The Gentle Leader Head Halter: A Nice Way to Train - McCann Professional Dog Trainers

The Gentle Leader Head Halter: A Nice Way to Train

If you have a young dog who has yet to master the skills of walking nicely on leash or facing tough distractions, an equipment change can help. Dogs who are very strong and powerful, or highly susceptible to distractions can benefit from a Gentle Leader head halter.

There are several different brands of head halters on the market. We prefer the Gentle Leader brand due to its secure fit and calming influence.

Often people are reluctant to use a head halter for various reasons. Often, they are worried people will confuse it with a muzzle. This is not the case. A properly fit Gentle Leader allows for full range of motion. Dogs can open their mouths fully, eat easily and bark as they would be able to off of a Gentle Leader. Other concerns are that they will have to rely on the tool forever. Just like a leash, we consider the Gentle Leader to be a training tool. Use it as you need it to help your dog learn. Once they understand the lessons you are teaching, it’s time to wean away from it. The weaning process is another reason we prefer the Gentle Leader brand of head halter. It offers a half-way point that others don’t. We can help you make the transition from head halter to flat collar.

We’d like to share our methods for getting a dog properly fit and used to the Gentle Leader head halter in this short video.

Hi! I'm Shannon Viljasoo and I joined the McCann team in 1999 while training Quincey, my wonderful and spirited Rottweiler, to have good listening skills. I'm the Director of Online Training and Content for McCann Professional Dog Trainers and I enjoy writing about dogs and dog training for the McCann blog. I currently share my life with 2 Tollers (Reggie & Ned) and I love helping people develop the best possible relationship with their 4-legged family members.

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