PetSafe Gentle Leader Head Collar with Training DVD, Large 60-130 LBS., Silver

I have another Gentle Leader for my 150-pound Rottie, and I purchased this one for my 80-pound rescue mixed breed dog who pulled on every walk like he was at the start of the Iditarod. I've had 15 or so dogs in the last 20 years, and I've used Gentle Leaders with a number of them, including a Labrador I worked for search and rescue. I started using them when I lived in the ice and snow of Wisconsin, so my dogs wouldn't pull me down on a walk and to give me more control when my dogs really, really wanted something they shouldn't have (another dog's ball, garbage, etc.) As expected, my dog resisted at first, and bucked and shook his head like a little stallion wearing his first bridle. For the first few times, I just used the Gentle Leader to take him to potty across the street to get him used to it. After a few sessions, he was fine with putting it on for longer walks, during which he would occasionally try to fuss with it and pull it off with his paws. My suggestions from experience are to first of all make sure the strap that goes around the back of the head is fastened high and tight behind the ears. This allows a little more play in the nose band without the dog being able to get it off. Then, adjust the nose band so that you can slip a finger under it, but not so loose that you can pull it down the dog's snout. (Mine came with a DVD that I assume explains this, but having used Gentle Leaders before, I didn't watch it.) When out walking, if your dog starts to mess with it, distract it with fun games, like "Let's go explore over here," and your dog will forget all about it. In less than a week, mine pays no attention to it, other than to respond to my gently turning his head when he starts to pull too hard on the leash or go somewhere I don't want him to go. I can walk him with one hand, which I couldn't do before. If your dog fusses with putting it on in the first place, you can use a treat in your palm as a distraction and reward when you slip on the nose band, and your dog will start to associate the Gentle Leader with a positive experience, especially if putting it on precedes a walk. I give my dog's nose a rub too when I take the Gentle Leader off and praise him for doing a good job with his new collar. These last a really long time (my Rottie's is going on 10 years old). I wash mine occasionally and line dry them. When I put them on, I always check the integrity of the nylon and the plastic buckles, but so far so good. I did make the mistake once of leaving my Lab's Gentle Leader out where he could get it, and he chewed it to smithereens (probably smelled like all the wonderful stuff he had rubbed his nose in and all the dogs he had met wearing it). So, if your dog is a chewer, keep your Gentle Leader up high! If you have someone else walk your dogs who isn't familiar with the Gentle Leader, be prepared to show them a few times how to use it (most pros and doggy day cares are familiar with them now). And never use the Gentle Leader with a long line (too dangerous if the dog hits the end of the line hard), only regular length leashes. I don't think you can pair this with a basket muzzle either--too many places where the straps overlap, making it uncomfortable for the dog and difficult to put on. Speaking of which, be prepared for people to think your dog is wearing a muzzle. My first Gentle Leader actually came with a button that said, "It's not a muzzle!" I just tell people it's the dog equivalent of a horse halter that gives me more control over the dog by having control of the nose.

I have a 60 pound Boxer with leash aggression/reactivity. She is pretty much a nightmare to walk if a jogger, stroller, biker, garbage truck, walker, school bus, or UPS truck drives by and FORGET it if we pass another dog. We've tried harnesses, shock and prog collars, positive rewards- you name it, we've tried it- with the prong collar she pulled so hard when a jogger went by that she literally cut off her the ability to breathe (but continued to pull while I was at a stop)- she just, as a white girl would say, 'cannot' when there is other stimulus in the area. I have found that these Gentle Leaders are the best option for her. She's not a fan of it and you can tell that she's embarrassed wearing it (which I explain that if she didn't act like an idiot on walks she wouldn't have to wear it) but she is far more focused and able to keep her marbles together when we pass a stimulus target and also listens better to commands. There are great instructions included with this leader that help you get the proper fit for your pup. Once that it done putting it on each time is a breeze. There are a few observations I would like to make from our extended use that may be helpful to others with similar situations: 1. I've had a similar leader in the past (different brand) that had an additional clasp that hooked onto the collar for extra security- while that's a nice feature (I'd love to see added to this one) I will say that no matter what we pass Lucy has been able to pretty much keep her wits about her and has not been able to break free of this leader. 2. Because their mouths are held fairly closed it's almost impossible for the dog to pant and cool down- they can open their mouths enough to eat small treats but not to pant- just keep that in mind if you are taking your pup on a long walk on a hot day. Take breaks to take the leader off and offer her a place to cool off and some water. 3. My dog apparently loses the ability to go potty with this thing on her face. I'm not sure HOW it's connected to the bladder/intestines but somehow she is convinced it is and WILL NOT go potty with it on her face. We usually walk with it on to a place and then remove it so she can do her thang. Maybe your dog is smarter/less stubborn than mine and can figure it out but just watch for that- she's come home and peed on the floor after a long walk because she couldn't go during the walk (durrrrrrrrrr....special). 4. The strap that hangs down and attaches to the leash can go up depending on the angle how you hold the leash and into their mouths...even with the leader on. My chewer sees this as her chance to escape to freedom so I really have to watch to see if she's somehow gotten it in her mouth and remove it before she gnaws though and escapes (again this is where the extra security strap that hooks onto the collar would come in handy). "Curses, foiled again!" I can almost hear her say. Just keep an eye on it (Lucy has a habit of making a chomping/smacking/chewing sound the whole time she wears this, presumably to assure herself that she can still get her mouth open, so I have to peek from time to time to make sure it's just air she chomping at and not the strap). Overall- this is a fantastic option for those with difficult to walk dogs. They may not love it (there is a sheet included on how to introduce them to the leader and how to get them to love it) but it's effective and easy to use. Definitely recommend!!!

My Dog doesnt pull anymore. worth every penny!

We've got two large rescue dogs (60 and 85 lbs., respectively) and, though they did have puppy class, because there were two of them--not that we planned to keep either; we're failed fosters--they didn't get the sort of individual obedience attention our previous pooch did. Neither is at all aggressive, but they are competitive with each other and both would pull constantly when walked on leash. To the point we almost never did it, just because it was so unpleasant both for us, and them. (Choking themselves the whole way and practically pulling us off our feet at least one or two times per walk.) We either had to have two adults do the walk, one for each dog, where they would then constantly compete with each other to see who could be in front. Or, we had to take them one at a time, with the one at home going absolutely bonkers about being left behind. It was, shall we say, less than ideal. Then I saw the Gentle Leader and thought, 'Well, it's worth a shot.' Not expecting much I ordered one, to test it out. Fitted on our larger, yet slightly less truculant dog and saw an immediate difference. Walked him around the neighborhood with a loose leash, for the first time ever, and only minor objections--pawing at it once or twice--to the nose strap. I immediately ordered a second head collar for other dog and we've been walking them together every day since. Neither loves the strap, but, honestly, it seems extremely gentle compared to the constant self-choking they did when the leash was attached to their regular collars and we were constantly battling to hold them. The brochure compares it to reins on a horse (without the bit, obviously), which makes sense to me. Today, for the first time in the two year we've had them, I took both for a walk at the same time, successfully and with very little pulling, even when we ran into a neighbor's dog loose in their yard. In the past, all three would have ended up running around loose, with me probably on the ground, but this time I was able to hold them fairly easily and with absolutely no drama. Hopefully we'll someday be able to go back to the standard collar, without the pulling, but, for now, my husband and I call it the "Miracle Leash" and I'm 100 percent sold!

I have an 85# 7.5mo old German Shepherd. He’s wonderfully behaved but he’s a leash puller...or he WAS. This has stopped that behavior. Instantly. I used to feel like my arm was going to be yanked from it socket. I’ve had the skin on my palm skinned off...I’ve had rope burn. I nearly broke my hand because I didn’t get out the door first. When I say it’s immediate....the result was INSTANT. My male didn’t have much trouble with the nose part. I used treats for the first week while putting it on and now he sits and sticks his nose in for me. The instructions say only a finger should fit under the collar or the nose loop. Be sure u don’t leave it loose. You WANT it to be uncomfortable if he pulls. It doesn’t hurt them...it’s just a sensation they dislike when they pull too hard. I can hold the leash with a pinky at this point. He wants to rub it off once we get back inside but I think it’s only because he knows it’s coming off anyway. Eventually I hope to phase it out once he’s used to being polite with a leash. When I use this with my female (she’s 56# at 9mo)....she hates it. She won’t do anything other than run her face on the ground and try to get it into her mouth to chew. She can bite through a leash in a minute flat. She can’t be tied “for a minute” if your out. She will snap it fast....so with that said, if ur dog isn’t a leash snapper (already knows they can snap it), they may not behave this way....but she isn’t as bad at pulling so I hope to get it under control without this amazing device. I keep trying but I don’t want her to have a bad experience with it. So if it’s going to stress her, I just stop trying. I only include my experience with her so that you know it may not work for everyone. Especially if your pup knows how to chew through a leash. She just won’t stop trying...even though it’s impossible for her to get to. I’ll say that. She CANT chew it...but she won’t walk along. She just keeps trying to snap it. Some may want to push through that to get it to work for you but like I said, she’s not my biggest puller. I’m picking a battle here lol. It has done wonders with my male. I can actually walk them both on a dual lead now without him leading a charge off to chase squirrels. You need this in your life if u have a dog that thinks your wearing water skis on the grass