Got the Gentle Leader...

I know when I started using the Gentle leader, I was wowed as well. Of course I paid $45 for mine

Like Valium for dogs...

Some dogs will get used to it and start to pull, so take this opportunity to work on his heeling, just in case.

We tried the gentle leader and I had the same experience with the indentation on the hair. It got so bad that it was actually rubbing the hair off. In my case, it was easier on me than on the dog. She couldn't pull but it wasn't because she didn't want to. It's hard to get weight and power behind her nose like she could on a regular flat collar or harness. I thought it was much easier on my arms but she hated it and would take it off whenever she could. I also didn't like it because I didn't feel like she was learning anything. She had to stay with me, but I could go back to a regular collar because she'd just be pulling again. Very stubborn girl. And of course there's the stupid people who think it's a muzzle. I've seen people who have had success but I was never able to get her to stop moving into it, so we were forever walking with it pulling on her nose. She reminded of a horse when you've got the reins tight, nose to chest.

On the advice of a dog trainer we were seeing who also worked with Police Dogs and other high drive breeds, we went to the prong and were able to actually teach loose leash walking and switch back to the flat collar within 4 months.

My trainer (as well as a classmate with 3 GSD's) both recommended the prong after I told them I purchased the GL. So I think we may get Chevy fitted for a prong and see how that works. Using a regular flat buckle collar is not working, he pulls so much he choaks himself, same with the martingale and regular choak. I've tried all different approaches too and he still pulls. We've had success with the GL as I stated in my first post but it still makes me nervous because it seems so thin and it's only around his head, etc. I don't like the way it looks and the way it leaves a mark on his muzzle (even though it's not tight at all). The GL works(!) but as soon as I use his regular collar, it's take off like a jet time and I so want to get him to walk "nice" on a regular flat collar. Sigh...I've spent more on collars and such than I ever dreamed I would! lol

I picked up the gentle leader last Friday and used it over the weekend. It didn't work out so well.

I had intended to buy a prong collar, but backed out of it once I saw it and became quite confused about how it would work. I then saw the gentle leader and figured, "what the heck, might as well try it." Now I wish I didn't

Her biggest problem while on our walks is her dog aggression (and motorcycles and joggers). I had heard that prongs would be bad for aggression, and the gentle leader perfect for handling aggression. Ugh. Not with Taedyn. Instead when she'd lose it, she'd start flopping around like a fish out of water. It was horrible, I had even less control over her than I did using the easy walk harness.

She *still* pulled. She figured out how to hold her head just right so she could still forge ahead, closing the nose loop shut in the process. Additionally, when she'd get stressed (like seeing dogs, joggers or motorcycles) she would start heavily panting with her tongue hanging out. But, then when she'd pull, it'd shut her mouth and she'd bite her tongue!

I watched the DVD and read further information online from various sources, and fitted it just as it was recommended. However, Taedyn's reaction was certainly not one someone mentioned! Pulling was touted as impossible, yet Taedyn pulled anyway.

I only used it for two days, and Taedyn now has a raised welt across her muzzle. Even though it's been two days since I last tried it, it appears the welt is growing. Hopefully it will go away shortly, if not it'll be cause for a trip to the vet.

I then decided to really get the prong collar this time. I read up on how it is fitted and how to use it, and discovered much better results. When passing a dog/motorcycle/jogger she simply let out a low groaning growl without any lunging or barking. I was also able to walk her most of the time using just one finger on the leash!

I think that the gentle leader will still have it's place as a training tool. I may use it as backup when walking in the city, and when working on her rock obsession. Essentially instances where I need more fine tune control of her head. However, it's not a good tool for training Taedyn where there is a risk of coming across one of her triggers.

I got the gentle leader last night. After watching most of the video (I skipped the short nosed dog sections and the ones that did not apply to us) we attempted to fit it. Since Mandalay is still so wiggly, it took my husband and I a bit of time to get it on her and get it fitted right. The all heck broke loose. She did the rubbing on the floor and the pawing at her head and the whining and the running and the laying there looking like she was about to cry.

After I thought all the drama was over, I took her outside where she did the whole scene again, only in the grass this time. I got her attention with treats and she kinda sorta in a round about sort of way almost walked near me without too much of a hassle.

I brought her back inside, took the leash off and left the halter on. When she realized I was not going to take it off she calmed down. I took her back outside, this time out front on the sidewalk and I noticed a difference in how she handled the leash. It is going to take some self-training as I am used to having to pull harder at the leash to correct her and this requires no actual tugging so a couple times I ended up turning her toward her and there we were looking at eachother with "well, now what" expressions.

I walked her up and down the sidewalk a few times and there was enough of a difference that I feel that this is going to work out well. I am going to go home today and put the halter back on her and just let her wear it around the house again to give her time to get used to it. Since I will be home all weekend, I am going to leave it on her as much as possible over the weekend, too.

Thank you all for recommending this...I really do think it is going to work out well for her heel training.