Balking at Gentle Leader

[Judy Wheeler]

We purchased a Gentle Leader head collar last week and have used it for 3-4 days on our 6 month old Sammi.  She started off a little leary, but for the past two days, we have taken her to Lowe's and also to a public festival at a local park.  She was an angel.  My husband held the leash.  The last two times that I've tried to walk her in the neighborhood, she has taken a few steps and just planted her feet firmly and would not move.  I've tried, praise, treats, to no avail.  I can't just pull her.  Wonder what's up? 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I don't know any dog that likes the gentle leader after the first couple of tries. My daughters dog use to rub her face on the ground to get it off. She now uses the NO pull Harness (clips in the front). To me it just seems like it would feel foreign.

[Joe R.]

Can't speak for the head collar one, but use the one that clips at the chest on our two. We've never had any problems. Maybe you could try that one.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Coco uses the gentle leader and has been using it for a while. She rubs at it every time she wears it and tries to get it off, but she is good as gold on it!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Make sure that you got it on correctly and that something isn't twisted or some hair isn't caught in the snap.  I've had that happen a couple times.    We have used the Gentle Leader since our girls were about 5 months old.  They don't love it, but are good as gold with it on.  Many people like the halter style better, but it didn't work for us.  We returned them to Petsmart, twice.  My goal is to get to a regular collar before Sophie has to go for the renewal with Delta Society and that's next April.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My dog is seven and still does not like the gentle leader.  When we use it on him he doesn't balk though.  I would just keep walking and your dog will have to come along so perhaps my opinion is wrong.  My opinion is that you are the boss and while she may not walk well, it is not her choice whether to go or not.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with this, Nancy.  Murph still wears a Gentle Leader in highly distracted situations.  He doesn't fight it anymore, but he sure did at first.  I just kept right on walking....even when he was having outright temper tantrums. He finally figured out that he was only hurting himself, and just gave up.  Now it actually seems to be a calming influence for him now.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I just switched Coco to the harness style of the gentle leader. She seems to like it better and is not rubbing her face on the ground! I hope it works!!

[Charlene and Buster Dudley]

I've found that people either love or feel uncomfortable with the gentle leader head collar.  I am a lover of the device!!!!!!!!!!  But I am a bit of a tough cookie so I don't worry so much about if my training methods are ok with Buster.  He is 6 months old and I've been using the gentle leader for about 2 months and I have no plans the use a different collar anytime soon.  Try to think of it this way (this is the conclusion I came up with) the collar itself does not hurt that dog. It's just something odd/new.  Can't a dog getting used to a new collar be compared to all other methods of desensitization training??  The key is making sure the collar is on properly and we're off!!  Buster doesn't run or refuse his leash but he does still rub his nose and plop down but when that door opens he's ready to go.

[Kate C Pappas]

I just learned a tip from Yindi's private trainer about introducing a Gentle Leader/Halti and it makes sense. I used one on Yarra years ago, and just put it on and she bucked like a bronco.

I was told to fill my hand with the BEST treats ever....slip the nose portion over her nose gently WHILE she's scarfing down the treats....then remove the Halti. Do this a couple times a day until it seems like no big deal and lessen treats.

Next step is to fasten the portion around her head gently and fill her beak with treats, remove Halti and do this step until she's comfortable.

Then add a lightweight leash and let it dangle and feed treats. See what her reaction is. Continue with this introduction until the normal leash can be added.

Dogs don't like things around their beaks in general and this approach makes sense to me.

Right now I'm still using the Easy Walker, second one as Yindi ate the first one and partially chewed through the new one but I was able to sew it back together.

All in all, introducing a head device is like breaking a horse to a halter or bridle.

 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

This sounds like what I did with Murphy, and it worked, but then he figured out that we would have to use it to go outside to walk with it and that's when the drama began. He hated it up until he finally walked well beside me and I took it off a few months later. And I am like Charlene, I can be a tough cookie when it comes to training and having my dogs do what I need them to do. I have been hurt from tripping over him because he walked wherever he chose, and it's NOT going to happen again if I can help it.  Bella on the other hand came to me at 10 weeks walking on a leash like she had been doing it at a dog show her whole life.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

We were told to make B wear the gentle leader for about 2 weeks inside the house, increasing the time of keeping it on each day.  Well I went to the store to buy this collar in desperation as we were going to Canada day celebrations and needed her to behave, so I decided to take the risk and just try it out full force first time.  I have to say it is amazing! She immediately did not even try to pull... I did put it on once a little too loose tho and the muzzle too tight and she threw a fit! So make sure its attached firmly, they say the one that goes on the top of the ears needs to be so tight you cant fit a finger under it. That is more or less what we do, and it works! Keep working at it!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I tried Hunter's Gentle Leader no less than 10 times and she would walk two feet and then flop around in the road. Over and over and over. Now I am just saving my money for rotator cuff surgery and pitched the Gentle Leader and hope we don't cross any squirrels on our walks. I may try the style Daisy mentioned since there are no sled dog teams nearby to let Hunter try out for.