Gentle Leader collars

[PATRICIA BELCHER]

Chakamac
There is no reason for you to be sorry.
I personally didn't think YOU were being negative, confrontational or condescending. It seems to me that you found a site that had someone elses opinion on the gentle leader and you were letting the rest of us in on the info. The site had some interesting reasons why you shouldn't use one on SOME dogs but I wouldn't let it influence me if I tried it and thought it was a good training tool for my dog. Also,(I agree) it is quite ironic that it is called a gentle leader but comes with a warning on usage.

Each person should think about what they are saying and even re-read the other post in question before responding. Sometimes we human beings let emotions get the better of us and think someone is being derogatory or condescending towards us and we submit a reply before taking time to think it out.

O.K. My speech for the day is over. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I just wanted to give a different perception of the post in question.


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NIKA'S MOM

[Kiminski]

I am thinking about using this collar. I have a question though, Do you have to always use this collar or can you switch off to a regular collar eventually?

[K9-man]

Originally posted by Kiminski:
Do you have to always use this collar or can you switch off to a regular collar eventually?

That’s what I’m wondering also?

[Melina]

Originally posted by Kiminski:
I am thinking about using this collar. I have a question though, Do you have to always use this collar or can you switch off to a regular collar eventually?

The Gentle Leader is supposed to be a training tool just like the choke and pinch collars. The training collar is used to teach and condition the dog to walk nicely on a leash. We started leash training at home on the regular collar, used the GL for walks and are now just starting to use the regular collar for short walks. If Kali gets too rambunctious at pulling then the GL goes on, if she walks nicely she gets praise and treats. It's working out great for us so far and I think that within a few weeks we will no longer need the Gentle Leader.

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[Vicki]

How sad that the fact that the Gentle Leader comes with both instructions for use and warnings against misuse are held against it, though I suppose that is the world some people live in. How many times have you seen some poor dog with a prong or choke chain hanging down around his shoulders like a necklace, or put on backwards or that the dog is using as a tow rope with a human attached? I suppose there are those who think the fact that these collars don't have instuctions or warnings against misuse means that they can't be misused, just put it on any old way and then start pulling. Dogs suffer injuries all the time from improper use of collars, and a dog can die of strangulation even with a flat collar, and no doubt someone could find a trainer willing to say no dog should ever have a collar as it could possibly be dangerous. The rest of us can live on the edge.

A Gentle Leader can be a good training tool, and can make the difference between the dog staying and the dog going to the shelter, or worse.

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[This message has been edited by Vicki Magnus (edited August 01, 2000).]

[WorkinDogz]

I agree 100% Vicki.

There are some people out there that don't have the skill or desire to go nuts with training.

I've used the Gentle Leader or Halti for some of the dogs in my classes. If I worry that the human end of the lead is going to be heavy handed; I sure don't put a pinch on the dog. Also, if I KNOW (and you just DO know) that the human won't use the prong correctly; figure the odds of me suggesting its use.

Can Gentle Leaders or Halti's be used as a crutch? Sure! But let's face it! There are people out there who aren't INTERESTED in TRAINING! These devices at least make it possible for the dog to go on an occasional walk!

Oh...and by the way...there is a warning lable on Draino telling you it wouldn't be a real good idea to drink it. It's there for the morons of society.



[This message has been edited by WorkinDogz (edited August 01, 2000).]

[netescapee]

Not to get too controversial but thanks to Chakamak and fronteirrotts. My 6.5 mo rottie has been confined (limited to leash walking and in/out of apt) due to spaying. Today she spazed out and hit the end of the extendable leash so hard she spun herself around. She has a normal collar on.

I went to the store tonight to get a gentle leader before reading your posts. I'm afraid I might have overlooked the warning and sure enough had a dog that would have broken its neck.

She's done fine with a long walk at the dog park and a long walk around here and been more cautious, normally, about not hitting the end of the extendable lead until today. I think being confined was just too much for her.

What a learning experience this all is. I've always had smaller dogs and just raised them and did fine. Taking care of a high energy rottie is a lot, lot of work!

[Leahjean]

I believe as you do Patricia,Chakamac,don't back off so soon,you had a right to ask what you did and not being sure of a product the poster was asking about..We all learn by experience ourselves or by having someone give their opinion on what they KNOW,and we don't all think alike ....

[This message has been edited by Leahjean (edited December 31, 2000).]

[Leahjean]

I believe as you do Patricia,Chakamac,don't back off so soon,you had a right to ask what you did and not being sure of a product the poster was asking about..We all learn by experience ourselves or by having someone give their opinion on what they KNOW,and we don't all think alike ....I personally like the G. Leader since,my first rottie caused me an arm problem,by jerking me,when my air conditioning man came, he was scared of dogs,ask me to put her inside,which I did, I got her by her collar and she really didn't run,just kind-of jerked a little,had to have a cortizone injection in my elbow joint,OUCH!!
Also my daughter is in a Wheelchair and can walk either pup,They'll be 1yr.in 3 week, but it is so easy for her,So we love the Leaders....Jean Sometimes we need a crutch or wheelchair,whatever works and it is not because we don't train,somethings in this life are necessities...

[Mojave's Mom]

My trainer is the one who gave me a GL to put on Mojave one night in class. I was so close to tears because he would not settle down. It was a huge shock to him and he threw a complete FIT when it came on, but soon learned that no matter how much whinning and wiggling he did, it would not come off until he settled down. That was 6 months ago and it still works like a dream for us now. I don't always walk him on it, but I always carry it with me whenever we're out. If he acts up, it goes on. He's at the point now where I can have him on his regular nylon collar and he heels beautifully for our entire walk- the GL never has to come out!

[luvarott]

To answer the original question: GL's are great!! They are a fabulous way to socialize young Rotts, the dog never builds up the association of aversive correction to strange dogs and people. They do not build up the lunging/straining history habits, they learn the habit of staying close to you. They also can be effective in teaching comp.level heeling. They promote a positive, non-confrontational relationship between owner and dog....

[frau]

Re: hitting the end of the leash and neck-breaking. I got a leash extension made of bungee cord from my trainer, for exactly that purpose. Gypsy was doing fine with the Gentle Leader during training, but when I started taking her to the Naitonal Forest I hesitated to use it.

We have to cross a secondary road to get to the woods and when Gypsy saw a car "flying" for the first time she went nuts, trying to lunge and run away at the same time. (We live on a cul-de-sac where the traffic goes about 5mph). I really worried about neck breaking AND my being dragged out into the road. The bungee at least spares her neck. It also gives me a few milliseconds to prepare for her move.

I think I am going to have to use the Leader in the future, though.She acts like a maniac when the cars are whizzing by.

The Gentle Leader is a tremendous help during training class and when walking in town. I just bought my second one.

[RoxysMom]

I am currently using the Gentle Leader with 6 1/2 month old Roxy. I love it!
Roxy works with me on the farm and is learning the finer arts of herding right now.
For her saftey and the safety of my sheep and cattle, I use the GL - but only with supervision.
I use the lead to teach her that it isn't okay to go into the pens or corrals unless I give the go ahead.
It is working wonders. She was off the lead the other day and went to the fence line and looked at me - but did not cross it.

Ok - I just want to clarify this for me -Bucky has been to numerous training classes but still pulls under certain circumstanceswith the prong collar(I know - I need to work more with him) If we use the Halti for a time can I look forward to weening him eventually to a regular collar? -Is there a correction for pulling or does the halter make the dog correct himself - Thanks for your time - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)