Comments on: Does the gentle leader really work? I have a dog whom I’ve done obedience with and have used training collars?

By: My Little Millie

My Little Millie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:03:59 +0000

The gentle leader really does work if the handler puts it on the dog correctly. This is the biggest problem I see when an owner attempts to use without proper instruction.

Depending on the dog, the leader can be very effective, but there are some dogs who simply refuse to accept wearing one. At that point, I will use the easy walker. I have found the easy walker to be incredibly effective for dogs who cannot wear a gentle leader because of their inability to tolerate the strap around their muzzle or if their muzzle is too short.

The decision to switch from a gentle leader to an easy walker may be considered taking a step back, especially if you have been conditioning your dog to the leader, but if you are not getting results, the easy walker may be "the next best thing".
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By: TritanBear

TritanBear — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:36:59 +0000

Yes, Yes, Yes they do. I trained my 110 lbs Lab to walk like a perfect gentlemen using the Gentle Leader while I was on crutches. I have always owned large dogs and over the years and many big dogs I have tried everything known to man. The other devices I was not really thrilled with and when I went on crutches I needed something that would work great and safely. I have always had horses and their halters work the same as the Gentle Leader principle and that works so I decided to try it out and was totally impressed.
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By: XXX

XXX — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:30:59 +0000

Don't bother with that gimmick sh!t. Vets are not dog trainers. Teach your dog how to walk on a leash. "Halti people" always have some gimmick to avoid just giving a few painful corrections to your dog to learn something. Put a prong collar on, wait for him to pull, give a verbal command of your choice (once established, don't change this meaning) stop dead, and yard sternly on the leash – when he demonstrates the desired behavior, give praise. If the dog keeps pulling, you need to pull harder. You may have to pull the dog off his feet a few times. But, the dog will learn. Haltis just conceal the problem. In my opinion, your dog doesn't respect you as a leader.
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Owning and training very hard, aggressive, dominate protection dogs (GSD).

By: zoeycat14

zoeycat14 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:53:59 +0000

So you go buy the gentle leader, you put it on your dog, and you adjust it to fit. As soon as your out the door, your dog starts bucking like a wild bronco! You can't walk anywhere like this! He/She is digging his/her heels in, refusing to go anywhere, while wildly shaking his/her head trying to get it off. So stubborn!
But you're more stubborn. You start walking, and just ride out his/her tantrum of not wanting this contraption on his/her head. Eventually after trying this every two hours for a week, you're walking! Not only are you walking, but you can hold the leash with your pinky!

If works. My dog is a sharpei, which has a lot of torque like a pit bull. She would see something move and take off after it like lightning, often leaving a large burn on your hand from the leash being pulled through it so fast. We put this on, she put up a fuss, and we were more stubborn. (Sharpeis can be really stubborn). Now, my 5 year old sister can walk her, although the dog weighs only a little less than she does.
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By: Ingrid H

Ingrid H — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:24:59 +0000

I've used a Halti, which is the same basic thing as a Gentle Leader, and it was somewhat effective, but the head collar didn't stop the pulling. It was a prong (pinch) collar that finally worked. If you do get a gentle leader or halti, read the instructions especially on the safety strap. I didn't know what the safety strap was at first and almost threw it out. If I hadn't learned how to use it, my dog would have been loose the time she shook out of the head collar. She would have crossed a busy road and attacked another dog, but the safety strap prevented a disaster.
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By: rescue member

rescue member — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:50:59 +0000

Works very well on most dogs, but I went to group obedience classes with my dogs, using the gentle leader, was very helpful to get them to mind without them chocking themselves.
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By: Boombee

Boombee — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:08:59 +0000

Totally WORTH the money!!!

I have had great success with gentle leaders, I have a 130 lb rescued wolf dog and a 115 lb rescued german shep. and I walk both of them with ease..it really is like walking horses lol, they see the gentle leaders come out and go sit by the door, wating with excited happy feet to go for the walk, they will even shove thier noses into the loop. As long as you make the experience a positive experience, your dog sould easily accept it. Good Luck!!

* I have both the gentle leader and the halti, i by far choose the gentle leader because you can make a correct fit for your dog with the gentle leader, while the halti seems too loose.
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By: mad monkey

mad monkey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:18:59 +0000

it works really well- its worth its weight in gold- wait.. did i seriously just say that?
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By: oregano13

oregano13 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:11:59 +0000

Yes, it does really work, and they aren't really very expensive. Some dogs do have difficulty adjusting to something around the nose, though. If that is the case with your dog, another effective tool is the 'Easy Walk Harness' which I think works well also and is a body harness with the leash attaching in front of the chest, so that the dog's body is turned to you when they pull.
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By: solarshiva18

solarshiva18 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:47:59 +0000

It all depends on the dog, for some it works for some it doesn't. I have tried it on both my dogs and will never use it again due to the reaction of my Shepherd mix. My Aussie first of all is a puller, has been all her life. I tried both the halti and the gentle leader with her and she still pulled, so hard that she was basically walking one eyed the whole walk as the skin under her eye on whichever side the leash was one, was being pulled up by the side of halit/gentle leader. If I accidentally pulled on the leash she'd yelp because she was constantly putting pressure on her nose. My Shepherd mix is leash aggressive towards other dogs. I tried the gentle leader at the advice of the behaviorist we went to and it made his reaction twice as bad. The first time he saw a dog with the gentle leader on he reared up on his hind legs like a horse and was vocalizing and pawing at his nose trying to get it off. I also had no control over him with that thing on, we had to stop walking until the other dog was past us. The gentle leader made his reaction to other dogs worse, he NEVER acted like that prior to having that thing on. I will never use one again. Some dogs are okay with it, other's aren't. I'd say try it and see. And you also have to work with the dog on walking nicely. You can't just put on the gentle leader and expect him to behave perfectly. The trainer I used for my Shepherd helped me get my Aussie to walk better. It's up to you in the end though.
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