Today my neck is aching and i have a muscle knot the size of Everest. Cassie is still pulling. After numerus post on this forum she is no better. Have tried everything - including training classes and 1-2-1 trainer. Not sure where to go now but a friend mentioned a gentle leader. Now have tried the canny collar which is similar but has 2 loops that are held behind and just gave her momentum. Have any members found a gentle leader to be the answer?? Reasons for question:
1. Dont want to spend more money for something that goes in the cupboard
2. Cassie had teenage problems with recall which are just sorted out (with a couple of recent setbacks!!) and she hated the canny collar and tried to claw it off. I am concerned that if i use the gentle leader she will be even more reluctant to come back

my gentle leader is fab - i have one like a gentle leader/halti and its great. I dont need to use it anymore as its taught her to walk well.

If you get stuck pm me your address im quite happy for you to have it if you dogs a similar size

I have a gentle leader, for Taylor - a german shepherd.
I wouldn't be without it, and if I was I would of ended up on my bum a few times! The only thing I was told to be careful was, if you have your dog on a long line leash or a extendable one - just be careful, if you stop it suddenly, you could risk your dog getting whip lash or worse of all, a broken neck!

They are worth the money they charge and if used sensibly they're very good

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Thank you thats very kind of you. If they work then i'm happy to buy one. just concerned about her clawing it.

I don't know what dog you have, but Gentle Leaders are very good for the larger breeds - would you try and lead a horse by something around its neck? No.

However, I have used them a lot on smaller dogs to, where someone has balance problems, or their dog is a bit unpredictable with other dogs, as you can move their heads easily to prevent them getting eyecontact with other dogs! You can basically control a dog with one finger.

However, if you get one, please, please, don't just put it on and expect your dog to accept it!!

Take a few days getting your dog used to it.

Training the Gentle Leader or Halti......

Firstly rub it in your hands, or wash it to soften it up a bit and change the scent on it, some are really stiff and creased when you get them out the packet. Make sure you know how to put it on and the clip is adjusted correctly.

Hold a treat in your fingers and put this through the nosepiece and encourage your dog to put his nose through to get the treat, but don't put it on. Do this until your dog is happy to take treats with you holding the headcollar and doesn't mind the touch on his nose.

Do this a few times in a day, until your dog is relaxed then moving a bit further until you can clip it on for a few seconds - feeding treats - and then take it off - don't reward as you remove it, just praise verbally.

When you can clip it on and feed your dog treats and he is relaxed - if he tries to paw it off distract him with food - then put it on for mealtimes whilst he is eating, then take it off, you are basically building up a positive association. When he is happy with this. Put it on, but don't attach anything to it and play a game, go for a walk - using the old lead and collar. Keep moving on the walk, if you stand still too long, he will rub your leg with his head!

When he isn't bothered by it atall being on you can start to introduce having a lead attached and him getting used to feeling you tugging. This is done by putting the headcollar on and clipping a very light lead - a puppy lead is ideal - to the headcollar, but still have your usual lead and collar on the dog. You are going to do most of your walk using the normal collar - even with the pulling, but now and again you need to start putting more 'feel' on the headcollar. Progress this until your collar and lead is loose and you are using the headcollar most of the time.

If at any time your dog tries to rub it off either on your leg or paws, distract him with a treat, or just keep walking smartly forward. Eventually you can drop the old collar and lead and continue with the headcollar.

It sounds complicated, but most dogs take a couple of days at the most to get used to it, but it does depend on the dog.

DO NOT EVER EVER EVER, use a Headcollar and a flexi. If the dog runs full length of the lead, it is at risk of seriously damaging, or even breaking his neck. If you use a flexi take the headcollar off and attach it to the collar.

Best of luck, it will be interesting to see how you get on.

Kate

Try putting it on before you give your dog his dinner. Unless your dog is seriously non-food orientated, he will probably focus on his dinner instead, and after a few times will begin to associate it with something Very Good For Dogs as it signals nice foody dinnery things follow. You can then reinforce that feeling out on walks with high value treats.

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I have used the canny on a number of dogs and find it works well...

but it has to be done slowley.....

Think I have tried almost every collar contraption that there is. I brought the canny collar whilst I was at the coast this last summer, personally did not get on with it too well!

I am currecntly using the K9 bridle which seems to be the one I always go back to
regards
DT