Which would be better, easy walk harness or a gentle leader???? SERIOUS PULLER

[beasleymom]

Beasley is so short-nosed that a gentle leader would dig right into the corners of his eyes...so we use a SPORN Halter for walkies. We're even getting to where the training we've done using the SPORN has started to pay off when I have to just put a leash on his flat collar. If he starts pulling then I stop and tell him to stop...wait...and then release him on GO when I'M ready to walk. It's amazing what a little training will do but we've totally needed the assistance of that SPORN halter. I'd highly recommend one. Easy to put on, easy to fit. Beasley never fought me to put it on.

 

[Doja's Mommy]

What is a sporn halter?

I'm afraid that if I use a harness it will not work. She's already used to still pulling hard on the traditional harness. I decided to be more vigilant and stern with her training for the next couple weeks to see if I can get her to walk nicely without any of this stuff. Its been difficult so far, but she has been used to doing things her way. Now its time to do things my way. I actually found some treats that she can have, theyre called yogurt drops. She loves em, and they work just like the rest of the training treats. So I will see how this goes and if it doesn't work, I think I'm gonna try the GL.

 

[MinPin2Boxer]

I currently have a halti collar (similar to the Gentle Leader), a sporn harness, and the gentle leader easy walk harness. The halti rubbed Simba around the eyes and he fought it alot. Next came the sporn, didn't work, so I bought the easy walk harness. It works great! I think with most things it depends on the dog and owners preference. Over all, the best thing is to work with and train the dog to walk next to you without pulling with just a regular collar. Of course, I'm still working on my two boxers to do that. So good luck with whatever you do get and hope it works.

 

[LilygirlCO]

We bought the easy walk harness for Lily and it worked miracles! It doesn't bother her at all and she will not pull with it on, but if we don't have it on, she pulls like crazy! She's already 7months old and can pull me down the road. She knows though when we stick that harness on her, she is not allowed to pull and she is fine with it. I recommend it highly!!

 

[beasleymom]

What is a sporn halter?

Their website is very informative and gives information about how to fit the SPORN correctly...

http://www.sporn.com/

Just offering this as a suggestion - every dog is different and what works for one may not work for another. I've just had such a great experience using this with Beasley that I thought I'd share.

Good luck to you and Doja!!!

 

[albranyo]

I tried the Gentle Leader, and Karley hates it (rolling around, pawing at her nose, etc.) but it works great once she settles down. We had to stop using it though, because if she does try to go after something then the nose-piece slides around and rubs blisters. At first I thought I had it adjusted incorrectly but I took her to a behaviorist/trainer who said the fit was perfect.
Has anyone else had this problem? (it scared me when I noticed a bald patch hidden in the folds of skin)

 

[Stacy W.]

I have never used a halti or gentle leader. But my obediance instructor discouraged using them. She stated that she feels that if a dog is one that will run after something, it can be dangerious. If the dog runs and gets to the end of the line suddenly, it can snap back and hurt thier neck (even break it?). I know that this is not the intention of the gentle leader, it is for walking only, not for being on a long line or allowing them to run, but when I thaught about it, it was kind of scarry, if I was walking Shelby and stopped to talk to someone, she usually sits, but if she were to see a rabbit or something, she may forget and dash after it, get to the end of the leash before I could call her off and it could really hurt her neck, more so than if she did the same thing with a plane buckle collar or a harness. To those of you that do use these halters, have you had any problems like this?

 

[Choppers mom]

hi i have been taking my 8 month old boxer to classes and she said that any harness is bad i makes them want to pull. i have been using a training collar it works wonders.!!!!!! my 6 year old daughter can actually walk him some times with it. i know what you mean about them pulling you. Everyone used to say to me "who's walking who?" any way this definatley helped.

 

[kcttiger]

I hear you on the pulling issue. This is what worked for me. Harley is a larger size boxer and his strength amazes me. Our vet and obedience instructor recommended HALTI. It is also cheaper by afw dollars at petsmart than gentle leader. It was new to us but is a different boy on the halti. we usually put the collar on him when walking him, for the collar has his tags on it, then the halti over it. It worked miracles, at first he fought it but after about 3 uses he did great. He was such a joy to walk on it. THEN WE LOST IT! i figured he could walk with just the collar, he is older now and trained. And then he drug us all over the neighborhood it was embarrassing, and i was stubborn, i thought after a couple weeks he would learn. He is stronger willed than we are, i bought a new HALTI and we are walking happily again and i have control. Give it a try.
NOW how do i get him to walk well without it? I have trained him to walk nicely on the halti but off of it pulls my arms off.

 

[Doja's Mommy]

I actually bought a Halti, was gonna take it back today. The one I got is too big, but we tried it anyways, just to see if she would leave it alone and she was going wild. I have been very vigilant with her the last few weeks about walking nicely, and she seems to be getting it. I might just return the halti today and continue with regular training, as my idea is no halti or harness or or gentle leader. I'm trying and it seems to be paying off.

I'll let everyone know how it goes. Its a pain, stopping every two or three feet. But as soon as she understands, as long as your feeling your collar choke you, we are not going anywhere!