Fears Walking after using Gentle Leader

[Anne G.]

We were having a lot of problems with our puppy Murphy pulling on the leash and our trainer recommended the gentle leader. It works very well but like many dogs she hates it being put on, but once we're walking she does great and seems to have a good time on the walk. The problem is that when she senses that time when we may take her for a walk she avoids us and runs away if we approach her. We stopped using the GL for awhile but she's now conditioned to react that way even if we just bring out the leash. I feel really bad because it is as if she hates to walk now and we really want her to love walking like most dogs do. I'm not sure how to break this association so that walking will be something she looks forward to doing. Any suggestions? Thank you!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are 2 different kinds of Gentle Leader harness; one is a head harness and the other goes around the body and does not have anything on the head. My trainer recommended the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness to stop pulling, and we've had great success with it.

Gentle Leader EZ Walk harness:

Gentle Leader Head harness: 

I'm assuming you're using the head harness?

[Anne G.]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, we're using the head harness. We tried using a Halti which looks a lot like the Easy Walk harness in this picture. Unfortunately that did not work well with Murph but maybe GL version is different?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Does the Halti have a Martingale-type slide attachment at the front where the leash attaches?

[Anne G.]

We took it back but I don't think it did. So far everyone that has replied has recommended the Easy Walk so I think we will try it! Thanks for your input! Hopefully she will eventually love the walk!

[Camilla and Darwin]

We also use the harness and it's worked amazingly for us. Darwin hated the head halter, and has absolutely no problem with the harness. I also find that with the head halter some people thing it's a muzzle device, and assume your dog is mean. I know, crazy but it's true.

[Anne G.]

I know! I always feel the need to explain that it is not a muzzle even when people don't say anything. I wonder if people are wondering why we are putting a muzzle on such a sweet faced puppy! :-)

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I went through this with my dog and finally switched to a Gentle Leader Harness (Easy Walk?) instead.  It took awhile for my dog to like walking again but it was less stressful than the head thing and it works pretty well.

[Judy Wheeler]

Our puppy, Sammi, does the same thing.  I have to give her treats to get it on, but after it's on, she's o.k.  I feel that's just the way it has to be.  She weighs 40 lbs + and I can't handle her any other way.  While we're walking, she may rub her face in the grass a couple times, but other than that, she walks really well.  I've talked to several people who say their dogs re acted the same way, but without the gentle leader, there would be no walk.  Good luck!

[Adina P]

Can you leash her up (just normal collar) around the house while you are there to supervise..and let her drag the leash around?  Just to get her used to the leash being totally unrelated to the harness.  She'll hate it at first, but then will grow used to it I imagine.  I don't think she hates to walk as much as hates the harness and the leash is a reminder of that harness.

[Anne G.]

Makes sense. Thanks for the tip! BTW your bored puppy discussion was just featured on The Best of Doodle Digest and I just read it and was laughing so much! Murphy acts like that and her favorite move is to stare at us and tap us with her paw, like an annoying person who pokes your arm with his index finger to get your attention. :-)

[Kyoko]

I am a big fan of GL. Charlie used to avoid it, too. I called her to sit to get GL on so we can go for a walk, and if she hide, move away, etc... I waited for a minute or so, and called her to sit agin. Eventually, she got it. And if she came and sat to have GL put on, click and treat. We no longer used it because she walks beautifully on the leash with regular collar now. This transition took place recently, so I say we used ot for about 2 years....

[Anne G.]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Right now she won't come at all if she thinks the GL is involved. It is trying our patience. We ordered the GL easy walk based on some advice above and we will try that too. Thanks!