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? 

[Jane Smith]

I had to laugh at "saving my money for rotator cuff surgery."  Since getting the girls and tolerating all their pulling, I have had 2 cortisone shots in each shoulder due to tendonitis.  I may have to try the prong collar soon.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I did not mind the gentle leader because I know it doesn't hurt her. I can hardly walk because every 10 steps she tried to rub it off and rubbed in the grass!! This has been going on since March!! I just want to walk and actually walk a good distance! We are going with the gentle walk and she seems to be better with it and I like that her legs cause her to stop! We will see how it goes tomorrow!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

dogs dont like it, but thats the whole point! If you are using it because your dog pulling, then i suggest using a harness such as the Easy Walk harness. if you are using it because you need greater control (prevent from eating poop, distractions etc) then I suggest you stick with the Gentle Leader. Just take it slowly as suggested previously

[Taylor & Huff]

He probably just hates it. You can try the no pull harness instead it is another gentle leader product.

[Arron (Shadow)]

Shadow initially did the same thing with the gentle leader.  She would stop dead and refuse to move, but what got us going was pulling the old Cesar Milan thing and outwaiting her.  Simply having constant pressure on the leash and standing there waiting for her to come.  At times it seemed really juvenile trying to out wait a stubborn dog but she eventually gave in and now walks wonderfully on her gentle leader.  It is still the only way we can comfortably walk her.  She will occasionally walk nicely with just her collar but if we are going anywhere where there is excitement (and for a dog that is just about ANYWHERE), we put her on her gentle leader and she is awesome.

[Judy Wheeler]

That's what I'm going to do.  I've taken her out in the yard several times to potty today and she does well when we go out to potty. A few times, she stops dead, but I've outwaited her and she comes around only to stop dead a few steps later.  It's almost as if it's a test of wills and that's scary.  The few times we've had her in conditions that would be termed "excitable" and she was on her GL, she walked just fine.  Took her to Lowe's and a festival in the park with lots of people. That was about the 3rd time we had her on the GL.  Then all of sudden, she starts just stopping.  I really, really, want this GL to work and I think it could.  How long did it take Shadow?

[Arron (Shadow)]

it took Shadow about a week to walk without any balking at all.  After a couple days she would balk half way through the walk but we kept consistent and now she handles it real well.

It is kind of funny when we go to put it on her as she doesn't really like it (she rubs her face in the grass after it's on) but she knows she gets to go for a walk if she puts it on - so she sits there with her head turned a little sideways and a little down.  Just to make it harder to put it on but she does not resist at all anymore and she is just over 8 months.

[Judy Wheeler]

She is still balking and stopping dead.  We've had the GL one week today.  When your dog just stopped and refused to go, what did you do?  This is weired, but when I just walk her around our property in the grass, she walks pretty well.  When we go out on the street or to a walking trail, she stops dead.  I have to make this work, because I can't handle her any other way.  At first when she stopped dead, I'd try to coax her with treats, and she'd walk a couple stops then stop, then I'd coax her with treats, and on and on.  Then it seemed like I was conditioning her to stop to get the treats.  Now I just stand and wait, but nothing much happens.  I'm pretty discouraged.  In excitable conditions, it's the only thing that keeps her from dragging me! 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Hmmm...they hate the GL don't they?  Peri runs around the house when i get hers out - we only use it for longer walks now to have more control and she hates hates hates it.  But she will walk.  I might try the other type that goes around the chest.....

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We tried this when Chloe was a lot younger and she just kept trying to get it off of her-DH took it back. She is pulling so much that I was deperate enough to order the GL walker (harness) and and the face GL too! The tweener size, small size and the medium size all do not fit Chloe, it's like she has a weird shape and we cannot get it tight enough in front? Haven't tried the face one yet but this is ridiculous, she's 4 WTD?

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I had the people at PetSmart put it on her and then we walked around the store before we bought it and left. When I tried to put one on her myself when my aunt bought one she wouldn't move in it. I think it worked because the trainer put it on her first.

[Judy Wheeler]

One week seemed to be the magic number.  She is now walking like a charm.  My husband took her out one evening and just walked and when she stopped, he kept on walking and she finally got the message.  I really do love the Gentle Leader head collar.  It has enabled me to now walk with her and take her out without fear of being pulled down or having my shoulder dislocated.  it really helps when approaching excitable situations.  I put her in a sit when another person or dog approaches, and she really is doing well.  I'm a believer!