anyone use gentle leader?

[Mac'sMom]

Hi all. Mac is starting puppy class next Sunday. We're very excited. We were told they liked using the gentle leader. Well, Mac is not so sure about that. I have to use treats to get it on him and that is getting better. I know it doesn't hurt him but we just aren't sure what we think about it. Does anyone use this type of training collar? How long did it take for your dog to get use to it?

Thanks in advance for the advise.

 

[StillandSilent]

I"ve used it on several dogs at the shelter. Some take to it quickly, some it takes a few weeks and some never get used to it. I have never used one on a puppy, however, just larger dogs that were difficult to control any other way. If I were starting with a puppy, I would probably stick with a regular collar.

 

[elegy]

i don't care for them much at all, especially for a puppy. i agree with stillandsilent- i'd stick with a regular buckle collar.

 

[dr2little]

I see no reason at all for a Papillon puppy to wear a head collar of any type.

I actually recommend a harness for such a small dog as they do tend to have rather tiny necks and since control isn't usually an issue, harnesses are just a bit safer and gentler for them.

If you do use a flat buckle collar, try to get one that's a little wider than usual (1" or wider) to help to distribute the force if he does happen to pull.

I'm sure you've already discovered how smart your little Papillon is, they're little brainiacks, with practice he will learn to walk nicely on a harness or (wide) flat buckle collar.

Do the classes require you to have a GL on him?

 

[Psyfalcon]

The front hook harnesses might be a better choice if your dog turns out to be a leash puller like mine (although mine is much larger ).

I finally had a major break through with a regular harness by clipping it on the front, pulling stopped immediately. Its a crude adaptation, and likely not ideal, but its definite proof in my mind that simple front hook harnesses do work.

 

[wehkah]

I work in a kennel and I see too many owners that have gentle leaders for their dogs and use them as regular attachments on their leashes. They don't realize that it's a training tool and not a permanent fixture. The dogs I see come in with them are usually bigger dogs mainly labs. I would never use one and especially on a smaller dog. I like the recommendation of the harness. I think you'll have better success and control with that.

 

[little liz]

Gentle leader? Is that a nose harness??

 

[oc_spirit]

Personally I dont like head halters at all. Far too easy for serious injury. I will only use them when dealing with a dog that has agression because then I can control the head and force them to break off a stare-down and stop the attack before it happens and reward.

Little Liz, this is a Gentle Leader

 

[casablanca1]

When I adopted Hen from a shelter, she was being trained using a GL, and I bought one from them to continue using with her. I think they were using it because she pulled like a freight train and at the time I think it was the big 'kinder' alternative to choke chains. I tried to use it but I could never get the hang of putting it on her, and the pulling just didn't bother me.

 

[Mac'sMom]

Thanks to all. Mac does pull ALOT with his normal collar. Although it is a thin collar which we decided on just because he is small. Trying a wider collar sounds like a good idea. We tried a harness and he just hates that even more than the gentle leader. His ears are so big it's really hard to take off of him without readjusting it every time. I personally prefer not to use anything but a regular collar, but since the trainer suggested it my husband thought we should give it a try. The trainer didn't say we HAD to use it just that they liked them and suggested we try one.

We went to the park this past weekend for the first time and he just loved it. Mac was 10 weeks old when we brought him home. He is now 19 weeks old. He now has all his vaccinations and we are just having a blast with him. We never had a dog before, only cats. We love him soooooo much we don't know why we didn't get a dog sooner. We are already thinking about getting him a buddy sometime in the future. We have our own business so Mac comes to work with us every day.

Thanks again for all of your advice and suggestions.

 

[otch1]

Hi Macs' mom... hope you see this. What a cutie, he is a beautiful pup. Just wanted to explain the issues of Gentle Leaders on toy breeds and a few others, (Boxers, Pugs, Bostons, ect.) You'll find the closer the nose band is to the eye and tear duct, the more the dog fusses to relieve the pressure. Ideally the pressure is on the bridge of the nose, when the dog pulls. (As is the case with a Halti) With a GL you have to get the nose band all the way up to the "stop", in order to clip securely. (The portion of nose that graduates from forehead down.) For some dogs this is a gradual slope. Goldens, labs, GSDs'. For others it is a very short or abrupt drop, leaving the nose band sitting just below the tear duct in order to stay on without allowing the dog to paw it off. Toys and shorter muzzled dogs are very sensitive to this pressure. There's just not that much muzzle/nose for that band to sit on. Reccommend using a wider martingale style collar ( or wide buckle collar as dr2 stated) if you think your dog might slip his collar. Your pup's lucky to go to work with you daily! Can't wait to see more pictures.

 

[RD]

Why not look at the sighthound collars made for italian greyhounds? They'd be great for walks. I've always wanted a mini coursing collar for my Papillon.