Could you explain what a gentle lead is? I am from NZ so things are named different but my mother has used a lead which clips around their muzzle so when you pull back on them, their head is lifted up towards to you..is this the same thing?
We have been talking to a man who breeds and trains Rottweilers in our town. His animals are obedience champions and I have seen how he works with his dogs - he is calm but forceful and I think Ali may work really well with him. We have asked him if he would consider working with Ali in terms of her obedience on the lead around other dogs and introducing his wife with some of their dogs later on so we are not involved and she does not feel protective.
Does anyone have any thoughts on that idea? He is not a behaviourist as such, (we do not have animal behavourists in our town but do have obedience trainers etc), but I am more than comfortable to have someone like him work with our girl. It may also be a chance for Ali to socialise with a dogs bigger than her outside of Axle.
Hello, just saw your post and I found this article on a gentle lead for you. Hope it is of some help. Good luck.
First of all, the Gentle Leader® headcollar is NOT a muzzle. When fitted properly, your dog is free to open his mouth to eat, drink, pant, fetch, bark and even bite - except when you close his mouth by pulling on the leash.
The Gentle Leader® headcollar features two soft nylon straps - the collar portion fits high at the top of the neck, and the nose loop fits loosely and comfortably across the base of the muzzle. Each strap has a distinct and important effect.
The Nose Loop - Dogs are naturally "pack" animals with a highly structured social order. One of the ways the "pack leader" will demonstrate his position is to gently but firmly grasp a subordinate's muzzle in his mouth. This is a non-aggressive but very clear signal regarding who's the boss! The Gentle Leader®'s nose loop encircles your dog's muzzle in this same manner, letting him know in his own language that you are his leader. Dogs feel more secure when they know who the leader is.
The Neck Strap - Have you noticed how puppies seem to melt in relaxation when their mother picks them up at the back of the neck? Gentle Leader® applies pressure to the back of the neck rather than the front of the throat, working with your dog's natural relaxation instinct with an amazing calming effect. Also, dogs tend to pull against pressure so the gentle pressure at the back of the neck causes the dog to pull backward, not forward. This means an end to leash-pulling forever!
