Learnt a Lesson

[Daisy'sMum]

Last weekend I brought Daisy, 31/2 year old, and my children to watch my husband play rugby. This is the first time this year. As usual I had her on her halti, which I have used since she was a baby. She has a lways responded well, and this seems to work for us. Well...it was very crowded with onlookers and fans, so we positioned ourselves a little way off from the crowd, so as not to get her nervous. Children came by to pat her and she was enjoying her time out.
Suddenly behind us a dog barked and within the blink of an eye Daisy shook her head violently and was standing beside with no halti on her head, making her way towards the other dog who was on a leash but lunging at her. I realized then, what a fool I was, as Daisy did not have a collar on and if she didn't respond to my commands, there may be a situation. I commanded her to STAY, she took one more slow motion step, then stopped. I ran over and put my arms around her neck as I fumbled to get the halti back on. I felt a million sets of eyes on me, but I didn't really care. She stopped even though the other dog was still yapping and the owner did nothing to stop it.
I realize now that the halti, really isn't that secure and that I will always have her collar on her as well.
I am so proud of her for listening to me!

[Sharon Marples]

WOW! Good for Daisy - Your training is paying off!

This is a lesson well learned for everyone who uses a halti. They are not error-proof and hopefully many will learn from your post.

Kudos to Daisy for listening so well to you!

Sharon Marples

[Rott-Wiley]

Good girl Daisy! And don't you feel proud? Where I train, they are extremely storng advocates of the Gentle Leader (especially in puppy classes) and I do not care for it and my dog HATES it! During one of our first experiences with it, she pulled part of it off. Somehow the muzzle part of it came off because it got loose. I immediately switched over to a nylon choak collar which she wore as a backup back then. Now that she is in Comp Obedience Novice class, I work her on a choak chain collar which is what I am used to.

[Gretta]

You should be very proud!!!
:D
Cori

[JeanT]

Kudos !! :D :D :D

[yuki]

Wow, good for Daisy. I don't think my dog would stop if other dog lunging at her but I just didn't try it yet. My old dog (Akita) who died last July was extremely aggressive toward other dogs. He didn't kill any but always wanted. One time we had trainer come to our house trying to deal with his aggression problem and she insisted on Gentle Leader. So I put my trust in that trainer and took him for a walk in it. We met a dog who was also lunging at my dog and growling. So my Yuki tryed to get to it and I was trying to control him with GL. Then he turned his head toward me and pulled away backwards taking his head out. There was nothing I could do except dive on top of him to save the other stupid dog's life. Since then I am afraid to use it.

[macho rottie]

When my dog wears the gentle leader I attach a small 2 ended snap (buckle?) to the small ring on the side of the halti and to the ring of her regular buckle collar. That way if the halti comes off the regular collar is still in use. I have never had the halti fail. She wears a size 6 and I make sure it's nice and snug up behind her ears. I heard if you have it on them too loose they can get out of them.

[macho rottie]

Whoops!! Sorry, made a mistake, the halti is a size 3.

[LE Wilson]

That's AWESOME that your girl listened to you. Both of you should be proud. That goes to show what wonderful parents you are in teaching her such great obedience.