Acclimating your dog to a Gentle Leader (LONG)

[smitty3335]

hello all... my wife and I have a female almost six months old and seem to be doing ok with her on a leash however when we release to go for a run all she has learned seems to have been completely forgotten. We need some sort of a STOP and COME command that she'll adhear to when off the lead. What have we done wrong? this dog is gone when set free!

[nikemama]

I was wondering are most of you using the normal type and also a Med or Large???

I ordered her a medium standard type. Now I am having second thoughts. I saw someone using it on his pit pup. I hope that Jenna will do well with hers. She walks on a leash good in the yard but when we get out away from the house and she starts seeing people she looses her little mind. She is also out of hand with my 11 year old son. She thinks he wants to play tug of war with her lead. How old is too old for first training classes. I had a Hysterectomy shortly after we got her and I never got around to get her trained. She has had some home training but not everything she really needs.

[PSUHeather]

seem to be doing ok with her on a leash however when we release to go for a run all she has learned seems to have been completely forgotten

Smitty, you may want to try getting a very long lead so that you can get distance between yourself and the dog without losing complete control. Eventually you can get to the point where you are not holding the lead, and then maybe without it. Dogs are really good discriminators, and she may think that "come" is only applicable for dogs that are on leash. =) Also, she may enjoy a good game of chase. Be careful not to reward the behaviors you are trying to eliminate.

[ROMMEL'S MOM]

I have a GL that someone may have for free. I tried it on Rommel and he scratched himself in the face so bad, I couldn't take it. I followed the steps and he just didn't adjust.

Rommel would virtually chike himself on walks and it wasn't pleasent for me either, being pulled. And as he got older and stronger, FORGET IT!

Anyway, for those of you who want to go a different route, I got a harness that works great. The front legs go thru these 2 loops and it crosses the chest and buckles on the upper back.

Rommel loves it. It's comfortable for him and he knows to put one foot in at a time. It's really cute. When he sees it, he gets really excited because he knows we're going for a walk or a ride in the car. It also doubles as a safety belt in the car.

I use it everyday!! So, like I said, if someone wants a gentle leader, you can have it free.

Marylouise

[Putermom]

Originally Posted by ROMMEL'S MOM

I have a GL that someone may have for free. I tried it on Rommel and he scratched himself in the face so bad, I couldn't take it. I followed the steps and he just didn't adjust.

Rommel would virtually chike himself on walks and it wasn't pleasent for me either, being pulled. And as he got older and stronger, FORGET IT!

Anyway, for those of you who want to go a different route, I got a harness that works great. The front legs go thru these 2 loops and it crosses the chest and buckles on the upper back.

Rommel loves it. It's comfortable for him and he knows to put one foot in at a time. It's really cute. When he sees it, he gets really excited because he knows we're going for a walk or a ride in the car. It also doubles as a safety belt in the car.

I use it everyday!! So, like I said, if someone wants a gentle leader, you can have it free.

Marylouise

I sent you a pm!

[nmarlin]

From what i've heard the GL is extremely hard on the dogs neck, if you are walking and the you come in contact with another dog or something that makes your dog scared and they try to run, the GL will give them a nasty head jerk.

[SOBE]

There is a new product out there now, harness type that hooks the leash to the FRONT of the harness, not the back. Dog does not pull you like a sled dog in the Iditirod, dog just wonders what the heck is stopping me now type of action.... works well with my boxers, but hard to fit and not sure I have them tweeked as meant...good alternative for head halter (one of the head halter people also make the new harness) I have two different brands, one has a Lupine type front that I like to reduce the extra "space", but I still would like to see one made for the boxer type body habitus...they REALLY DO WORK for the pulling dog. (actually one of my dogs pulls less when she is not on it, maybe it is just the hot weather!!!)