Anybody ever use a "Gentle Leader" leash for dogs?

[Papa Deuce]

My dog walks great on a leash, so why do I want one?

Well, my vet seems to think that by my dog wearing one, I may help put an end to some nasty developing traits in my Australian Shepperd. He has growled at my family a few times recently ( not me.... I am definitely his alpha dog ).

He seems to be "feeling his oats". And while he is a herding dog, he has never shown much in the way of being one. But now, at age 5, he has decided that it is fun to nip at any kids playing in my backyard. I can't let him play with kids like that.

So, I know that is his instinct and we probably can't change that. But the vet thinks we can convert his desire to be alpha dog to everybody besides me if we train him using the Gentle Leader.

I also just bought a Cesar Millan training video off of ebay.

I have to get this dog back "in check".

 

[Skylarr29]

Sorry I have no advice but I have seen lots of children on them while at WDW last weekend.

 

[beckmrk04]

I use a gentle leader head collar with my dog and I LOVE it!!!! It is a freakin miracle worker. I tell everyone about it.

My dog is very large. And, although we've been through obedience school, she is terrible on the leash- lunges, pulls to the point of choking herself, etc. But, with the head collar, she is a PLEASURE to walk, not to mention MUCH more obedient.

I very, very highly reccomend it! And if you are having aggression problems, I'm sure it would help to put your dog back in its place, so to speak.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I use a gentle leader head collar with my dog and I LOVE it!!!! It is a freakin miracle worker. I tell everyone about it.

My dog is very large. And, although we've been through obedience school, she is terrible on the leash- lunges, pulls to the point of choking herself, etc. But, with the head collar, she is a PLEASURE to walk, not to mention MUCH more obedient.

I very, very highly reccomend it! And if you are having aggression problems, I'm sure it would help to put your dog back in its place, so to speak.

I wish "walking" was the issue. He walks GREAT for everybody. If I was nearby, I wouldn't hesitate having my daughters walk him, even. When I stop, he sits. When I tug ever so gently, he turns with me.

It is all those OTHER problems........

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We tried them with our Boxers, but because of their short snouts, the lead tightened too close their eyes and they didn't work properly. That being said, I know that many trainers swear by them.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We use the Halti brand head collars. We too only use them for walking our Laborador Retrievers. Without the Halti they don't care if the choke themselves and are difficult to control. Both look forward to putting it on because they know they are going to go for a walk. The youngster, just a year old, doesn't like it and will constantly try to rub it off his nose, but eventually he gives up and deals with it.

 

[Marseeya]

I wholeheartedly agree with Becky! I love the Gentle Leader. First of all, walking our lab mix is a pleasure with that collar. No matter how many times we'd try to train her to walk properly on a leash, she was just too strong for everyone but DH. With the head collar, even my 10 year old can walk her.

As for aggression issues, I can see where that would keep it in check. Is your vet recommending that you keep it on the dog all the time until he has settled down? We went through a period like that with our dog, but it was when she was younger. We kept her leashed constantly, and she finally stopped.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I think the Gentle Leader is one of the best training tools we ever got for Casey. We were having problems with her on the leash- she thought it was a toy and would growl, snap, and tug at it constantly; and, at some point, she learned her own strength and knew she could pull me around. I have trouble with physically discipling dog, and this was an excellent answer.

We, initially, just took her for her walks on it. Later, we found that it made training very, very easy. Although we had trained using play (tell her command and not throw ball until she does command), and she did listen, she kind of did it on her own time. With the Gentle LEader we were able to correct her Nah... I don't want to put my butt down here.... but THIS spot looks good behavior. Although I don't think she was playing the one up on us, she was definitely intentionally pushing it as far as she could. With her puppy training, I said that we needed her to always do exactly what she was told and when she told becuase some time, we will have children and she needs to know that even when they tell her something, they mean business... now.

I have nothing but good things to say about it... and I know many other feels the same way. The unruly, nasty dog in our complex is now on one. Thank goodness. I think it's a great way to go with your dog. Remember, you, your wife, and the kids, all need to be Alpha Males and Females next to him.

ETA: We used the Halti brand, too. When we called the vet, that was the one she said to use. Apparently, they fit the best. Some of the head collars don't fit correctly and apply pressure to the wrong area. She said at one point, she had an animal come in with all sorts of snout trouble (broken capillaries, etc) becuase of the head collar. Be sure to take Pluto in with you to get the right one fit-wise... and be sure you get him one that no one else has tried on. If he's having these type of testosterone problems, probably don't want to try and bring the scent of another dog into the picture! Be sure he can make it his.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If I had a dog that had agression problems, I'd bring them to a private session with a trainer who specializes in that sort of thing and work on the actual problems. Bring the whole family (if they allow that) so they can see the interactions and you all can work as a team on the issues. Sounds like the gentle leaders are great for leash/walking problems (I should have gotten one for our old dog who pulls at the leash--don't know how he'd take to it at his age, though), but I don't know how it's going to help with the other behaviors that you are describing.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The dog trainers I know absolutely told me never to use them.
It can dislocate your dog's jaw and if a situation arises where you need to exert serious control, you will have none.

 

[Pigeon]

We found one useful for training our 140 lb American Mastiff to walk on a lead without dislocating our arms. But I don't think it would do a great deal with regards to aggressive behavior. I think you'd be much better getting the dog and family to a good trainer.

 

[Jpgirl]

I've used both traditional and the Halti. I went back to the traditional because my alpha Lab respected it more. My dog respects me as an alpha but he picks up on other people's energy and tries to dominate them. Your dog is doing the same thing with the kids-plus he's a herding dog so he thinks that he should herd the kids. I wouldn't let him loose with a bunch of kids in the yard-that's courting disaster. I also don't think using the gentle leader will by itself "cure" your dog. If you're not clear on how to train this out of him you really need to contact a professional trainer to help. Try to get a "dog whisperer" type so he/she can train you to train the dog-just not train the dog. Good luck-alpha dogs are dificult but worth it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wish "walking" was the issue. He walks GREAT for everybody. If I was nearby, I wouldn't hesitate having my daughters walk him, even. When I stop, he sits. When I tug ever so gently, he turns with me.

It is all those OTHER problems........

I do not see where the gentle leader will help you.

If your dog respects the leash, keep him ON THE LEASH.
When the kids are outside playing you have the dog on the leash training him.
It works, trust me. We have our wanna-be alpha, "Butters" on leash in the backyard to train for various backyard issues.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I do not see where the gentle leader will help you.

If your dog respects the leash, keep him ON THE LEASH.
When the kids are outside playing you have the dog on the leash training him.
It works, trust me. We have our wanna-be alpha, "Butters" on leash in the backyard to train for various backyard issues.

I don't know either, but the vet thinks it may help alleviate these newly found alpha dog issues that he never had before. Maybe because the dog feels dominated when it is on, and possibly it will carry over? I don't know.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't know either, but the vet thinks it may help alleviate these newly found alpha dog issues that he never had before. Maybe because the dog feels dominated when it is on, and possibly it will carry over? I don't know.

I don't see that.

The leash is supposed to be just a "tool". It is really YOU that is supposed to be the one respected, not the leash.

What is your dog doing? Right now it just sounds like frustration from a lack of exercise.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I don't see that.

The leash is supposed to be just a "tool". It is really YOU that is supposed to be the one respected, not the leash.

What is your dog doing? Right now it just sounds like frustration from a lack of exercise.

I hope that is it! Today was supposed to be the beginning of our walking sessions.... like 3 - 5 miles a day. But it is POURING outside right now. I know that Cesar Millan ( the Dog Whisperer guy ) totally believes that exercise is huge in helping behavioral problems.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I hope that is it! Today was supposed to be the beginning of our walking sessions.... like 3 - 5 miles a day. But it is POURING outside right now. I know that Cesar Millan ( the Dog Whisperer guy ) totally believes that exercise is huge in helping behavioral problems.

As he states...boy dogs get sexually frustrated. To add to this you have a dog that is dominant and herding. He is bored out of his mind.

This dog needs to be worn out in order to begin training. If you cannot provide a vigourous enough workout, add a backpack to the dog to make the workout harder.

So it is exercise (walking), discipline (training), then affection. (no food, petting, NO NOTHING in the morning.)
Dog is fed after the walk once a day.

 

[Honu]

The growling isn't good and the leader may help with that. Exercise will definitely help. Neither of those will help with the nipping though. He is doing his job, you cannot untrain this trait. I've had 4 border collies and 1 aussie. All of them are/were very obedient and loving dogs and all of them nipped kids. Here is a site that explains it - BC Rescue

One of the breeders we used taught me about the game Freeze. If you watch him carefully, you will come to know the signs that he's had enough and is about tell the kids to sit down and shut up. Watch his eyes and his body position. When I see the signs, I yell freeze and the kids and the dog have to freeze in which ever position they are in. After 10-15 seconds I yell go, the time out temporarily breaks their focus on corralling the kids though. The dogs take to learning the command easily, it's just another word for stay, and the kids like playing it too. Nips still happen, but this significantly reduces them.

Good luck with both the problems.

 

[gris gris]

We tried one on our dog and it rubbed on his snout so much he bled and had scabs. Brought him to the vet, they told me we did have it on correctly, however because of his short hairs he didn't have much protection around his snout. We needed it for walking though - because of the pulling. Our vet showed us how to correctly use a choke collar and that's how we walk him now. Sometimes we use a full harness across his back/chest, but he still tends to pull with that.

I've never seen the Dog Whisperer - what channel is it on? What time?

Good luck with your doggie!

 

[Papa Deuce]

I've never seen the Dog Whisperer - what channel is it on? What time?

Good luck with your doggie!

I don't remember which channel, but google him: Cesar Millan