds) by the end of the walk she was beside me and it was great!!! 

Although like you helen0362 everytime I stopped or Misty to have a sniff she would then try and paw but overall it was a brilliant success.  Went out again today twice with it on (only short 15/20 min walks) and initially she pulled but settled down after a few minutes again which is a great improvement to what she used to to.  (hubby took her out earlier for a longer walk across the fields etc)

Kerri

Hi Kerri

How old is Misty?

my obidience trainer's veiws on the gentle leader are ok as long as they fit snug or they can rub or cut ito your dogs face!
although the instruction pack states "will not rub or cut into your dogs face".

When i started using the gentle leader, i found Harvey didn't mind it on (treats were on hand in case) and being like other dogs that like to chase the traffic, i said "leave it" and a gentle pull away worked every time!

On a normal lead it would be a shout, a scream, some tugs, and a near miss of broken fingers & a dislocated arm/shoulder (for anyone else thats also been there that knows what their dogs full strength is like - with the gentle leader i have never ever got to feel my dogs full strength!)

On walking down the busy High Road , Harvey walks at a perfect heel, people look and oftern comment what a lovely behaved dog.

For anyone else reading this that has a Border Collie- those comments have made it all worthwhile!

Kerri - keep it up- its well worth it!

Helen

sorry Kerri

just read your 1st post he's 2!

Helen

In Response to kerrib

The medium will be fine for a Golden.

Had a great time over the park just now

a woman (in her 60's) came in with her 20 month Collie cross pulling like mad and wrapped her round a tree!

had my gentle leader in my pocket and within a minute it was on her dog and she couldn't believe the difference, all it took was a share of my knowledge after having similar experiences

The best thing was seeing her relaxed and able to cope as we both walked alltogether round the park & my 2 year Border Collie was off lead

She told me that she watches dog programmes on the geograpical channel which were quite upsetting (not heard of that one)- i told her i watched Ceasar Milan (dog whisperer) Thanx Ceasar you have taught me !

Helen

Hi,

I used a Gentle Leader for my bitch when training as recommended by my breeder friend. I actually phoned the manufacturers up to check on her size and they were very helpful. So if in doubt call them, they are a font of experience and knowledge.

Can I just say that for anyone using it for the first time, if your dog is not used to anything going around it's face, IE, you are normally using a conventional collar and lead and not one of the many devices that go around the muzzle - please give them time to get used to it. The Gentle Leader is not unescapable and if, when put on the dog that resents having it on, the dog can easily pull out of it in any situation. I put it on my girl for 10 minutes a day for the first week so that she could get used to it, obviously I gave treats randomly and behaved as if nothing was different. I started off by taking her for short walks, 10 minutes max and then extended from there.

Obviously if your dog accepts it or is used to it then no problem :)

Hi

Cant agree with you more!

i was lucky my dog didnt mind having it fitted when first used at 18 months old!

However when he stopped or sat he decided to try and pull it off (but i was quicker than him and kept moving on)

also re read the instructions a few times for extra hints and tips and with perservervance & treats it all paid off

Helen

> The Gentle Leader is not unescapable and if, when put on the dog that resents having it on, the dog can easily pull out of it in any situation

This applies to most head collars and they should really ideally be used with a half check collar or check chain (clipping the lead to both).  Using the chains means that you don't interfere with the slack you need for the head collar.

The halti link is the same principle giving a loose link between collar and head collar.

I have a lead that has a clip at each end and put one end on the leader and the other on Mistys half check collar (just in case she does ever decide to escape!).  I havent been walking far with it on at the moment, literally just round the block which is a 15 min walk roughly.  I then take the leader off and continue with a longer walk (and because its attached to her collar I dont have to worry about her escaping during the changeover!!) 

Misty is doing great on it.  Went with OH to pick up little boy from preschool yesterday (litterally 5 min walk away) and took Misty for the first time.  She continued to paw at it for the first couple of mins but treats and praise helped and I then waited outside with Misty while hubby went in and Misty sat brilliantly.  She didnt try to paw at it once and this was a good 3 or 4 minute sit. On the way back she walked beside me the whole way and even when we got to the front door, she sat waiting patiently for me to take it off before she went in.

A good investment I think!!

Kerri xx

Sounds like it to me too :D

Well Done!

Keep up the great work

Helen

I have used a Gentle Leader on my dogs for some time and swear by them. However, I do find that if they wear it for some time then it can mark the coat, flattening the hair and even wearing it. What I have done (and I've seen other do it to) is cover the nose band with velvet. I managed to buy some velvet ribbon the correct width and that made it much simpler because the edges didn't fray but I should imagine any velvet would do.

I have found that the best way of using the Gentle Leader on my little JRT is to attach a leads to both the leader and the collar.  This really maximises the effectiveness of the Gentle Leader as he feels completely controlled by me.  It even seems to make him a little more respectful of me and he doesn't even try to pull as much.  He also seems calmer and happier - perhaps he feels more secure and they say that dogs like that feeling. 

I have to say that I'm a bit of a Millan fan.  I have been trying a lot of his ideas and my dogs have changed.  They are much calmer, happier and more relaxed.  I am not being unkind to them (as some people seem to think that this is what his methods are) but just more strong and assertive and like most intelligent animals (including people) they are showing more respect and behaving better.  The Gentle Leader also helps with this too.

Hi
When my dog was 10 months old - the obidience trainer recommended me to buy a check chain as he pulled sooooooooooooo much!
after 2 weeks and still pulling mad i noticed he also had a bald neck ! was then recommended a half check - much less hair came out not only from pulling but also rubbing But the main thing he wasn't calming down and still pulled like mad!
Using the Gentle Leader i found an absolute Godsend and i found it not only help me to control the pulling in a much gentlier way but it also calms him
I dont have a problem with the gentle Leader rubbing or marking but thanks for the velvet tip should i need it!

Helen