praise for the Gentle Leader!!

MNboxergrl · #1 16th February 2005, 01:26 PM

we started using it after our baby had an aggression incident and it is so great!! she didn't like it at first, but now she is used to it. our walks are so much better!! she doesn't pull and is so much more controlled. the person who invented this thing is an angel!!!!

Diesels Mom · #2 27th February 2005, 01:05 AM

We take our 9 month old to PetSmart for puppy classes and our trainer recommended one! I was reluctant at first because Diesel didn't like it. I immediately thought...Oh the Poor Thing! But she quickly got used to it and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have a 10 year old daughter that loves her dog to death, but wouldn't walk her because she pulls her. (She pulled her once knocking her down and broke one of her fingers). With the Gentle leader she can walk her no problem! Not to mention that every dog in our Puppy class now has one! The guy who invented these....is making a killing...and deserves every cent!

essie · #3 28th February 2005, 03:11 AM

are you guys referring to the training halter?

boxer · #4 28th February 2005, 03:36 AM

Yes, the gentle leader is one brand of head halter. There are several others, each with minor differences.

essie · #5 28th February 2005, 10:17 PM

Ahh okay.. I bought one for Dante, but he does pretty well without it. The first time was a bit rough, but he heels so quickly now. I'm thinking of returning it, but do you think I'll end up needing it in the future? I've been told that Boxers can become somewhat disobedient when going through adolescence..

boxer · #6 1st March 2005, 03:18 AM

Dante is only a baby puppy isn't he?

I wouldn't use a head harness on one so young. Not because they're harmful or anything like that, but because you need to spend the time and effort teaching him to walk nicely on a leash. If you resort to devices from the outset, then how is he ever going to learn what you want from him? Yes, boxers are enthusiastic and inclined to pull, but it is quite possible to teach them to walk nicely on a leash

It just takes some patience and a lot of consistency on your part.

If you do a search on pulling, you'll find many many threads where people who've had pulling problems have posted in the past. And there is a lot of very good advice there that you can put to good use. Basically, the best way to teach a dog (any dog) to walk nicely is to simply stop walking each and every time they start to pull. It is a frustrating method (including for you) but it does work. The dog will learn very quickly that it only gets what it wants (ie. to get somewhere as quickly as possible) when it walks nicely by your side. And it gets the precise opposite of what it wants every single time it pulls

End result is a dog that walks nicely - and most importantly KNOWS what you expect of it - whatever sort of collar, harness or head halter you choose to use in future. That is far better than a dog that doesn't really know and will pull to the point of choking any time it's not wearing a device to prevent it.

essie · #7 1st March 2005, 05:04 PM

I totaly agree with you... btw, when I said "the first time" in my previous post I was refering to the first time I walked him.. I haven't used the halter yet and Dante's walking just fine.. I'll be returning it soon or maybe I'll exchange it for doggy boots... :P

mypupJake · #8 1st March 2005, 11:40 PM

It was a women from Minnesota that invented the gentle leader and I would love to thank her personally for her wonderful invention. I have to use one on Jake. I work with animals and whenever I see someone with a prong collar I show them the gentle leader which is much more effective and a lot less painful.