Tried everything.. including training. To stop my 6 month old huge lab from pulling..until I bought the gentel leader..I couldn't believe that he stopped pulling..I was almost crying walking him was so happy!..didnt think it would work..but it has .It was so embarrassing when my dog would pull me outside.. Couldn't go on long walks. Was exhausted after I would come back home. 98% he was walking me!. I was about to rehome him but I wanted to try everything before I made that decision. after reading comments it didnt help a lot of dogs..but wanted to try everything possible before I made that decision. So glad that I bought the gental leader.
@user-tj7bz4uw6k I'm glad that the Gentle Leader worked for you! They do have their pros and cons, but they are versatile. Without all that strain on the neck, some dogs stop pulling very quickly.
Honestly if nothing is working I think you should just use a prong look up some vids on how to properly use so that you do hurt your dog. All tools are dangerous when not used right.
Sorry you're having this experience. We are actually in the middle of making a video with this same dog who is crazy on neighborhood walks. You'll see the results soon, but the idea is to train them in your house to walk next to you while giving them treats. Start with a treat every step, then every two steps, three steps...The dog will leave your side, but just let them go, but reward them for coming back. The idea is they start to think you are the most exciting thing to pay attention to when they are walking next to you. After a couple days, add the leash. Then take them into your yard. Slowly bring them to more distracting environments. But keep reinforcing that they get rewarded most if they pay attention to you. We should have that video ready in about 2 weeks. Thanks for watching!
@MsMsmak It's a good point. These devices aren't made to stop reactivity or distractability at all. All they really do is make pulling less easy to do for the dog. Reactivity is an emotionally driven response, and it deserves (needs) a training strategy that addresses the emotional response itself. Head halters, body harnesses, prong collars, etc. don't address the emotional response that is behind the reactivity. I plan to make a video on this in the future so stay tuned. Of all the devices out there right now, the Gentle Leader helps the handler more than any other. I'll say more on this in future videos for sure. These devices are not quick fixes for reactivity issues or distractibility issues. Those are separate problems that benefit from training that addresses those specific issues. Again, I plan on making more videos on these subjects.
@@christinarangel6971 It's true. Any device can be misused and that misuse could injure your dog. Prong collars work only by making it uncomfortable to pull. At least that's how they are designed to function. They do have some downsides that I think are worth mentioning, as no device is a miracle cure and shouldn't be seen to be. The first downside is that the dog's movement itself can trigger the uncomfortable feeling of the prongs tightening on the neck, at times when the handler may not intend it to get triggered. So, for example, if they reach out to say hi to someone they like the prong collar can tighten as a result, punishing the dog for something we didn't intend to punish. Because of the way prong collars work, it is very hard to prevent that type of thing from happening, so the dog ends up getting a lot of unnecessary aversive feedback for things that don't make sense. In this way, they can be a crude instrument that only does one thing. Another downside is that if the dog you are working with is too scared or panicked, or becomes so during the walk, their escape behavior will trigger the prong collar often causing even more fear and panic. Care should be taken when using such devices. One of the advantages of a Gentle Leader is that they don't have the same level of aversiveness as a prong collar, so risks of increased fear and panic are far lower. Another benefit is that they make it much easier to help a dog out of a difficult situation, as in when they are scared, by leading them out of it like a horse. That is, in fact, how they were developed, copying the utility that a horse halter has. The Gentle Leader is quite effective at that. If you try to do the same thing with a prong collar, you must trigger the prong mechanism, because that's all that type of collar can do. It should be mentioned too that dogs who are pulling as a result of fear and discomfort are ideally getting help with those specific things and not just being met with an anti-pull device. When their discomforts are addressed properly, the pulling goes down, period. Relying on any device too heavily often overlooks those important steps in training.
One of the realities with anything we put on our dogs -- from harnesses and flat-collars to hiking booties -- is that there is some risk of injury if these devices are misused. One of the advantages of a Gentle Leader is that, when used properly, they are very safe. Unlike prong collars, chock chains, and electric collars, Gentle Leaders do not rely on pain as a corrective mechanism. In 20 years working with dogs, I have never known of an incident where a dog was injured by one. That being said, the do need to be used properly. If misused, any device can cause harm.
Tried everything.. including training. To stop my 6 month old huge lab from pulling..until I bought the gentel leader..I couldn't believe that he stopped pulling..I was almost crying walking him
was so happy!..didnt think it would work..but it has .It was so embarrassing when my dog would pull me outside.. Couldn't go on long walks. Was exhausted after I would come back home. 98% he was walking me!. I was about to rehome him but I wanted to try everything before I made that decision. after reading comments it didnt help a lot of dogs..but wanted to try everything possible before I made that decision. So glad that I bought the gental leader.
@user-tj7bz4uw6k I'm glad that the Gentle Leader worked for you! They do have their pros and cons, but they are versatile. Without all that strain on the neck, some dogs stop pulling very quickly.
I used one for a week and it had no affect on her leash reactivity or distractability. Very frustrating to be constantly fighting with her.
Honestly if nothing is working I think you should just use a prong look up some vids on how to properly use so that you do hurt your dog. All tools are dangerous when not used right.
Sorry you're having this experience. We are actually in the middle of making a video with this same dog who is crazy on neighborhood walks. You'll see the results soon, but the idea is to train them in your house to walk next to you while giving them treats. Start with a treat every step, then every two steps, three steps...The dog will leave your side, but just let them go, but reward them for coming back. The idea is they start to think you are the most exciting thing to pay attention to when they are walking next to you. After a couple days, add the leash. Then take them into your yard. Slowly bring them to more distracting environments. But keep reinforcing that they get rewarded most if they pay attention to you.
We should have that video ready in about 2 weeks.
Thanks for watching!
@MsMsmak It's a good point. These devices aren't made to stop reactivity or distractability at all. All they really do is make pulling less easy to do for the dog. Reactivity is an emotionally driven response, and it deserves (needs) a training strategy that addresses the emotional response itself. Head halters, body harnesses, prong collars, etc. don't address the emotional response that is behind the reactivity. I plan to make a video on this in the future so stay tuned. Of all the devices out there right now, the Gentle Leader helps the handler more than any other. I'll say more on this in future videos for sure. These devices are not quick fixes for reactivity issues or distractibility
issues. Those are separate problems that benefit from training that addresses those specific issues. Again, I plan on making more videos on these subjects.
@@christinarangel6971 It's true. Any device can be misused and that misuse could injure your dog. Prong collars work only by making it uncomfortable to pull. At least that's how they are designed to function. They do have some downsides that I think are worth mentioning, as no device is a miracle cure and shouldn't be seen to be. The first downside is that the dog's movement itself can trigger the uncomfortable feeling of the prongs tightening on the neck, at times when the handler may not intend it to get triggered. So, for example, if they reach out to say hi to someone they like the prong collar can tighten as a result, punishing the dog for something we didn't intend to punish. Because of the way prong collars work, it is very hard to prevent that type of thing from happening, so the dog ends up getting a lot of unnecessary aversive feedback for things that don't make sense. In this way, they can be a crude instrument that only does one thing. Another downside is that if the dog you are working with is too scared or panicked, or becomes so during the walk, their escape behavior will trigger the prong collar often causing even more fear and panic. Care should be taken when using such devices. One of the advantages of a Gentle Leader is that they don't have the same level of aversiveness as a prong collar, so risks of increased fear and panic are far lower. Another benefit is that they make it much easier to help a dog out of a difficult situation, as in when they are scared, by leading them out of it like a horse. That is, in fact, how they were developed, copying the utility that a horse halter has. The Gentle Leader is quite effective at that. If you try to do the same thing with a prong collar, you must trigger the prong mechanism, because that's all that type of collar can do. It should be mentioned too that dogs who are pulling as a result of fear and discomfort are ideally getting help with those specific things and not just being met with an anti-pull device. When their discomforts are addressed properly, the pulling goes down, period. Relying on any device too heavily often overlooks those important steps in training.
It will damage a dog's neck.
really?
One of the realities with anything we put on our dogs -- from harnesses and flat-collars to hiking booties -- is that there is some risk of injury if these devices are misused. One of the advantages of a Gentle Leader is that, when used properly, they are very safe. Unlike prong collars, chock chains, and electric collars, Gentle Leaders do not rely on pain as a corrective mechanism. In 20 years working with dogs, I have never known of an incident where a dog was injured by one. That being said, the do need to be used properly. If misused, any device can cause harm.
Its no where near their neck. Are you sure you have a gentel leader.