Take me to your Gentle Leader...

I would like to start by saying...I used to hate the idea of a head collar. 

I would see people walking their lovely dogs wearing a head collar and I would automatically think "Yikes! Why is that dog wearing a muzzle?" and then I would proceed to turn around and walk in the opposite direction.

I was woefully uneducated. 

But, even when I witnessed the fact that the Gentle Leader Head Collar is absolutely not a muzzle (dogs can eat with a Gentle Leader on, they can even catch a frisbee if they are aerially-inclined enough to do so), I was still a little appalled and very hesitant. 

The whole idea of a contraption around my Mutt's face seemed cruel. I couldn't exactly explain why I thought it was cruel, and the very thought of strapping a head collar on him made me uneasy.

Look at this FACE!  How could I ever strap one of those things(?!?!) on this face.

...and then I found myself being talked into purchasing one after witnessing the monumental change in my own dog's behavior on the leash while wearing (a borrowed, and bright pink) gentle leader.

The Mutt, himself, in a harness.

Before we get to all that, I would like to say that The Mutt came to us as a sweet and (mostly) polite and calm dog.  However, on walks he would pull and was slightly reactive (in an overly playful way) towards other dogs. 

With our Mutt in a harness (which we thought would be most comfortable for him) he could pull us anywhere he wanted to go...mostly he pulled up towards trees so he could pee on them...or in the presence of another dog, pull us over to the dog where he could make his own overly excited introductions whether he was invited to do so or not.  We were at his absolute mercy and we had to accept that he could effortlessly tug us down the street if he wanted to.  

Not because he is an ill-behaved dog or because my family or myself have poor dog handling skills...it is simply because:

Harnesses were made for pulling!

Pulling sleds, pulling heavy travois...and pulling you all over the neighborhood

(it's not you, or the dog, it is the harness).

So, in comes the borrowed, bright pink gentle leader (sorry, no pictures of that...but trust me, The Mutt looked amazing in it...pink just might be his color).

As soon as the Dog Trainer put the head collar on him and pranced him around our local PetsMart, there was no pulling.  My dog naturally walked by her side and did not attempt to introduce himself to any of the dogs that happened to be shopping nearby.  I figured his change in behavior was due to the Trainer's years of experience...but no, when she handed me the leash his behavior stayed the same and I continued my perusing and,eventual purchasing, at the store with ease.  

Yet, I was still hesitant.  I still felt like it looked like a torture device and secretly detested that I was talked into it.  I no longer feel that way...here's why:

Kind is, as kind does.

My lovable lug of a Mutt not bothered by the Gentle Leader in the slightest.

If you use the Gentle Leader in a gentle manner, then it is an amazing tool that can teach your dog leash limits, naturally calm your dog by using its own anatomical calming mechanisms in your favor and insure that your dog is not (in any way) choked if it does happen to pull.

But...

If The Gentle Leader is used to yank a dog around in an attempt to subdue a dog into compliant behavior...then, of course, it is dangerous and harmful; however, that is highly contrary to the intended use.

I should also mention, that I am not one who uses any type of pulling back on the leash as a form of leash correction.  I think it's rude and regardless of collar type-- Yanking on the leash seems counter productive and potentially dangerous.  I very much advocate Positive Training and Teaching with Kindness...(check out Victoria Stilwell for more information about Positive Training).

The Gentle Leader comes with an Instructional DVD (WATCH IT!).  It will give you advice for properly fitting the Gentle Leader for your dog, as well as, tips how to slowly acclimate your dog to wearing the head collar (some dogs find it weird, at first).  The DVD also provides excellent advice on how to properly walk your dog while it is wearing the Gentle Leader.  It is a short, information packed DVD, well worth the watch.

Once your dog is fitted and accustomed to their Gentle Leader, you will be amazed at the difference.  You might even find that the Gentle Leader is only necessary until your dog learns leash limits/manners and then you can graduate onto another type of collar (no choke or prong!).

I made my hesitant purchase well over 6 months ago and I love the Gentle Leader now; although, we rarely use it.  The Mutt only wears his head collar in new situations where minding his manners and remaining calm are absolute necessities.  He does not wear it on daily walks anymore, because he has since graduated to a regular martingale collar.

Now I understand The Gentle Leader is an effective and gentle training tool.  I am grateful that I could see past my original misconceptions and give my (much-loved) dog the gift of daily, stress-free and highly enjoyable walks.

*NOTE:  I am interested in  Front-Leading Harnesses. I would like to see The Mutt's take on the front-leading harness as another meaning of no-pull training tool.  Stay-Tuned for a future post and review regarding the Front-Leading Harness.