It's the "Gentle Leader", not a muzzle. My dog doesn't bite

[rgf207]

I walk my dog daily around our neighborhood. She wears the Gentle Leader. Anyone not familiar with this, it's a collar with a very thin strap that goes around her snout. It's extremely loose fitting as she can open her mouth fully. This device just helps with her pulling. She walks right next to me with this on.

It's so surprising to hear so many people tell their kids not to come near us. The tell them "She bites. See the muzzle around her nose." I usually tell them the device is for her walking, she does not bite. It's just surprising because this looks nothing like a muzzle. Anyone else use the Gentle Leader when walking their dog

 

[Liberty Belle]

I walk my dog daily around our neighborhood. She wears the Gentle Leader. Anyone not familiar with this, it's a collar with a very thin strap that goes around her snout. It's extremely loose fitting as she can open her mouth fully. This device just helps with her pulling. She walks right next to me with this on.

It's so surprising to hear so many people tell their kids not to come near us. The tell them "She bites. See the muzzle around her nose." I usually tell them the device is for her walking, she does not bite. It's just surprising because this looks nothing like a muzzle. Anyone else use the Gentle Leader when walking their dog

We had this for our lab and had the same experiences.

 

[rgf207]

We had this for our lab and had the same experiences.

it's funny because the strap around her snout is so thin and she has her mouth hanging open with her tongue out panting. If it were a muzzle, it would be the worst one ever

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We have the gentle leader also but haven't run into the comments. Usually our walks take us in the woods though.

 

[Jennasis]

It does look a bit like a muzzle to those who don't have much experience with actual muzzles. And ANY dog has the potential to bite. Be happy the strangers steer clear of your dog. Nothing makes me angrier than people walking up to my dog and petting him or giving him treats without asking first, or sending their kids up to my pets for the same.

None of my dogs "bite", but I'm not naive enough to think it an impossibility.

 

[Jennasis]

hmmm..double post! woops.

 

[rgf207]

I'm not naive either. My dog is never show signs of aggression towards people so as of now she does not bite.

Regardless, many people ask me if they can pet my dog and I always say no. But the Gentle Leader still doesn't look anything like a muzzle. That's the point I was trying to make

 

[Pakey]

If it makes people think it's a muzzle, maybe I should get one. My adorable little Crested is a scaredy cat and will bite. I'm always so surprised at the number of children who will run up to a dog they don't know. I always keep my eyes peeled for unleashed children who might get close enough to get bitten by my cute scared dog on a leash.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm not naive either. My dog is never show signs of aggression towards people so as of now she does not bite.

Regardless, many people ask me if they can pet my dog and I always say no. But the Gentle Leader still doesn't look anything like a muzzle. That's the point I was trying to make

And I'm saying it does bear a resemblance to a muzzle since it has the strap that goes over the dog's nose/muzzle. You and I KNOW better (it isn't a muzzle), but I can absolutely see how someone might make that mistake.

Next time someone makes the "it's a muzzle" comment, just politely inform them otherwise.

 

[Kae]

We get the same thing too. But I get the Dexter doesn't bite why does he have a muzzle on question. If you think walks are bad wait till you take them to the vet while using it, people go to the other side of the waiting room. One lady commented out loud that she would never have a "mean" dog & why do people have "mean" Dogs.

Shoot Dexter is a 99# lap dog.

Kae

 

[suejai]

I use the Gentle Leader as well. It is the only way I can walk my Fox Terrier, otherwise he pulls so hard on his collar that I'm afraid he will hurt himself and he makes this noise - you know the one where it sounds like they are choking (because the are). I have never heard any comments.

 

[monkey68]

I use the Gentle Leader as well. It is the only way I can walk my Fox Terrier, otherwise he pulls so hard on his collar that I'm afraid he will hurt himself and he makes this noise - you know the one where it sounds like they are choking (because the are). I have never heard any comments.

So then what's the advantage of using that over a harness? The harness doesn't cause them to choke either. I'm just curious, I would never get something like that because I think my dog would hate it and I would be out $20. She hates having things near her face or her nose, no way would she even sit still enough to let me put something like that on her.

 

[rgf207]

So then what's the advantage of using that over a harness? The harness doesn't cause them to choke either. I'm just curious, I would never get something like that because I think my dog would hate it and I would be out $20. She hates having things near her face or her nose, no way would she even sit still enough to let me put something like that on her.

My dog was the same way. It took about 1 hour of acclimation to get her accustomed to having the strap on her snout.

The Gentle Leader is not painful in any way and it does not restrict any movement of her mouth. The device works by redirecting the dog around towards you when they pull. It causes them to turn around and face you when they pull so after a while they get the hint that if they walk next to you, they don't turn around

 

[disneygirl_wdw]

We used to walk our dog with the gentle leader. We mostly used ours on walks in Disney World. Everyone would comment and shy away. It was really nice when we informed a cast member what it was and then he bought one for his dog. He thought it was a good idea. Since she didn't like that very much we did get her the harness version and she hasn't had any problems or comments. It works better than the nose one for her.

 

[java]

So then what's the advantage of using that over a harness? The harness doesn't cause them to choke either. I'm just curious, I would never get something like that because I think my dog would hate it and I would be out $20. She hates having things near her face or her nose, no way would she even sit still enough to let me put something like that on her.

Harness didn't work for our bulldog. He pulled his leg out using it he was pulling so hard.

So we don't use the harness for our current dogs- bad memories. My lab doesn't pull so it's not an issue for her.

To the op if you are not wanting people to pet your dog what do you care if people are telling their kids to stay away? My kids are always wanting to touch whatever they see. They always ask before touching. And they know to be respectful of whatever they hear. I explain that some dogs are nervous and get afraid of strangers- never "it's a dangerous dog".

 

[nephthys43]

So then what's the advantage of using that over a harness? The harness doesn't cause them to choke either. I'm just curious, I would never get something like that because I think my dog would hate it and I would be out $20. She hates having things near her face or her nose, no way would she even sit still enough to let me put something like that on her.

It keeps them from pulling. With a harness, they can use their whole body to pull. The gentle leader doesn't allow it. If they start to get ahead of you it makes them turn their head toward you

 

[monkey68]

It keeps them from pulling. With a harness, they can use their whole body to pull. The gentle leader doesn't allow it. If they start to get ahead of you it makes them turn their head toward you

OOh, I get it. Makes sense now. I'm just picturing my dog with this though, if she couldn't get her way every now and then, she would just plop her butt down on the ground and refuse to move That' what she does even now. When she's had enough of her walk, she'll just lie down or sit on her bum and look at you with this pitiful look. This tends to happen mostly when I walk her ,in the rain, or try to take her on a different route. My dog is very set in her ways. I don't think any type of harness or lead is going to help that.

 

[Kae]

Also the mother will lead the pups by the muzzle. So the gentle leader mimics that.

Kae

 

[MichelleVW]

So, do those things really work? I want to try it for the little guy...

 

[rgf207]

So, do those things really work? I want to try it for the little guy...

Yes it does. My dog, shay pulled like no tomorrow. We tried every collar imaginable. We tried the harness. That just enabled her to pull more since all the dog's strength lies where the harness attaches. We tried a choke collar but stopped that very soon since she would just pull and choke herself. we tried positive reinforcement with food and that didn't work. Finally we saw the gentle leader and tried that. She was walking next to us by the end of the first day.

It took about 2 days for her to accept and get used to having the strap around her snout but she got used to it very quick. It comes with an instructional DVD also which teaches you how to use it.