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The Gentle Leader® is NOT
a muzzle! |
| When fitted properly, your
dog can still open his mouth to eat, drink, pant, fetch and bark -
except when you pull on the leash to close his mouth. the Gentle Leader
stops pulling and lunging, prevents jumping, controls barking and
begging and can also help manage other behavior problems. It consists of
two soft nylon straps: the nose loop fits loosely and comfortably around
your dog's muzzle, and the neck strap fits high on the back of the neck.
Like a halter on a horse, it enables you to guide your dog's nose and
head, giving you more control over the dog with less physical strength.
The design applies pressure to the back of the neck rather than the
front of the throat, which reduces your dog's drive to pull forward and,
as a result, eliminates any choking. Overall, the Gentle Leader is more
humane than the correction collar because it requires less forceful
corrections. The Gentle
Leader needs to be adjusted before you put it on your dog for the first
tie. The proper fit is very important in making your dog's experience
with the Gentle Leader a pleasant one, and also eliminates unnecessary
problems such as excessive pawing, rubbing and resistance, or chafing of
the nose. Visit
www.gentleleader.com for an in-depth description on how to fit it
properly. |
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Walking on a LOOSE leash with the Gentle Leader®
headcollar |
| Training a new puppy or dog
to walk on a leash can be a tricky situation if the dog has never walked
on one before. It is important for them to get accustomed to wearing a
collar, harness, or headcollar first before attempting to walk with them
on a leash. Make it fun by using kibble or treats! You should also train
your dog to walk loosely on the leash because the leash, itself,
signifies control. Any tension on the leash represents a struggle for
control. As soon as the dog pulls on the leash, he takes over control
and becomes the "leader" with you becoming the follower. The Gentle
Leader is a great tool to help your dog make the transition to walking
on a loose leash, and it is preferred to traditional collars by many
trainers, veterinarians, and behaviorists. |
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Helpful hints on introducing the Gentle Leader®
to your dog:
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Start the first day the puppy/dog is
home!
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Use food rewards, toys, and games to
make a positive association to wearing the headcollar.
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Week One: Offer the dog a
treat through the nose loop. While the dog is chewing, buckle the
neck strap. Continue to feed the dog a few treats, and then take the
gentle leader off. This can also be practiced at meal times -
offer a piece of food through the nose loop, close the neck strap,
and let the dog eat with the gentle leader on. As soon as he has
finished his meal, take the gentle leader off.
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Week Two: At mealtime, take
some food in your hand, put the gentle leader on as described above,
then use the other pieces to lure the dog around, feeding him a
treat every few steps. If he fusses, try to distract him with food.
Gradually increase the distance the dog can walk while wearing the
headcollar without fussing! From this stage on you can substitute
the dog's food for his favorite toy.
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Week Three: Attach the leash
to the control ring on the headcollar. Holding the other end,
encourage the dog to follow you for a short walk outside in your
yard or on a quiet street. At first, let the dog lead the way, just
keep him nice and loose as you follow him (feel free to use lures
again!). Once he is okay with walking with you with the leash
attached to the headcollar, you can start using it to very gently
guide him in the direction you want him to go. From this point on,
use the headcollar every time you take the dog out for a walk
or into public areas.
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*IMPORTANT NOTE* |
- NEVER take the gentle
leader off of your dog while he is fussing with it! This only
reinforces the behavior, and the dog will learn that fussing with it
will get you to take it off of him. Instead, wait for the dog to
settle down (even for one second!) and then take it off.
- Also, remember to make
training with the Gentle Leader® fun for
you and your dog by using various treats, toys, and games!!
Good Luck!☺
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References:
Information taken with permission from
www.gentleleader.com
Helpful hints are from Canine Companions for Independence Northeast
Regional Training Center |
| last edited
09/23/2007 |
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