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gentle leaders and leash transfer

Posted August 19th, 2009 by Vonne123

Hi Aiden,

I wanted to know your experience with gentle leaders and then switching to conventional leash and collar.

I am volunteering at a local humane shelter where they use prong/pinch collars as standard collars for all dogs over 30 pounds. I have never been a fan of them and have watched volunteers, new and experienced jerk, and sometimes drag on these collars while walking the dogs. It is not conscious, and I have reacted myself with more force than I would want to, but I would like to see another method tried.

My question is two fold...

what is the success rate from a dog used to a gentle leader to a conventional collar and leash when adopted?

How long would you need to use the GL before the dog would be conditioned not to tug/drag on a conventional leash.

I look forward to hearing from you
Christy and "Hedy"

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re: gentle leaders and leash transfer

Aidan's picture
On August 19th, 2009 Aidan says:

Hi Christy, good questions. Gentle Leaders work very well to give the handler more control. In many cases, they will stop pulling outright. In most cases, some conditioning is required before the dog will accept the Gentle Leader, and if this is not done, then the dog will be unhappy and the walker will be unhappy.

Most people seem hell-bent on transitioning their dog from the GL to a flat collar. I have no idea why, so long as the dog is correctly conditioned and accepts the GL happily (some dogs won't no matter what you do). I suspect sometimes it just comes down to pride, though.

The GL gives you leverage, and if the dog has been correctly conditioned to the GL they will have no problem wearing it. If you are a small person with a strong dog, then there are some safety advantages to using a GL even with a dog who is not a puller.

That said, the transition from GL to flat collar is pretty straightforward. You buy a double-ended leash, or a second leash, and phase out use of the GL gradually. Then you just have the dog wear the GL without it being clipped to a leash for a couple of weeks.

Gentle Leaders actually come with a very good DVD that shows you how to use them. Training the walkers in their correct use would be required. You cannot give any leash corrections using a GL, so in a culture that is reliant upon leash corrections I can't see them being adopted for use willingly.

The conditioning phase does not take long. I like to teach dogs to put the GL on themselves - as in I hold the GL out and the dog puts their own nose through the loop. They I just have them wear it for short periods, extending in time. There's no rush, so I don't put the leash on until they are happy to just walk around with the GL on without a leash. When I do attach a leash, I start in a low distraction environment and just have them walk beside me, using a food lure or target if necessary.

Some people have concerns about injury if a dog lunges, or is pulled suddenly while wearing a GL. After a lot of research and asking a lot of people, I cannot find a substantiated claim of injury attributable to the GL or any other head collar. On the other hand, there is plenty of hard evidence of dogs who have received injuries directly attributable to check chains or even just plain, flat collars.

Good luck with it. From the sounds of it you could be facing an uphill battle. If the culture at your shelter doesn't already recognise the inherent risks in unskilled hands using prong collars, then my guess is that there will be many steps between where you are now and where you want to be. Be prepared to accept small victories would be my advice!

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

Gentle Leaders

On August 22nd, 2009 K9sbehave says:

For Christy,
There is another type of walking device, made by Premier, called an Easy Walker, a harness.
I also use a long leash, slung over the withers, then up between the dogs front legs and attached to the flat collar (I make my own leashes for training, with a special ring on the leash to attach to the collar with the leashes clip) it's all about body reactions, the dogs can't pull And push up against the pressure on it's back at the same time. I think the key here is using your reinforcement such as Click & Treat when the dog is keeping the fixed length leash loose and eventually walking in the zone. The nose loop on the GL can be removed as a "Treat" when the dog starts staying longer in the zone and checking it's self. I know volunteers do not always have these tools, but someone like your self can start showing people there is a difference in a different way of training.
Good Luck and bless you for caring.
www.k9sbehave.

Gentle leaders

On August 24th, 2009 Vonne123 says:

Dear Aiden ( and K9behave),
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. Aiden, I have heard much of the same contained in your email: possible injury to dog, not so simple as just put it on, handler's experience, etc,. It sounds like such a no brainer... very much like a martingale on horses.... NOT!

And K9- I have heard a lot of positive on the premiere easy walk harness. It sounds like long-reining horses. Unfortunately, the humane society foots the bill for walking gear, and to have the appropriately fitted harnesses for all the dog adoption rotations.. well, it won't happen. And many of the volunteers are good hearted people who just want to walk with the dogs. There are a few of us who really enjoy the training part...but we are the minority.

I am not thrilled with continuing with prong/pinch collars, but the volunteers are familiar with them. There is talk about a "command" collar being used which seems a gentler version of the prong.

Thanks again for the info...
Christy ( and my buddy Hedy Lamar - Aiden she will be a year in Sept! Hard to believe it was not just the other day I emailed about her biting and grooming.. we are still working on that one)

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