Greenbriar Animal Hospital

First, get a Gentle Leader type head halter, and use a regular 4 to 6 foot nylon or leather leash (not an extendable one and not a chain leash). These training methods will not work without the proper equipment; do not try them with any kind of harness, a regular collar, or a chain/slip/choke collar.

Fitting Gentle Leader type training aids properly is very important; we recommend you bring your dog and the item you purchased to your vet or dog trainer so they can fit it for you. These devices work by reinforcing your dog’s natural training instincts, and you need to be very gentle when using them. No matter the size of your dog, a gentle but firm pull is all that is needed. Never yank or jerk on the leash when using a Gentle Leader as you can cause your dog to bite his lip or tongue!

Once you have your dog outfitted with the Gentle Leader type head halter and flat leash, go for a walk. If your dog is food motivated, make sure he is hungry and bring along treats. Otherwise, prepare to be lavish with praise when he gets it right! Start walking along, and when he pulls, give a gentle but firm pull on the leash and tell him “heel” or “with me” or “watch me” of whatever it is you want to use for a “walk with me and don’t pull” command. He will immediately turn around and come back to you (with the Gentle Leader, he will not have a choice as you have all the leverage here). Tell him “Good dog” quietly and give him a treat. Keep walking. If he is very boisterous or he sees a big temptation (a squirrel or another dog, for example), you may need to change directions on your walk. When he starts to pull (and he’s focused on whatever he sees so he’s not paying attention to you), simply turn around and start walking in the opposite direction, or take a 90 degree turn. Don’t say anything to him; ignore him. People may look at you oddly on your walk as you make abrupt turns here and there, but your dog will learn very quickly that he has to pay attention to where YOU are walking or he gets left behind or pulled around.

Never leave the Gentle leader on your dog; only use it for walks or training sessions. Use it consistently until your dog is walking politely with you; some dogs always need to be walked with this type of training aid!