Gentle leader for dogs

[CrispyQ]

http://www.sitstay.com/store/equip/gentleleader.shtml


Does anyone have experience with these types of collars? Booyah pulls on leash terribly but my husband is resistant to trying these collars. When we brought Booyah home from the Humane Society, they had given us a regualr collar & as luck would have it, he squirmed out of it in our front yard with traffic whizzing by. Fortunately, even though he didn't know us, he came to me when I sat on the front porch step. To me it looks like it could slip off almost as easily as the other collar did.

I'd love any feedback.

[Critters2]

1. Strangely, the vegan beagle prefers a head halter to a neck collar

I know dogs who resist these, but the beagle accepts it well. Otoh, she absolutely hates having her leash attached to a neck collar. She wears a neck collar to carry her tags, but the minute I attach her leash to it, she completely freaks out!

I use a "Halti", rather than a Gentle Leader, because the GL seems to put pressure under the eyes that looks uncomfortable. The Halti is looser on the face and back of the neck. Also the Halti has a short cord under the chin that attaches to the neck collar D-ring. So, if the Halti comes off somehow, the Halti, and therefore the leash, are still attached, so the dog isn't loose to run away. The Gentle Leader does this weird thing where, if it slips off the dog's face, it just becomes a neck collar, with the leash attached. So, again, the dog can't wriggle out of it and be free to run.

Our first obedience class required the GL, so that's prolly why the beagle is so comfortable with a head halter. If I thought it were causing her pain, we wouldn't use it. Again, that's why I use a Halti rather than Gentle Leader. If she really resisted the Halti, we'd look for another option (she's really spoiled--what she wants, she gets!). But, she sits right down and waits for me to put it on her.

So, that's my experience. Hope it helps.

[flvegan]

2. Depends what you want it for.

The Genle Leader type of head collar is excellent for control and training, but it's not as convenient as it otherwise might be for full-time service. Again, it's an excellent training tool.

If it's safety and control you want, try a full harness (cross chest and under belly). We SWEAR by them. With the bigger and stronger dogs, it allows for a safer control for them if they pull a bit. No choking or jerking involved. A harness is also VERY helpful in multi-dog situations. The part that crosses the back makes a great handle with which to grab if a scuffle ensues. That handle, I'll have you know is situated much like a shield would be, so there's little chance of getting bitten by either dog.

[mzteris]

3. Except -

if it's a BIG dog and you're not (Well YOU are! But some of us aren't! :) ) - then a Gentle Leader can work much better than the harness.

My big dog literally pulled me OUT of my shoes and I went flying through the air soon after we got him. I cracked my checkbone. I was lucky I landed on the edge of the grass instead of the road/curb. I was afraid to walk him for a long time.

He doesn't pull anymore, but I needed the Gentle leader for a while to get him used to the idea.

[Critters2]

4. WE have ice on the ground now, and I wouldn't consider walking the beagle

on ice with a neck collar. I'm not that good a skater!

[CrispyQ]

5. Thanks for your responses.

I'll check out the Halti.

I think a harness sounds good. I like the idea that I can grab it for control, but not choke.

[peacebuzzard]

6. I have had lukewarm success with the gentle leader.

My bassetts were very upset about the leader over their most important claim to fame: their nose.

So it was short lived

I had one enormous Great Dane years ago who loved it. Of course, he liked anything or reason to go for a walk.

But my current pack pooches voted it down. When we go for our limited walks and rides it is the traditional chain and leash.

I tried the gentle leader on all of them, but they all balked. (They have minimal current exposure to the world since they are inside a huge fenced in area and have home access, and sadly, I have limited current time for training.)