Gentle Leader Alternatives

JeskaBean

First Hello all and thanks for any advice you can provide.

About 6 weeks ago I adopted a 6 month old basset mix from the pound and its been an interesting ride!

My current stress with him is that recently he figured out how to back out of his walking harness and goes running through my apartment complex. After 3 consecutive evenings of this and him even running across a busy street - I picked up a Gentle Leader. Well now I'm not worried about him Houdini-ing himself out of that and running into traffic but now he's basically hurting himself.  When we "walk" - he actually just does somersaults and rubs his nose into the ground trying to remove the collar. His poor little nose bleeds. I *can* pull up on the leash and pull his head away from the ground - but that is a serious fight (and I worry I might be hurting him, more than he is hurting himself.)  The other thing is that he is eating and drinking less. I think my buddy is seriously trying to avoid eating so he doesn't HAVE to go outside. 

WHAT in the world am I doing wrong? Do I ride this out a few more days until he gets use to it? Is there a better chest collar I could use?

Thanks again 

melntaitt

First of all - stop beating yourself up. You have a feisty, healthy, intelligent dog who's giving you a run for your money

My advice is obedience training - some dogs really just need it more than others and he'll respond to the verbal and subtle physical commands instead of fighting you and hurting himself.

Can you identify a trigger outside? Another dog, loud traffic, a (perceived) threatening person?

JeskaBean

The night he figured out how he could back out of a harness: it was raining, with some distant lightening and thunder. Cooper wasn't a fan of the rain or the thunder but one good lightening crack spooked him straight out of his harness. 

Then the next evening - he wanted to go play with another dog in our back field, I wouldn't let him so he backed out of his harness and ran off. The day after that - I think he did it just so we could "play chase"  

Obedience training is next on our agenda.   

melntaitt

I think the obedience training is going to be extremely helpful

Touch base afterward and share how he's doing

sandollar1010

I swear by the easy-walk harness.  My pup was a serious puller and houdini dog.  I clip her leash to the easy-walk and also to her collar the same time.  I very much agree with formal training for him, but this is an idea to hold you over.  Our trainer actually suggested the easy-walk harness to us.  Good Luck!

bekahdrum

I also swear by the easy walk.  My Chrissy never got out of another harness, just her regular collar.  I actually gave up leashing which living in the country was an option most of the time because she did well off leash.

I would recommend giving it a try!  Especially knowing it worked with another houdini dog

mmizrach

Also it is extremely common that your dog is trying to get the gentle leader off of his head. Think about it if it was you and someone tied a rope around your face, you would try to get it off. The key is showing him the the gentle leader is not an evil thing. You need to gradually introduce him to it. If he is laying down or relaxed, bring it over to him and pet him while it is in front of him. Give him a few treats. most importantly, position the GL so the loop is open and have him take a treat out of your other hand so he has to put his mouth through the loop to get the treat. After he does this a few times, put the GL on briefly and give him lots of praise and treats when its on. If he tries to pull it off, make a sharp noise and redirect his attention with the smell of treats. Increase the time he wears it in the house supervised, correcting him if he tries to take it off. The GL is a great tool if you get him desensitized to it.