Gentle Leader ??

[frau]

I have started using the Gentle Leader with Gypsy for the usual pulling problem. I love it with 1 reservation--. The locking adjustment mechanism up on the muzzle comes undone anytime she pulls. I am constantly readjusting and relocking.

I think I MAY have found a source for this problem in the I had the locking mechanism toward her jaw, instead of on the outside. Towards the end of the class last night I turned the collar around so that the lock faced out. SHe didn't get it undone, but then we only had a few more minutes of class.

Has anyone had this experience?

Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[frontierrots]

In all the classes we've taught I have NEVER seen the nose loop lock come undone. Perhaps that one is defective? Did you show the trainer?

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu and
Volunteer with NorthEast Rottweiler Rescue & Referral http://www.rottrescue.org

[frau]

Yes, I did show the trainer, but this past Thursday I couldn't stay after to get more info. She was of the opinion that I should have a medium instead of a large. What that would do with the lock I don't know. I will get this resolved next Thursday, though. I don't see how the size would effect whether the lock popped open.

AS I told her, when I pay $18.95 for a collar I expect it to work, not have to be constantly readjusted. I'm hoping that when I train Gypsy today that I will get another opportunity to test out the collar with the lock to the outside. Yesterday I was involved with school/daughter things and only got in about 1/2 hour of play.

Thanks for that feedback.

Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by frau (edited September 09, 2000).]

[Ethár]

WHAT IS A Gentle Leader ????????????

Now I am really curious. PLEASE explain.

[frau]

The Gentle Leader is a two-part collar. Part 1 is a regular sort of collar, fairly narrow, which fits right behind the ears. Part2 is connected to Part 1 under the chin. It is a simple loop which goes over the muzzle. It has an adjusting lock on the left hand side of the face and a ring for the lead on the right hand side. You can make it tighter or looser as needed, with the adjustment lock.

For pulling dogs, like Gypsy http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif, this eliminates the pulling. They don't want that pressure on their muzzles, which they tolerate on their muscular throats.

Does that help?

Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[frontierrots]

You know Frau
You just described your gentle leader in a way that just does not jive with me. A lock on one side of the face and a ring on the other is very wrong.

The loop should go around the muzzle and both pieces eet UNDER the dog's jaw, go through a metal slide, then through the lock and end in a ring for the lead

I am assuming you are just describingit in a way I am not familiar with as I cannot imagine a trainer telling you to use your halter the way you just described

When you put it on your dog it starts out looking like a big T, then you push the nose band up throughthe metal slide to make a small t and then put the loop over the dog's nose and snap on the collar. That IS how your trainer showed you right???

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu and
Volunteer with NorthEast Rottweiler Rescue & Referral http://www.rottrescue.org

[frau]

Diane--

Yes, I am using it the way the trainer told me to. One thing is very curious, though. There is NO metal slide.

She specifically told me to have the ring on the right side of the muzzle, which puts the lock on the left. And, it comes loose everytime Gypsy pulls.

So, both the lock and the ring are supposed to be under the chin?? I can do this. But that doesn't solve the problem of the slide I don't have. I will email the trainer tonight and ask her about this.

Is the slide between the lock and where the straps separate to go around the muzzle?

The constant readjusting and locking is frustrating.

Thank you, Ethar, for asking the question, which lead to my answer which lead to Diane's helping me find the source of the problem.

Thank you, Diane!
I will post again when this is resolved.

Things get curiouser and curiouser.

Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

PS--Can I only get the Gentle Leader through a trainer, as my trainer told me?

[This message has been edited by frau (edited September 10, 2000).]

[frontierrots]

The metal slide is where the collar part connects to the nose loop. For photos of dogs wearing gentle leaders correctly see: http://www.gentleleader.com/about/quicki.html (and yes I know they use a rott to illustrate the aggression problems part but it is a nice well behaved rott!)

WE have big instructions sheets that the Gentle Leader people send us with the halters to give to each student in case they need help putting them on.

And yes everything needs to be under the dogs jaw.

Gentle leaders used to be only available from trainers, vets and trained selected pet stores. Now howvere they have redone their whole instruction manual and they are now selling boxed G.L in any pet store or supply catalog. Bulk G.L (unboxed) can still only be bought from trainers and vets.

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu and
Volunteer with NorthEast Rottweiler Rescue & Referral http://www.rottrescue.org

[frau]

There is extra strap underneath Gypsy's chin. She, of course, paws at this. The nose loop and the collar section do NOT meet neatly at the neck. She has about 3 inches of loose strap, which allows the nose loop to come off easily unless I have the lead under underneath a second collar! And then it still comes loose.

I'm now thinking the trainer gave me the wrong size collar. She said the Rottis Gypsys size usually take a medium. She didn't have a medium so gave me a large. Since then she can't find any of the mediums. She also can't find the instruction sheets or the "Not a Muzzle" buttons.

I will tell her that I must have the smaller size. I'm not accomplishing much with this extra 3 inches at the neck.

The pictures helped. Thanks so much, Diane!!

Happy Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[Augustus`s mom]

frontierrots, do you use this head harness in your kennel? I`m asking because I got one today, along with the book and a 10 ft. drag line for inside the house. According to the book, the strap that goes around the neck is supposed to be in front of the adam`s apple and go around to the base of the skull right behind his ears. It`s supposed to be very snug, only one finger should barely fit under the strap. The muzzle strap is loose enough to be pulled to the fleshy part of his nose without coming off. My question is about the neck strap. It seems SO tight, but my dog seems comfortable wearing it. The way it`s on looks like the picture in the book a V not L where the neck strap is down farther around his neck. Since I don`t have a trainer {I fired mine} I`m not sure if I have it on right. I was able to walk him using just two fingers on the lead and he didn`t even try to pull at all. I just want to make sure I`m not damaging his throat with it.

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[frontierrots]

Frau
No your trainer told you wrong very wrong on how to use the G.L!!

There is NO 3" piece of webbing between collar and nose loop!

Unlock your nose band slide lock and shove all the way down to the ring. Then
Unbuckle the neck strap and hold it in your hands. 1/2 of the connector in your right hand and 1/2in your left nose loop hanging straight down so you have a Capitol T. Let go of 1 side and shove the nose loop strap up through the metal piece that connects the collar part to the other strap. Now you have a small t or a cross.
Open this top part of the t or cross up and slide that over the dog's nose. Snap the collar part around dog's neck. Then slide the slide lock on the nose loop up to your dog's lower jaw. It should be just tight enough so the nose loop does not slide off past the nose leather. The collar part should be right behind the ears and tight so that a finger just goes through it.

Anyone who needs a G.L fitting and use sheet can email me privately and I'll give you my work address to send a self addressed stamped envelope to

Augustus's mom all sounds well with you! Once he no longer ever paws at the G.L you can loosen the nose loop up quite a bit
rottys@webtv.net

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu and
Volunteer with NorthEast Rottweiler Rescue & Referral http://www.rottrescue.org


[This message has been edited by frontierrots (edited September 11, 2000).]

[frau]

The trainer found one older demonstration model MEDIUM Gentle leader. The collar isn'ty quick release, but I'll live with it.

We discovered the lock on the nose loop is facing the wrong way.

The combination of the smaller size, which eliminates the extra strap under chin and also increases the snug fit AND the lock facing the correct direction yield a perfect collar!

Gypsy was unable to budge it. She pulled and pulled like she did with the older one, but she couldn't open the lock as she had so many times with the old one. She finally settled down in class this evening, once she realized things had changed.

Thanks again to you, Diane for pointing me in the right direction!
\
Frau http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[Sue]

I've got a Gentle Leader question:

Spike started school last night and I got a GL. He hates it, which I expected, but I think once he becomes accustomed to it he'll be okay.

My question is how do I keep him from getting the nose loop off? The trainer fitted it and during the class readjusted it a couple of times, and he still manages to get it off. I know if the neck strap is tight you can leave the nose strap a LITTLE looser, but she reached a point where she didn't want to tighten the nose strap anymore. He could get his mouth open about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. This was with the neck strap tightened as directed....barely fitting one finger under it. Should I just put it on him and walk him and hope he gets preoccupied with the walk and forgets/adjusts to the GL? Yes I attempted to keep him from getting it off http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif. (The first time I took him to the vet they muzzled him to give him a rabies shot and he got it off three times, with two of them in the room. That was just a week after we adopted him and as he had been a stray in the HS and then fostered prior to us, he was pretty unsettled. He's much better now!)

Is the problem me in that I'm not being firm enough with him when he tries to get it off? I know it's on properly and I don't think it could be tightened much more.

[Michael C.]

If your dog is coming out of it, it is not on properly. Make sure the neck strap is up high on the neck right behind the ears.

Mike

p.s. look at the link from frontier rotts above and you can see some pictures.

[This message has been edited by Michael C. (edited September 26, 2000).]

[frontierrots]

Does your dog have a very short muzzle? Some rotts with really short muzzles can get halters off regardless of how tight. I have one of these

The best thing would be to try to acclimate him to the halter slower. Put the nose part on, give him a treat and take it off. Repeat this many times. Then quit for the day. The next day leave it o a few seconds longer or put it on and buckle it give a treat and take it off.

MOST dogs do get used to the GL however there is a small minority that never do no matter how long you take in acclimating them. BUT you cannot say you have a dog like that til you've given it a good try

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Diane
Frontier Rottweilers & Shiba Inu and
Volunteer with NorthEast Rottweiler Rescue & Referral http://www.rottrescue.org