Gentle Leader - YorkieTalk.com Forums

CindyAnna · 09-04-2011, 02:57 PM

Needing some input

My nearly 9 lb Yorkie (who is my service dog also) somehow got out of her service dog harness twice now. Though she is very well trained (thankfully) & did not run off, I was still quite frightened about this since I'm in a wheelchair. I ordered a second service dog harness for her since I thought the first was simply faulty, but it happened again. So now, I was thinking perhaps I should attach the harness to a "gentle leader" also?? As a safeguard of course. She's quite well behaved but my fear is a loose, bigger dog being in the vicinity (sadly so many in our community are NOT good dog owners) which would both scare me (since I'm in a wheelchair) & also create a more difficult situation for Sadie to mind me. I'm not all that familiar with the "sizes" of gentle leaders so thought perhaps someone here could give me some input. Sadie is close to 9 lbs, so don't think the petite would fit her. Does anyone here use a gentle leader for your yorkie? Very much appreciate any input dear friends.. xo

together4ever · 09-04-2011, 08:33 PM

My Molly is 8 pounds and wears a petite Gentle Leader Easy Walk Premier.
She has never slipped out of it.

Kaos · 09-05-2011, 03:50 AM

Kaos is a service dog too. I tried the gentle leader on Kaos a while back, he's 5lbs and it was kind of ineffective because there's not a lot of room on his nose to hold it in place. What service dog vest do you use. I know a few decent ones.

CindyAnna · 09-05-2011, 05:14 AM

Thanks ya'll I am presently using a Leerburg Tiny Dog Mesh Vest. I am now looking at the "Gentle Leader Easy Walk Premier" which seems like it would work better. I appreciate your replies

Britster · 09-05-2011, 05:42 AM

I watched a Husky that used the Gentle Leader and it worked well for him pulling, but he could definitely get it off pretty easy. He would rub his nose against the ground and use his paw and it would often slip out, so we had to attach the leash to BOTH the collar and the Gentle Leader.

I really like the Easy Walk. I'm not sure how it'd work on a 5lb baby but it taught Jackson how to walk in a day. I also dogsit a Beagle/Boston Terrier mix who uses it and it helps tremendously with the pulling. It does take a while to get the sizing right though.

Have you looked into Buddy Belts? Most rave about them and they are supposed to be pretty much impossible to sneak out of.

Kaos · 09-05-2011, 06:29 AM

That is exactly what Kaos did. One paw swipe and it was off. It worked well for my mastiff when she was a pup because she had a bigger nose to hold it up I guess.

CindyAnna · 09-05-2011, 06:49 AM

Thanks Britster, the buddy belt looks great, & like it would do the trick.

YorkieMother · 09-05-2011, 10:06 AM

I personally am not a fan of gentle leader either the head harness or thier body harness although I love thier confernces in Guelph on behaviour.

I perfer a haltie and that is attached to the harness I had custom made and I pin the back slidder so it does not slip loose with a safety pin.

JL

09-04-2011, 02:57 PM	#1
CindyAnna YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 9	Gentle Leader Needing some input My nearly 9 lb Yorkie (who is my service dog also) somehow got out of her service dog harness twice now. Though she is very well trained (thankfully) & did not run off, I was still quite frightened about this since I'm in a wheelchair. I ordered a second service dog harness for her since I thought the first was simply faulty, but it happened again. So now, I was thinking perhaps I should attach the harness to a "gentle leader" also?? As a safeguard of course. She's quite well behaved but my fear is a loose, bigger dog being in the vicinity (sadly so many in our community are NOT good dog owners) which would both scare me (since I'm in a wheelchair) & also create a more difficult situation for Sadie to mind me. I'm not all that familiar with the "sizes" of gentle leaders so thought perhaps someone here could give me some input. Sadie is close to 9 lbs, so don't think the petite would fit her. Does anyone here use a gentle leader for your yorkie? Very much appreciate any input dear friends.. xo

09-05-2011, 03:50 AM	#3
Kaos YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NY Posts: 645	Kaos is a service dog too. I tried the gentle leader on Kaos a while back, he's 5lbs and it was kind of ineffective because there's not a lot of room on his nose to hold it in place. What service dog vest do you use. I know a few decent ones. __________________ Amanda Mommy to Kaos

09-05-2011, 05:42 AM	#5
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	I watched a Husky that used the Gentle Leader and it worked well for him pulling, but he could definitely get it off pretty easy. He would rub his nose against the ground and use his paw and it would often slip out, so we had to attach the leash to BOTH the collar and the Gentle Leader. I really like the Easy Walk. I'm not sure how it'd work on a 5lb baby but it taught Jackson how to walk in a day. I also dogsit a Beagle/Boston Terrier mix who uses it and it helps tremendously with the pulling. It does take a while to get the sizing right though. Have you looked into Buddy Belts? Most rave about them and they are supposed to be pretty much impossible to sneak out of. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

09-05-2011, 06:29 AM	#6
Kaos YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NY Posts: 645	That is exactly what Kaos did. One paw swipe and it was off. It worked well for my mastiff when she was a pup because she had a bigger nose to hold it up I guess. __________________ Amanda Mommy to Kaos

09-05-2011, 10:06 AM	#8
YorkieMother YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North Posts: 1,324	I personally am not a fan of gentle leader either the head harness or thier body harness although I love thier confernces in Guelph on behaviour. I perfer a haltie and that is attached to the harness I had custom made and I pin the back slidder so it does not slip loose with a safety pin. JL __________________ "The truth about an animal is far more beautiful than all the myths woven about it." Konrad Loranz

09-04-2011, 08:33 PM	#2
together4ever Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Reedsburg, Wisconsin USA Posts: 122	My Molly is 8 pounds and wears a petite Gentle Leader Easy Walk Premier. She has never slipped out of it.

09-05-2011, 05:14 AM	#4
CindyAnna YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 9	Thanks ya'll I am presently using a Leerburg Tiny Dog Mesh Vest. I am now looking at the "Gentle Leader Easy Walk Premier" which seems like it would work better. I appreciate your replies

09-05-2011, 06:49 AM	#7
CindyAnna YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 9	Thanks Britster, the buddy belt looks great, & like it would do the trick.