Training Question #2-gentle leader

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snkoyle15

Forums Enthusiast
now for me second question, well it is kind of a 2 part one. we have started using the gentle leader with Gizmo lately because on a normal collar he would pull really hard during walks. Hard enough that i could hear him gag and choke. he would also lunge really hard at cars. (that one we have been working on with and without the leader by getting him to sit as a car comes past. he is doing MUCH better at that, most of the time.) we were afraid that he would end up really hurting himself, so we got this to try.
when wearing the gentle leader he doesnt tug nearly as bad as he did, a little here or there, but easily dealt with, most of the time he walks very well on it. BUT as soon as we take the leader off and put the normal collar back on, he goes right back to lunging and pulling.
so my first question is, how do we get him to act like he does on the gentle leader, without him having to wear it all the time? i want to be able to train him to be well behaved on walks, and be able to wear a normal collar, im just not sure how to go about it.
Also, we have used this leader several times now, but he still DOES NOT like having it on. he has gotten a lot better about tolerating it, but if we arent out walking around, then he is rubbing at it with his paws or rubbing his face in the carpet trying to get it off. im pretty sure i have it on him correctly, and fitted like the dvd says to, but he still tries to get it off.
so my second question is; do i just need to give him more time, or do i need to change something i am doing? am i doing something wrong?
 
you generally need to train first your pup to like GL. So you play lots of games like " oh look what I got" once he looks at ti give a treat, then offer threat if he puts his nose in it, etc, then tug with it, eat with it etc. So heavily rewarding for good behavior is one thing you can offer since you already started. I started with very short sessions of wearing it and slowly got to full walk with lots of treats.
It is a training tool and you need to build your pup's positive responces. Have plenty of treats during your walk and every time he behaves nicely with no lunging reward him at your leg site. Eventually you will be able to let him wear it but not clipped to the leash and if he does well then remove it completely. It all depends on your training.
 
For Lexi I used a collar/harness made by Gentle Leader, but designed for smaller dogs. Rather than a head collar it was a harness type collar that had the hook for the leash right in the front by her chest. If she pulled too hard it would just result in her being turned toward the handler.

I used that collar for a good 6 months. It worked great and when I stopped using it...no problems!
 
I've been using the GL with my dog for probably a year now, and he still tries to scratch it off every once in a while. I think he wants to check and make sure we've put it on correctly :lol:

My tip to wean your dog off the GL is to sometimes have it on him, but don't have the leash attached (attach it to his regular collar instead). Then sometimes have it attached to the GL. Then sometimes put on the GL, but don't buckle it all the way, then the next time buckle it. You want to just slowly wean him off of it.

(I still use it for my dog...I don't think I'll ever be at the point of being able to get rid of it...but he reacts no matter what, it just makes it more manageable if he has on the GL)
 
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