I bought a Gencon-all-in-1 for my GSD about 4 months ago. I started off introducing it gently but he was still fighting it. After a while and following advice on CD I just put it on and walked him hoping that he would realise that it wasn't so bad when he was getting a walk at the end of it. However, here we are 4 months down the line and he still fights it every time I walk him. The problem is now that when I let him off the lead for a good run, he is fighting me when I try to put it back on - despite various treats being given as a reward. I wondered whether I should just keep going with it or accept the fact he won't get used to it and try a different head collar. I had looked at the dogmatic when I bought the gencon and it was a toss up between the two which one I went for. Can anyone advise if you can let the dog off lead without removing the whole headcollar on the dogmatic.

I tried a dogmatic but found it difficult to get the right size on my male GSD. Mine don't fight it tho, I tend to use halti's when I walk 3/4 at a time.

I personally wouldn't leave any headcollar on a dog when off lead. I am using Gencon headcollars (having tried most on the market!) and one of mine still is not impressed, so on recall I just clip the lead on her neck collar for a short while and then quietly slip the Gencon on. I do it this way as I was concerned about ruining her recall.

If you are using an all in one, maybe you could pop a slip lead in your pocket to use until you put the headcollar one on?

Best wishes.

Before I retired I was a professional trainer/behaviourist. 

I had a 'toolbag' of all sorts of headcollars, haltis, gentle leader, gencons, coleash, canny collars, and dogmatic.

I can honestly say that in 99.9% of cases the dogmatic was the most prefered by clients and the most readily accepted by the dogs.

I have one of these for my own personal use and by far prefer them to others I've tried.

As has already been said, I wouldn't leave a dog off lead at play with any type of headcollar on.#

Hiya
The gencon works on a positive>negative re-enforcement system. It is likely then when you first put the lead on and walked your dog he just found the whole thing really negative and wasn't given the opportunity to work out where the release of pressure came from. For most dogs you would get away with this approach as they do eventually work it out. For your dog unfortunately it sounds like he probably exhausted all his behaviour options in a short space of time and now only has his fight response left.

What to do? Well it may be that things have gone too far but its certainly worth trying to rectify the problem if the gencon otherwise works for you. I would start again. Just give the following steps a go:

> Place the head collar round his neck and leave loose and not over his nose while he has his dinner.
> Add the nose piece loosely at the next meal.
> Start with some gentle pressure and gauge the reaction, if he fights you just apply even upward pressure (DO NOT JERK OR YANK). Now this is the important bit... when you dog stops fighting or relaxes even for a moment then you must relax the lead and offer a treat.
>Keep repeating the exercise until you start to get longer gaps in the rest.
>Practice this in the garden and as he improves you can start to take a step forward but do not drag him, encourage him with a treat and repeat.
> It is important not to add external pressures until he is accepting the lead at home, adrenalin surges as a result of outdoor stimulation will not help you.

Remember the gencon is designed to make walking more pleasurable for dog and owner if this is not the case then you may have to think again. The dogs welfare is important and if he is getting too distressed then i would probably think about getting a behaviourist to help with the route of the problem.
I hope this helps