Corgi Forums

missfancypants25 · **Gentle Leaders -** 02-01-2008, 11:04 PM

Today I bought a Gentle Leader headcollar for Waeryn. I haven't really used it yet, but I have watched the video it came with and put it on her. She didn't like it much at first, but she's pretty used to it now. I was just wondering if anyone else uses one and if they liked it or not.

glencorgi · 02-02-2008, 09:07 AM

Why did you feel the need to use a Gentle Leader? Gentle Leaders, Haltis are training tools most effective with dogs with behavioral patterns of pulling and/or jumping. They are a means to getting one to walk nicely on a leash and then move on to walking nicely on a leash with just a collar. Waeryn is still a puppy that should learn leash training pretty quickly with just a buckle collar.

Debbie

Vannette · 02-02-2008, 11:50 AM

I've used the Gentle Leader and was it nice. I don't use it anymore but, it was night and day. Just be sure and get it on correctly. Mine didn't like it at first and then Katie refused to go for a walk if she had to wear it. I have 2 dogs and was using a coupler and Cody was pulling more and was pulling Katie and she didn't like it. So Cody wore the GL and Katie went without it. Now neither wear it and they both pull me down the road. LOL It happens when you take more than one at a time I guess. If I take just one they are fine.

Cheetah · 02-02-2008, 12:04 PM

I've tried a Halti, but it just never worked the way I wanted it to. I've given up on training collars now, and just use flat buckle collars in training lol...

MattC · 02-02-2008, 08:33 PM

My wife and I use a martingdale colar for Nick. THe recommendation came from the good folks at gocorgi.com. We had problems with flat collars as Nick would occasionally slip out of them. WE never used a gentle leader. Nick is a real good walker and we never had any problems that would require a gentle leader...

missfancypants25 · 02-02-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glencorgi

Why did you feel the need to use a Gentle Leader? Gentle Leaders, Haltis are training tools most effective with dogs with behavioral patterns of pulling and/or jumping. They are a means to getting one to walk nicely on a leash and then move on to walking nicely on a leash with just a collar. Waeryn is still a puppy that should learn leash training pretty quickly with just a buckle collar.

Debbie

Waeryn does pull on the leash when we go for walks, but she does it really really bad in class when she wants to go visit the other puppies. We're practicing with it before our next class on Tuesday.

missfancypants25 · 02-02-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vannette

I've used the Gentle Leader and was it nice. I don't use it anymore but, it was night and day. Just be sure and get it on correctly. Mine didn't like it at first and then Katie refused to go for a walk if she had to wear it. I have 2 dogs and was using a coupler and Cody was pulling more and was pulling Katie and she didn't like it. So Cody wore the GL and Katie went without it. Now neither wear it and they both pull me down the road. LOL It happens when you take more than one at a time I guess. If I take just one they are fine.

The first time I put it on her she was able to get out of it, but I've adjusted it since then. She doesn't seem to mind it as much anymore, but she still does a little bit. I've been having her wear it in the house a little at a time so she can get used to it and she only seems to pay attention to it when she is bored and has nothing else to do.

glencorgi · 02-03-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missfancypants25

Waeryn does pull on the leash when we go for walks, but she does it really really bad in class when she wants to go visit the other puppies. We're practicing with it before our next class on Tuesday.

Hopefully your instructor will be one who does recognize it as a tool and eventually wean you off of it so she'll be walking nicely on a loose lead with a buckle collar.

Debbie

missfancypants25 · 02-03-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glencorgi

Hopefully your instructor will be one who does recognize it as a tool and eventually wean you off of it so she'll be walking nicely on a loose lead with a buckle collar.

Debbie

There are only two classes left, so I'll be the one weaning Waeryn off of it.

fogebotom · 02-03-2008, 11:58 AM

The biggest thing for pulling if using a halter type device is to never ever let the dog get ahead of you and then pull on it. Regardless of what it might say, it can never be used on a dog that would jerk it or pull into it. The correct use is to hold it firm, the dog has to stay beside you and you use an upward motion for the correction.

Even the service dog organizations that use it will tell you that they never use it on dogs unless they are first trained to walk on a loose lead and obey commands. Then they use it as an additional tool to help those using the dog for service needs.

As a trainer I see it as the most abused device around. For many because they want fast and easy ways to train rather then putting the time and effort into long term training, it seems the easy way out. Many dogs that we have seen in classes that have previously used the halters now have nerve damage in their necks and backs due to it's use. I have been able to show how correct focus, attention and reading your dog can work in all cases. Dogs don't fight that training style inlike the halter which the dog immediately has issues with. Wouldn't want my dog to dislike any type of training I use.

A dog is not the same as a horse-the neck structure is totally different. It does not work in the same way and most of the time you are making a correction when the dog least expects it and can not adjust itself to protect the sensitive muscles and nerves. Many people like to claim that like a horse, if you have control of the head you have control of the dog--two totally different creatures. Heck don't they have eyes in different places due to the prey vs hunter scheme?

I will be blunt about this as many try to be tactful. Karen Pryor and Suzanne Clothier-two of the best trainers and behavioralist around, do not promote it's use. I don't like them, see no use for them unless the dog has severe behavioral issues and it's used by a qualified trainer. In all my classes-it's never allowed. If we can't get it done with a flat buckle collar or a martingle/prong, then we look at why those don't work, not try some new trick.

Cheetah · 02-03-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fogebotom

As a trainer I see it as the most abused device around. For many because they want fast and easy ways to train rather then putting the time and effort into long term training, it seems the easy way out. Many dogs that we have seen in classes that have previously used the halters now have nerve damage in their necks and backs due to it's use.

I used to work at a pet store, and a guy came in asking for a size up on the Gentle Leader. I looked down at his lab, and this poor dog had the fur completely missing off its muzzle in the perfect shape of a gentle leader strap. It's like the dog was forced to wear it 24 hours a day. Either that or it was jerked around a lot. >X.x;<

MyPemCharlie · 02-04-2008, 08:54 AM

I used a Halti with my last dog and it did work like magic. He never had any adjustment period and quit pulling completely while wearing it. The down-side is that I never was able to wean him off it and it became a permanent crutch for our daily walks. If I tried to clip a leash to his regular collar, he pulled like crazy. As Cindy mentioned, if the dog goes running out and the GL jerks their neck around, it can cause a permanent neck injury.

I'm working with Charlie with a regular buckle collar, and it's going very slowly, but I want to be able to train him without the crutches. Plus I'm relatively sure that he would end up jerking and hurting his neck, unlike my last dog. I would try to wean Waeryn off the GL as soon as possible, so it doesn't become a permanent fixture in your dog gear.