Lol I knew I would get so much flack for saying I use a gentle leader! We tried the front harness but doesn't work well for him. The gentle leader is a miracle and there's really nothing wrong with it. It still allows the dog to smell things and have full use of his mouth, but it calms him down. I often like to have a nice stroll around the neighbourhood, while listening to music, and the gentle leader is perfect for that. He's good on a leash, but does get excited when he sees other people and other dogs. Plus, a gentle leader lets me pull him away from something easier if he spends like 10 minutes on one spot. Plus it's MUCH safer than just a collar at times. If he's very excited (he's 8 months old so is very excitable) and wants to get somewhere fast, he will pull to the point where his collar chokes him. The gentle leader doesn't allow for that. To each their own, but I LOVE it!
It’s really not perfect for your dog. If you commit to giving your dog your full attention while you’re out with him, you will be able to teach him to walk nicely without pulling on a harness or collar. Then have another time for listening to your music when your dog isn’t with you. The gentle leader is not gentle - it works because the pressure it applies is uncomfortable. I’m sure you think your dog is worth more than that.
You could teach your pup a "lets go" or "move on" or whatever cue you choose to move him on using high value treats instead of pulling him away with a "gentle" leader which I am sure he doesn't find gentle, it will hurt his face These devices are not a permanent answer, only committed training is.
I mean obviously we all have opinions on this, and if you choose not to use it then great. But it works for us and we like it. He lives a very good life with us and the gentle leader is not mean or distressing. If anything, it's a bit annoying. But it's fine, plus we don't use it all the time. And we will continue to use it and that's okay.
Tried it once my dog lay on the floor and refused to move. I suspect it does hurt just some dogs are more tolerant to discomfort than others. When my dog told me she didn't like it I listened and we tried something else.
I’d be interested to know how / why you think it works. This isn’t meant as a sarcastic comment, I really do want to know what you believe happens to make the gentle leader stop your dog pulling. For example I think that when he pulls, the headcollar tightens in an uncomfortable way, so that he stops pulling in order to stop feeling the discomfort. How do you think it works?
What bothers me here is that you have a young 8month old labrador, so lunging and pulling are fairly typical behaviours in an adolescent dog, and to be expected. Steps to encourage calmness around other dogs coupled with training a nice loose lead are the kindest way forward, otherwise, there is a risk of developing genuinely challenging behaviours due to lack of impulse control. We see it every day. I have a terribly reactive dog, I so wish I had Casper as a young pup, and then could have avoided so many of the behaviour issues we have today. The fallout from a reactive episode is truly heartbreaking. Having a dog in today's busy and crowded society is tough, and expectations are high around behaviours. So we need to work that bit harder at helping our dogs feel comfortable. It takes time and patience.lots of it..but I guess you know that already. I am saddened that in order to walk our dogs today, we have to resort to using all sort of aversive contraptions, and then work hard to justify our choices. Yes, it is absolutely our choice what we use, so, therefore, don't we owe to our dogs to make the best and kindest choice for them as possible.
You did say your dog is "not a big fan of it". This would be enough for me. Coco used to wear a leather figure-of-8 head collar when he was in rescue. They said he HAD to wear it when we took him out of kennels for a walk. He hated it. It rubbed his face. That's what they do. The first thing we'd do was to take it off. Since we adopted him, I have spent a long time training loose lead walking on a well-fitting harness (back fastening). No pain or discomfort for him. I put up with it (when he lunges). I can't walk Coco on a flat collar - I know he will pull/lunge at some point.
I was at the Highclere Country show today and to say I was upset is an understatement by the amount of slip rope leads used on puppies, also very young dogs on "gentle" leaders. I have never seen such miserable dogs, being dragged by their owners, pawing at their faces, rolling on the ground, rubbing against their owners legs in an attempt to get them off. Try putting one round your face and see how you like it, I am guessing you wouldn't choose it and that's the difference, dogs can't choose they just have to put up with it because you say so and it makes life easier for you but as you say that's your choice. I put thousands of hours into training rather than take such a miserabe shortcut. Like Sue @edzbird I use a well fitted, comfortable back fastening harness (the same brand as Coco's) on Charlie my rescue dog because he can be reactive, he is a big strong boy and I don't want to damage his neck or myself.
There are pressure points on the back of their heads. The gentle leader relaxes them so they walk nicely beside you and are less likely to get overly excited when they see another pup, rabbit, squirrel, cat, person etc. Also, you're able to pull them away from something easily because it directs their entire head away from the object, not because it causes pain.
Six years ago I was attacked by a woman who was clearly on drugs, most likely crystal meth. No idea why she attacked me - I was walking on the pavement in broad daylight and she was completely out of it. She grabbed me by my ponytail and yanked my head around. I was unable to fight back because she had absolute control of my head. I was terrified and tried to punch* her but because she could yank my head wherever she wanted, I was completely disoriented. Much like a head halter works, I guess. Luckily she let go after what seemed like forever - probably just 30 seconds. I challenge anyone who thinks a head halter is kind to have someone yank them by the head and see how they like it. *For the record, I do not condone violence.
Oh my gosh @MF what a terrifying story. I'm glad that you were ok. Did the police find the woman? It's confusing to read about someone trying to justify a head collar on an 8 month old. Most 8 month olds are challenging on the lead, you've just got to train through it. And as you can read on this forum, even well-trained loose lead walkers can have their moments when they're excited - we all know the Labrador Lunge! A head collar should really be a last resort. I know a lot of people have this romantic idea of going for a nice stroll and the dog walking along nicely beside them...yeah, that takes training, it doesn't happen overnight. Just give the training a go, you owe it to your dog to be comfortable.
They are more likely to hurt themselves though because of the force of the head collar turning their necks though.itd a bit like whiplash injuries. It's physics the force goes somewhere the energy does not disappear. I don't think the collar works on pressure points either it's a bit of a red herring
I didn’t report it. I guess I should’ve. Thankfully nothing physical happened to me. But it was a shock to realize how controlled I was by someone hanging onto my ponytail, and how strong an attacker can be, even a woman. I always thought I could fight off anyone! Unfortunately I did not relate what happened to me to the head halter Snowie had to wear at training. I was as controlled by the dog school and convinced by them that the head halter was the only way. I’m sorry it took me 1.5 years to see the light. Meanwhile poor Snowie suffered and we never mastered the loose lead walk since it wasn’t properly explained or trained to us at dog school because the head halter kept the dog at your side.
How right you are. In order to win the ongoing battle on the poo eating I have no option but to train, train and train some more on walks.
I remember Heidrun explaining to me ages ago how if I don't do stuff on a walk with my girl then she is going to self-reward by eating poop, chasing deer, rolling in stuff Tec. So getting her to do stuff is so important to keep focus. A bit of retrieving, some obedience, find the sausage, stop and recalls, all that kind of stuff. Walks should be active not passive. Heidrun has spaniels she knows her onions.
If you feel you need to use it, then the Gencon seems to be the best, it is an all in one and it never rides up into the eyes.
One thing I find extremely frustrating is people getting a large breed dog then saying they need a gentle leader/choke chain etc because “the dog is too strong” or “too excitable”. Get a Yorkshire terrier then. My friend has a 14 stone Great Dane THAT is a strong dog. He’s never walked on anything other than a harness.
While I do agree to some extent, I have seen it from "the other side". Ella was 8-9 months old, I was 30-34 weeks pregnant (still lifting Ella in and out of the car to protect her joints ) and she pulled me over three times in a week and a half. In a harness with front attachment. I felt I had no other option than to put her in a (non-tightening) halter. At the time, it was life changing and allowed me to take Ella out without fear of injury to me or the unborn Nathan. I put an awful lot of work in over a few months (with a newborn) and was able to go back to the harness, and eventually onto a flat collar. While I would have loved to have skipped the halter stage, I felt it was the only option for us at the time.
My dog walks are for him, not me. I can listen to music and relax whilst mowing the lawn sipping a beer as I mow away. And most dogs don’t even need a walk. Yes they require exercise and that might be the only option for someone with no garden or a city dweller but no where is it written that dogs need walks. I prefer off lead training and games where he can have freedom, control and pleasure and not be forced to conform to my needs. If they get their needs met first then they are more likely to amble along the sidewalk with you. Only my thoughts though, I have nothing to back this up other than my own experiences with dogs I’ve participated in raising.
