hey, y'all! :--)

i saw someone suggest a headcollar in a thread, but this is not as simple as just putting it on the dog, and walking off - dogs do not wear sunglasses or goggles, typically, and they need to get used to the bizarre sensation.
a leash and collar can only control DISTANCE from the handler - a headcollar is power-steering, it allows the handler to re-direct a dog who is staring a threat at another dog or person, ramping-up to lunge at a cat nearby, about to jump on a visitor, and so on. it can be used by an adult with ONE * FINGER to direct the dog - there is no more brute force, it is the use of gentle leverage to direct the dogs head.

have U ever taken gymnastics?
Where the Nose Points, The Body Follows - that is the key to the headcollars ability to re-direct the dogs attention, and prevent aggro and reactivity, or over-arousal and uncontrolled behaviors.

i will abbreviate the headcollar GL, as i use the Gentle-Leader -
just substitute the brand of Ur choice, anywhere U read GL. ;-)

getting started
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i often suggest that for immediate control, the H-harness with the leash clipped to the front, is the tool for Now - meanwhile, the dog can be accustomed to the GL in small steps:

Introduce the GL
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have some small, EXCELLENT treats on hand; offer the GL to the dog, they sniff? praise + treat! offer it again - they sniff or touch it? praise + treat! work up to having the DOG put THEIR nose into the open nose-loop for a treat held in Ur other hand -
U hold the open-loop up with one hand, have the tidbit in the other hand, put it thru the loop FOR the dog, then hold the open loop STEADY and the tidbit in the center; gradually ask the dog to put their own nose into + then thru the loop, for the treat.
DO * NOT retreat with the treat, to try to make them come further forward! that is cheating - hold STILL and let the dog decide to take that next voluntary step, and then PAY them for taking the risk.

to see this process with a real dog, go to ABRIonline (google) and find Donaldson getting the Gentle-Leader onto her Chow - in a matter of minutes, the dog is happily shoving her face into the loop and holding it there, with no restraint, no stress, as a freely-offered behavior.


To put on the GL
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pick it up by the nose-loop, opposite from the figure-8 slide that makes the division between nose-loop and neck-loop. the SEWN-edges of the collar should be on the OUTside - the smooth underside goes against the dogs face, not the folded-corners of the hems.
the 2 sides of the neck-loop hang down, and the nose-loop is held open by the spread fingers - ideally the dog puts their OWN nose into the loop, not U putting the nose-loop over their face as they try to evade it!

the nose-loop is over the dogs nose, drop it and let the muzzle support it - pick up the hanging tabs of the neck-loop, lead it behind the dogs ears + clip it together. AGAIN, check that the sewn-overlap of the collar-hem is on the OUTSIDE + visible -- smooth-side goes on the dog.

make the neck-loop SNUG, flat + high on the neck; adjust the nose-loop so that the lower-edge just touches the upper-edge of the nose-leather. the adjustment-clip locks on the strap; if it is too tight, a dime will easily prise the locking-lever up so that it can be adjusted.

after being worn a few times, the oils in the dogs coat will be on the neck-loop and the slide will tend to loosen; TIGhtEN the neck-loop any time U can get a finger, even a pinky, beneath the neck-loop between GL + the dog! the more snug that neck-loop, the more-open the nose-band.

a dog the size of an average GSD should be able to pick-up a tennis ball while wearing a properly-fitted GL.



Habituation - 3 steps
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* first step: Meals Only
fill the bowl, call the dog, have them SIT, pop the GL on, put the bowl down.
most dogs will ignore the GL and eat - when they finish, call them over, have a small tidbit, say SIT, take off the GL, give them dessert and tell them they are wonderful! what a good dog...

step 2
* add WALKS + other fun activities (supervised only)
the leash goes on the harness or buckle collar - the GL is on only to get the dog used to it, and associate the good feelings of the activity with the GL.

WARNING - if U leave the Gl on while the dog is NOT supervised, like in the backseat of the car, they can cut thru the nose-loop connecting to the leash in seconds. then U have an expensive, narrow collar! :--O

step 3
* when the dog wears the GL during meals *and* during walks, play, etc, without any fuss, there will be a day when U pick-up the GL to go for a walk, and the dog rises in happy anticipation with a wagging tail when they see the GL in Ur hands. NOW is the time to clip the leash to the ring under the nose-loop, and take that first crucial walk with the GL in use. keep the first-walk Short + Brisk - keep the dog moving! any time that they have to sit or stand, they may be tempted to try to thumb the nose-loop off, which is a bad habit to slide into. if the dog *succeeds* in thumbing the nose-loop off, they will repeatedly attempt it - so be sure it is properly FITTED.


Fitting the GL
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the neck-loop should be as snug as possible, NO fingers should fit between the dogs neck + the collar. it should be as high and close to the ears as possible; dogs with a heavy ruff may need a bridle-path, which can be almost invisible if made by using Thinning Shears to reduce the thick coat (Rough Collies, Rough Chow-Chows, etc).

the nose-loop should be adjusted so that the Bottom-Edge when slid down
the face will ** just touch ** the upper-edge of the nose-leather - this will prevent the dog being able to thumb-off the nose-band, as it will not be able to slip over their nose --- but at the same time, they will be able to Pant Freely, Eat, Drink, BITE and play with a toy.



a word about leashes - and a Caution!
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IF U USE a heavy leash (double-thickness or extra-wide), or it has a heavy-duty clip or bull-snap, *swap it for a lighter one* - there is no need for hefty hardware with a GL. a i/4 inch wide nylon-webbing leash is fine for a dog up to 25 or 30#; a half-inch wide
leash will easily handle a 50# dog; a 3/4 inch leash will hold a 90# dog. a one-inch wide leash is good for a Giant breed - 120# or over - and it need not be double-thick, either. ALL leashes should be 6-ft or less in length, and NO FLEXIS - Flexis are dangerous with a headcollar! U can exert sudden torque on the dogs neck, or they can hit the end of the leash with force, and seriously injure their neck or spine!


cheers, and happy training!
--- terry

terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, IPDTA, TDF