About the Gentle Leader

Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 10:36 am

Recently I wrote about our good experiences with our Rottweiler Lola and a Gentle Leader headcollar. Here is some more information about this useful training tool.

The Gentle Leader was developed back in the 1980s or so by Dr. R.K. Anderson a veterinarian and Professor and Director Emeritus of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the University of Minnesota and Ruth E. Foster, Past President of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors.

At that time it was also called the Promise Headcollar, and you could only get one from a veterinarian who would fit it correctly. We had one back then for our Rhodesian Ridgeback, Cider, who pulled like a sled dog, and we liked it. If memory serves, it was more heavily made than today’s Gentle Leaders.

The principle behind how a Gentle Leader works is sometimes summarized as “It’s like a halter for a horse.” To expand on that, the Gentle Leader’s concept allows the person to control where the dog’s head goes, and where the head goes the body follows along! You do not have to use force or to be strong to use it. It helps a lot with dogs who jump up and lunge or pull.

You really DO have to fit and use it correctly, which is probably why it comes with detailed instructions. Here’s a webpage where Jean Donaldson, Ian Dunbar, and other positive-method trainers have short videos about all aspects of dog training and behavior management, including how to use the Gentle Leader: http://abrionline.org/videos.php

* One of the programs, “Loose Leash Walking Tips” is an interview with R.K. Anderson, whom I mentioned above as one of the inventors of the Gentle Leader.
* “Tips for Handling a Dog-Reactive Dog” with Jean Donaldson and Ian Dunbar, is also on the topic, and there are more.

Here’s the quote from Ian Dunbar that predisposed me to get one:

“I have found the Gentle Leader to be extremely effective in dealing with a variety of problems. Specifically, it is invaluable for dogs which pull on leashes and for dogs which lunge at other dogs or people. The Gentle Leader provides a quick and easy-to-use, humane option for concerned owners.” –Dr. Ian Dunbar, renowned animal behaviorist and veterinarian, Berkeley, CA

Where to Get a Gentle Leader?

As I mentioned, I got mine from Sitstay. Click on the Promotion Code DOGLOVER and save 10% on your next order. This link takes you to their homepage, then just click on Collars, Harnesses and Gentle Leader is one of the choices. On each Gentle Leader page, they have some very useful comments about Gentle Leaders. Plus they carry them in all sizes and a gazillion colors.

Dogwise doesn’t carry them. I went to Amazon to get a link from there, only to discover that Sitstay fills the order, so you may as well go right to Sitstay anyway. (I do like to support small businesses, specially ones as well run as this one and when the prices are about the same.)

And here’s a link, with a picture of a Gentle Leader, from Only Natural Pet Store, where I sometimes also get supplies: