Gentle Leader

[Erin]

Anybody's dog pull like a sled dog with this thing on? Hershey's gotten so much better, but some days, like today - she just puts her head down and pulls me down the street with her face!
Every time I stop, she stops and comes and sits by my side and looks at me. And then we take another couple steps and I have to stop again, and she comes, without prompting, and sits by my side... Am I doing it right? Any suggestions? The gentle leader fits her, and like I said, sometimes she's great! It's gotten to the point where we will soon have to replace the gentle leader due to wear and her pulling!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would like to clarify that the use of an Easy Walk harness (NOT a head harness) in no way interferes with training while walking, including heeling, sitting at stops, using a shortened leash, or anything else you would do with a collar and leash. You can certainly use the Easy Walk and still "make every walk a training walk". A prong collar or choke chain (training collar) uses force to get a dog to do what you want him to do. The dog is not just doing it of his own free will. Eventually, he learns to do it. The harness is the same, but causes less discomfort and works for those who prefer newer, more positive training methods than the old "jerk and praise" paradigm. I don't think anyone can say my way is right, your way is wrong, if the end result is a well-trained dog. Training collar or harness, they are both just tools designed to teach a behavior..in this case, moving forward without pulling.

[Adina P]

Yes you can use whatever tool you need to make 'every walk a training walk' - my only objection to just strapping on a tool (choke, prong, head halter, harness) is that if it is merely used as a crutch (without actual, on-purpose, focused training going on) it will always be a crutch and the dog won't actually be trained.

Not all 'older' methods or methods that use a choke or prong are mere "jerk and praise" -- there's a difference between a dog being constantly forced to do something without real understanding of what is going on and a dog choosing between two consequences to his actions based on practice in training where he KNOWS his options and how to prevent a correction as well as what 'right' is.

It's up to everyone to do what works for them. It's just my preference to train heel and walk in heel until they do it by default. This can be accomplished, apparently, in many ways. But putting on a harness or head halter alone isn't going to accomplish it on its own--active training still must occur.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Isn't it true that people use prong collars the same way, just put them on without doing any active training, as a method of controlling the dog? I see that all the time. Some of the worst-behaved, untrained dogs I know are being walked daily in my neighborhood with prong collars. Many of them in prong collars with retractable leashes attached! I am sure everyone here has seen that many times. So what's the difference? A tool is a tool, and either one can be used with training, until the dog does it by default, or not. The training collar by itself doesn't train the dog or accomplish anything on it's own, either.
I really feel strongly about this, perhaps because I may be the only one here who has successfully trained dogs using both methods, so I have experience with both methods.

[F, Calla & Luca]

A prong and retractable leash make no sense. On the other hand the prong does to some degree train the dog itself. when my dogs have them on they know it's uncomfortable when they pull so they don't. I see no harm in that.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Neither do I. And it's the same with the Easy Walk harness. ;-)

[Adina P]

As I said they are ALL tools and training doesn't happen by merely strapping on a tool. So no disagreement there.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Many trainers do recommend the Easy walk or Halti products. I am sure they evaluate what is best for that specific dog and the owner. Many trainers recommend the prong collar too. The goal is to be able to walk the dog. I don't think it matters as long as you both are having a nice time.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Nicely said. Have a Nice Walk

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I love the gentle leader head harness, although, we have spent over $100.00 in 9 months. In an instant he chews off the nose lead. < My fault for not removing the collar or keeping an eye on him in the car, Another downfall, the first one we purchased was $14.00 and they now sell for over $21.00 in our area in less than one year.

At times, I will reluctantly walk him on a pinch. The only reason to use the pinch is when I have another broken useless gentle leader. I am much more embarrassed to use a pinch on my dog. My trainer did show me the proper way to use the pinch but I prefer to keep trying to perfect the heal command so someday we can not use collar-type tools for a good walk. We have good moments and bad moments, but we both are trying. To be perfected in the next 10 years. :)

If inflatable Christmas Santas and Snowmen didn't spook him so much we would be having a better walk

The next purchase will be the gentle leader harness.

P.S. Try to fit the collar area of the gentle leader closer to the ears and high on the head. This helped us when we thought it was no longer working.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned's downfall is the inflated penguin in the igloo!!! Teehee.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This guy I keep complaining about has added 10 more inflatables. Spud is freaked. It's funny, but annoying also. I just hope he doesn't keep this up until next summer with his decorations.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Joanne ..... Try doing the "touch it" with Spud and the inflatables! It worked with Sophie and a backhoe ..... how much bigger can the inflatable be!

and BTW, does it seem like people are decorating early this year! I saw the first lights going up 2 weeks ago! We keep thinking that maybe the nice weather is the reason ... people are thinking I'll get these up before it turns cold! I'm not sure.