Gentle leader or Dogmatic?

Lieja

I have this exact problem with my malamute, perfectly fine until he sees another dog and then he's lunging trying to play. I have a dogmatic and it's brilliant, definitely money well spent!

krlyr

Oddjob wrote: »

Thanks, Have you tried one of these?
I tried a friend's gentle leader today but that seemed to make her even worse when she saw a dog. I wondered if it was because of the strap that went over the nose, perhaps she felt more defenceless. She walked better, didn't pull, although she's not too bad at pulling when there is no one around, its just mainly when she sees dogs. She tries to lunge at them. She went absolutely crackers with the gentle leader on, first of all flattening herself to the floor then lunging and spinning, trying to get out of it and trying to bite the lead. I've got a Halti double ended lead, one end was attached to the GL and the bigger end to her half choke collar.


I don't know if the Mekuti harness would work with her as when she lunges, if I pull her back, she turns to face me anyway then tries to bite the lead to get away, then lunges again.

Yes, I use them for my reactive dogs. If I have one dog, I use just the harness, for walking the two together I use harness and Dogmatic headcollars for backup (as one reacting can set the other off). I have a GSD and a Rottie x, so big strong dogs.

The bonus withthe Mekuti harness is that it fits under the chest - this should hold the lead a bit further from the mouth than a collar or headcollar. Also, it has a clip on the back you could attach a double ended lead to, allowing you to maintain a hold even if you need to drop the front part of the lead (or you could use two separate leads). I'll grab some photos when I get a chance (harness is currently in a drawer behind our new kitchen appliances clogging up the frnt room!)o

elsien

I haven't tried the gentle leader but have tried both the halti head collar and the dogmatic. The halti head collar was off in 2 seconds flat - the dogmatic I'm a fan of. I phoned them up to ask for sizing advice - Gitdog was slightly between sizes so I went for the larger one. I think it may have stretched slightly as he can still get it off if he really tries but it's much harder work for him. I also have the halti link to attach to his collar so if he gets the head collar off I've still safely got hold of him - they sell them for a couple of quid on ebay.
I use the head collar when he really needs to behave himself, and a harness for training as in time I'd like to do away with the headcollar completely. But to start with as he didn't seem to have ever been on a lead and was lunging all over the place, the headcollar was necessary for me to be able to walk him without dislocating something. Good luck - and don't forget it's a site rule you have to post pictures.

Oddjob

Krlyr - will the Mekuti harness work with a Halti double ended lead? It says on the website it has to go through a 1" ring but the Halti is slightly more than that. I don't really want to have to buy another double ended lead. If you've got the Dogmatic, as well as the mekuti, where do you clip the leads because the Mekuti needs two clips on doesn't it? Do you have two leads?


elsien, mine got the Halti off in two seconds flat too!!
I don't think she's been out much to be honest.


Also, what would you use on a flexi lead?

Feral_Moon

Oddjob, I would NEVER consider using a flexi lead with any of these devices. I own a GSD and have only ever used a double ended lead since he was a pup. That's what the police use.

ETA: I wish I'd stuck with the 3L dogmatic now as the 3 is just far too tight but I've already spent £15 on postage for the damn thing. To swap again would cost my as much as the head collar! I wasn't aware any shops stocked it. Is there anyway I can find a stockist list?

Oddjob

I know you can't use Halti's etc with Flexi leads, I just wondered if you could use the Mekuti, perhaps with it just being attached to the ring n the back?

Feral_Moon

Oddjob wrote: »

I know you can't use Halti's etc with Flexi leads, I just wondered if you could use the Mekuti, perhaps with it just being attached to the ring n the back?

No. You need a double ended lead for those harnesses. I struggle to understand why anyone would want to use a flexi lead on any dog greater than 15kg and especially one that wasn't well trained. They offer absolutely no control or security whatsoever.


ETA: if you only attach a lead to back ring then this renders the device completely useless!

Oddjob

Feral_Moon wrote: »

ETA: if you only attach a lead to back ring then this renders the device completely useless!

It wouldn't be useless, it would just act as an ordinary harness with a ring at the back I would have thought.

krlyr

Oddjob wrote: »

It wouldn't be useless, it would just act as an ordinary harness with a ring at the back I would have thought.

I'd agree with this. Not tried it though, not a huge fan of Flexis.

And yes, they work with the Halti training leads, I use the large size and the smaller clip end fits through fine. You don't have to clip the other end to the bac ring, but I usually do and have a second lead for the headcollar.

Oddjob

krlyr wrote: »

I'd agree with this. Not tried it though, not a huge fan of Flexis.

And yes, they work with the Halti training leads, I use the large size and the smaller clip end fits through fine. You don't have to clip the other end to the bac ring, but I usually do and have a second lead for the headcollar.

I think I will order one to try it, they have a 30 day guarantee so only the postage to lose if it doesn't work, I think a harness would be better as she lunges so much when seeing a dog, it can't do her neck any good in a collar.
I just wasn't sure about the Halti lead with it as it says on the website the clip has to go through a ring 1" and the Halti clip is just a fraction over.
I have rung a trainer and we are going to let her loose in their enclosed training field so at least she can get rid of some of this pent up energy she has and see what her recall is like, then we are going to try her on a long lead with a non reactive dog.
Might have to get a long lead too, even if its only to use for a while. I know her recall is pretty good when there are no distractions, but when she sees a dog, even in the distance that all flies out the window.