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Mareezee
Los Angeles, CA
SH
Posts:50
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| 09/06/2012 6:51 PM |
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Hello all,
Has anyone ever use a Gentle Leader for leash training on their GSP? We purchased one two nights ago, and, needless to say, Luna hates it!! We put it on her for about an hour on Tuesday, about 45 mins wearing it, then walking for 15 minutes. Then i put it on her again today while we went to the park, not walking with it, just wearing it, while giving her a few treats (she completely forgot about it while she was chowing down on the treats).
Is this something we should even be attempting? Will the Gentle Leader work for this breed? When she wasnt struggling, she was actually doing really well for her first time walking with it, and i see how it helps...she was just frustrated. We are working with it while giving her tons of praise, though, so im hoping that helps...any suggestions?? Thank you so much!
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Mareezee
Los Angeles, CA
SH
Posts:50
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
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| 09/06/2012 7:04 PM |
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Are you using the head lead or the harness style? She is young enough to be working on teaching good leash manners without, so I would focus foremost on that. BUT, there is no harm in using a handy tool such as that if needed. I used the head lead with Bella in super distracting situations in which I knew her heel just wasn't going to happen and I wouldn't have the ability to actively train.
If you're using the head lead...build up tolerance. Put it on loose by holding a treat above Luna's head so it stays on her face, but is free to fall off when she drops her nose down. Do this for a bit with treats and build up to fastening it...and then to leaving it fastened for a few moments. Ultimately it probably won't be something she ever just loves. Bella tolerates it very well, but my leg is still often fair game to attempt to rub it off if we pause our walk for too long 
My friend just purchased the harness style that goes behind the front legs for a pointer mix she just adopted. It also seems to work very well and is not too uncomfortable if put on correctly. |
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Mareezee
Los Angeles, CA
SH
Posts:50
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| 09/06/2012 7:12 PM |
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Thank you so much for your response! And thank you for the suggestion She is only 3 months old, so i think you would be right about us being able to train her without it...but she IS becoming ridiculously strong when pulling her regular harness. We found with the gentle leader so far, almost no force needs to be used to pull her back, she hardly resists, its just those little spurts of tantrums every 3 minutes or so. I will definitely try the treats, i really want her to be able to associate it with good things. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7846
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
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| 09/06/2012 7:20 PM |
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Regular harnesses seem to actually encourage pulling because of the way they are designed. I would train nice leash manners with a normal collar. Once B's head lead is on, you're right, she just knows... lol. It's definitely easy to rely on if you allow yourself.
I was worried with it though, that if I used it regularly...I was only preventing the issue and not teaching what I expected...which is why I attempted to use it only when I couldn't reinforce what was expected.
I can't talk too much of a big game about leash manners. Though B is not a mad puller she likes to be just far enough a head of where she knows she is supposed to be. If I stop in my tracks...it cracks people up how she takes a big jump backwards to get back into the "heel" spot as fast as she can so we start going again. We are both FAR more partial to our off lead hikes (we are spoiled with an amazing trail system connected to our neighborhood) so I don't actively leash walk like I should.
GOOD LUCK! |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
MH
Posts:1208
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| 09/07/2012 7:01 PM |
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| We tried them, didn't like them much. It slowed both our dogs down some but trying to get one on Windsor was a PITA, he kept moving his head away saying Get the thing away from me! Then I noticed it would rest right below their eyes and I didn't like the fit. So they are back to a regular leash with e collars for correction. Velvet is good with hers. Windsor needs occasional correction - he is such a bad walking dog. We never had them as pups so there was no training from the get go. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
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| 09/07/2012 7:40 PM |
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My first post the photo you posted didn't load... Sorry for asking the obvious question when I asked if you were using the head lead or halter style lol.
Like Smylinatcha, I don't care for how it sits on their face. Though Bella does not try to pull through it, once off it left a flattened line of hair that I did not like. It fluffed after some rubbing, but still. I forget to mention to that I have seen so many people using them incorrectly. Using it to lessen pulling, but allowed the dog to still pull heavily with it on. It is not designed to allow the dog to still pull ahead, and if your dogs do that, I'd use what TexasBelle suggested. Also make sure it is on correctly for the best comfort. Looks pretty good in your pic. The nose portion should be able to be moved from below the eyes to the tip of the nose easily, but without being able to come off. The back strap should sit firmly and fairly tight behind the ears. I hate how, no matter how I try to level out the two, if seems to be very uncomfortable under her muzzle where all the straps come together and the leash connector hangs. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1191
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| 09/07/2012 7:41 PM |
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| OH, and non dog people will shoot you evil looks because they think you have your dog muzzled. OR, look at her like she is a vicious dog lol. I further do not care for those annoying occurrences. |
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stlbirddogs
Near St. Louis, Missouri
MH
Posts:147
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| 09/08/2012 7:15 AM |
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Several years ago the gal across the street used one of these for her Lab. He was young and wild and it was the only thing she found that worked with him. One day a policeman knocked at our door asking if we had a black lab, we had a black and a yellow, so he told me there was an animal abuse report. Jokingly I asked if the report came from my dogs because they didn't get their waffles that morning.... Apparently they had a report of someone walking a black Lab with his mouth tied shut..... Our Lab was 13 at the time and explained that I didn't even leash her when she was out and said it was probably about the dog across the street. I explained to him what it was called the neighbor over and we did a short demo for the policeman who just shook his head. While it was a bit funny it was quite annoying that someone who had no idea what they were talking about had reported it and also told them the wrong house.
Personally I use a pinch collar for my pullers and the others their flat collar. |
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Breeze - GSP
Dusty - Vizsla
The Brat Pack: Heidi, Hershey,Tank, Spot & Zero |
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