Update: I’m using a gentle leader it’s changing my life
- Thread starter theriz
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- reactive dogs success
@cloud660 This is mine, too! He hasn't fully mastered his walking manners due to the leash reactivity. The gentle leader means I actually have some leverage. I have hurt my hands more than once using just a harness (double clip front and back). His 65 pounds of determination is too much for me. But the leader means more opportunities to praise positive behavior
mshanzel23
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warrenlitton
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@mshanzel23 I feel like my dog uses her neck to force her way with the gently leader making me worried she would strain her neck! I stop using it after she kept rubbing her nose on the floor after we walked with a gentle leader
mshanzel23
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@warrenlitton My girl didn't seem to strain herself, but that's going to massively depend on the particular dog and their neck. She was a German shepherd mutt, stocky and strong. She was a pip. I wish I'd known then what I do now about training, especially reactive things. I was clueless and went to a bad trainer that in hindsight made it all so much worse.
Both her and my current dog rub their noses a lot with it, but I attribute that to me not introducing it slowly enough and just general itchiness. My dog now gets an itchy sneezy nose at the least little things. Or maybe she just likes rubbing her face on our couch, haha!
ETA: Have you found anything you like to replace it? I really like the control it gives me of my current dog's face when we're around people, but I would love to try something else for walks.
Both her and my current dog rub their noses a lot with it, but I attribute that to me not introducing it slowly enough and just general itchiness. My dog now gets an itchy sneezy nose at the least little things. Or maybe she just likes rubbing her face on our couch, haha!
ETA: Have you found anything you like to replace it? I really like the control it gives me of my current dog's face when we're around people, but I would love to try something else for walks.
warrenlitton
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@mshanzel23 I use a prong collar. Walks with her have been much more enjoyable. She doesn’t rub her nose on the carpet after walks anymore.
she's a brat.pedrocosta
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@derp Basically, the collar does nothing to stop the reactivity initially just by wearing it, but once they react in their typical manner and have their neck cranked around by the front of their face, they learn pretty quick barring any kind of permanent injury! Also, it's double the fun because it's an older dog!
A gentle leader is going to do absolutely nothing to address the issues this person is having with their dog, other than being a band-aid solution while they're out on a walk.
When dogs are as reactive as this one apparently is, and, "gone after so many family members", it's time for a legitimate trainer, not ordering something off amazon.
So, they can say fuck it all they want. Doesn't change the fact that they are doing absolutely nothing to address the behaviour beyond medication and a head harness.
Please, if your dog is highly reactive, do the right thing and hire a legitimate dog trainer to help you out before something bad happens and your dog ends up paying the price for your lack of proper action.
A gentle leader is going to do absolutely nothing to address the issues this person is having with their dog, other than being a band-aid solution while they're out on a walk.
When dogs are as reactive as this one apparently is, and, "gone after so many family members", it's time for a legitimate trainer, not ordering something off amazon.
So, they can say fuck it all they want. Doesn't change the fact that they are doing absolutely nothing to address the behaviour beyond medication and a head harness.
Please, if your dog is highly reactive, do the right thing and hire a legitimate dog trainer to help you out before something bad happens and your dog ends up paying the price for your lack of proper action.
@eve_marie Ouch, I see, poor dogs... thanks for the reply, though.
I notice that the more my dog is pulling on his leash, the more reactive he is towards his triggers. He doesn't lunge though, he "only" barks. I thought that maybe if the collar could help with pulling, it could by extension help with reactivity. We've been working on loose leash walking since we got my dog (using "traditional methods", not with a GL), and it has actually done wonders for his reactivity (in addition to working on the reactivity itself, of course). It's like the loose leash walking has made him calmer and he has gained more self control.
However, solely using the leader to stop a dog from reacting doesn't sound like the best idea...
I notice that the more my dog is pulling on his leash, the more reactive he is towards his triggers. He doesn't lunge though, he "only" barks. I thought that maybe if the collar could help with pulling, it could by extension help with reactivity. We've been working on loose leash walking since we got my dog (using "traditional methods", not with a GL), and it has actually done wonders for his reactivity (in addition to working on the reactivity itself, of course). It's like the loose leash walking has made him calmer and he has gained more self control.
However, solely using the leader to stop a dog from reacting doesn't sound like the best idea...
@derp
Absolutely. Impulse control is a major component of reactivity. Think about it in terms of something like road rage; the people with impulse control aren't the ones losing their minds, flipping people off and being a general menace out there.
The more a dog pulls, the more tension is being created, and they're being rewarded for that tension inadvertently, most likely, thereby creating kind of a feedback loop situation. If there is constant tension on the leash, you're also conditioning the dog to the collar being tight around their neck, which means over time your dog will care less and less about pulling.
It's hard to say for sure over a post on reddit, but if you're dog is reacting that means they're over their threshold. If your dog is under threshold, they won't notice whatever the distraction is, and conditioning is pointless. If they're over threshold, they won't focus on anything but the distraction, and conditioning is hopeless.
The goal is to find your dogs sweet spot where they notice the distraction, but you're still able to redirect them back to you and rewarding with whatever method you choose for ignoring the distraction. If you aren't able to set up a controlled environment with a trainer, the next best thing is finding somewhere populated with whatever triggers your dog that allows you to maintain the spacing you need to work them. As your dog's impulse control improves, you start to close the distance on whatever the distraction is, finding the new sweet spot.
Whether you use food, or toys, or attention as a reward is pretty irrelevant, as long as your dog values it. There are a few things you can do to increase the value of whatever reward you choose, but it depends on what that is.
A gentle leader isn't going to help with any of that. If you really wanted to go with the corrective collar approach, a prong is a hundred times better because it allows you to communicate much more effectively what you want from your dog. Like any tool though, it can be counter-productive if not used properly.
Absolutely. Impulse control is a major component of reactivity. Think about it in terms of something like road rage; the people with impulse control aren't the ones losing their minds, flipping people off and being a general menace out there.
The more a dog pulls, the more tension is being created, and they're being rewarded for that tension inadvertently, most likely, thereby creating kind of a feedback loop situation. If there is constant tension on the leash, you're also conditioning the dog to the collar being tight around their neck, which means over time your dog will care less and less about pulling.
It's hard to say for sure over a post on reddit, but if you're dog is reacting that means they're over their threshold. If your dog is under threshold, they won't notice whatever the distraction is, and conditioning is pointless. If they're over threshold, they won't focus on anything but the distraction, and conditioning is hopeless.
The goal is to find your dogs sweet spot where they notice the distraction, but you're still able to redirect them back to you and rewarding with whatever method you choose for ignoring the distraction. If you aren't able to set up a controlled environment with a trainer, the next best thing is finding somewhere populated with whatever triggers your dog that allows you to maintain the spacing you need to work them. As your dog's impulse control improves, you start to close the distance on whatever the distraction is, finding the new sweet spot.
Whether you use food, or toys, or attention as a reward is pretty irrelevant, as long as your dog values it. There are a few things you can do to increase the value of whatever reward you choose, but it depends on what that is.
A gentle leader isn't going to help with any of that. If you really wanted to go with the corrective collar approach, a prong is a hundred times better because it allows you to communicate much more effectively what you want from your dog. Like any tool though, it can be counter-productive if not used properly.
@eve_marie You made a lot of ignorant assumptions for karma and assume the dog hasn’t been to trainers. 
good job!
good job!@theriz Why would I care about karma?
I don't have to make any assumptions; you have a 7 year old dog that's highly reactive, to the point it's gone after several of your family members.
This dismissive attitude you have is likely what got you into this situation in the first place.
Wish you the best. I'm sure things will turn out great.
I don't have to make any assumptions; you have a 7 year old dog that's highly reactive, to the point it's gone after several of your family members.
This dismissive attitude you have is likely what got you into this situation in the first place.
Wish you the best. I'm sure things will turn out great.
onagooddaydevout
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dramatic444
New member
@theriz I have the Halti brand head collar and it clips to the collar just in case he works out of it. He hasn’t yet but I like the added prevention. The Halti made a world of difference for my dog. He hated it at first but now he just puts his snout it when we get ready to go for a walk. There are a couple different models but this is the one I use
https://www.amazon.com/Halti-Headco...words=halti+head+collar&qid=1647495270&sr=8-6
https://www.amazon.com/Halti-Headco...words=halti+head+collar&qid=1647495270&sr=8-6
@theriz It is a game changer for us. After 2 trainers advised against them and having no improvement. We ended up with the bite incident (He is dog reactive and terrified of strangers). Our vet referred us to a veterinary behaviourist and they first thing she said was use one immediately. He is a big dog and like a horse it will control the head and the body will follow. Within a week we had him walking down busy promenades and lots of dogs walking feet away.
I was concerned we were forcing him not to react but the behaviourist said over time he will accept this is the new norm and to give lots of treats when he doesn’t react.
He is even turning his head away and sniffing plants totally distracted when dogs walk by.
He is not perfect, we have a few dogs in the housing estate we live in he HATES, but we are working on that. I’m annoyed I wasted 2 years with trainers that didn’t really help and took a very expensive consultation to find what worked for him.
Best of luck!
I was concerned we were forcing him not to react but the behaviourist said over time he will accept this is the new norm and to give lots of treats when he doesn’t react.
He is even turning his head away and sniffing plants totally distracted when dogs walk by.
He is not perfect, we have a few dogs in the housing estate we live in he HATES, but we are working on that. I’m annoyed I wasted 2 years with trainers that didn’t really help and took a very expensive consultation to find what worked for him.
Best of luck!