Overview: What is the Gentle Leader®

The Gentle Leader Headcollar offers a fast, gentle and effective way to control unwanted behaviour - without harsh methods or devices. Because it's scientifically designed to work with your dog's natural instincts, behaviour changes in minutes - not weeks!

The Gentle Leader® Headcollar is NOT a muzzle. When fitted properly, your dog is free to open his mouth to eat, drink, pant, fetch, bark and even bite - except when you close his mouth by pulling on the leash.  The Gentle Leader® Headcollar features two soft nylon straps - the collar portion fits high at the top of the neck, and the nose loop fits loosely and comfortably across the base of the muzzle. Each strap has a distinct and important effect.

Features:

• Stops Pulling & Lunging No more tug-of wars, jerking, or being dragged down the street - even children and the elderly can walk large or difficult dogs. 
• Won't Choke Gentle Leader ® gives you control with humane restraint - pressure is applied at the back of the neck instead of the front of the throat.
• Prevents Jumping Easily stop jumping and other unwanted behavior as the Gentle Leader® Headcollar helps you control your dog in a "stand", "sit" or "down" position.
• Not a Muzzle When fitted properly, your dog may open his mouth to eat, drink, pant, fetch and bark - except when you pull on the leash to close his mouth.
• Controls Barking Stop unwanted barking with a simple pull of the lead to close your dog's mouth - no need to shout or scold.
• Aggression Problems Under the supervision of a professional trainer, veterinarian or behavior consultant, and when used appropriately, Gentle Leader® can be very effective for aggression problems.

Review:

Whilst my greyhound is generally well-behaved, she can get very excited by the prospect of an encounter with another dog on our afternoon walks.  Greyhounds are large and capable of gaining high speeds within a short distance and if you've ever been on the other end of the lead you will know first hand how powerful they can be. 

I found the Gentle Leader® a great help in controlling my dog without chastising or choking her.  It works very similar to how a bridle and reins work on a horse. It steers the head of the dog and pulls down on the muzzle if the dog pulls away.  An action they apparently do not care for.  Thus they learn quickly, that if the do not pull they don't get that annoying sensation.

It took myself and my dog a little while to get used to the Gentle Leader®.  At first I had the collar part of the Gentle Leader® too loose which irritated my dog and I had to get used to making this tight so not one finger could slip under.  At first you may think its too tight, but you will come to see that it can't choke your dog as the collar sits on the upper top part of the neck and not across the throat. This is part of the genius in the Gentle Leader® design. After I tightened the collar, my dog seemed more than comfortable in it.

Overall I am able to walk my dog without the fear of being taken for a ride if she sees something she would like to chase and I highly recommend it to anyone who owns a dog, large or small, that constantly pulls and/or is difficult to control.

User Score: 9/10

Price: $30 approx

Pros:

• Does what it claims 
• Easy to use
• Great design

Cons:

• Little expensive for a few straps and loops