Thinking about the Gentle Leader

Any reason you won't consider a Prong Collar?  It's an effective training tool, and not as brutal as some might make it seem to be.  Often the dog self-corrects itself with one pull and then walks like an angel afterwards....

i have no experience with it, since i cant get my hands on one here.

i just wanted to throw in a thought: since you own a APBT, both a gentle leader or the prong could make him look like a mean dog. just saying, that with all the hype about pit bulls, it's something to consider. the gentle leader looks a lot like a muzzle to someone who doesnt know any better...

there's also something called a no-pull-harness. i heard good things about it (now if only i could find them here...) it might do the same thing, without making your dog look mean...

not trying to preach or anything... just some food for thought... :)

 I understand the concern.  We actually have a no pull harness and it definitely doesn't work.  He still pulls and actually works against it, sometimes suspending himself in the air.  Bauer is actually a black dog (see picture) so we got him a gentle leader that's black.  You can barely see it when it's on him. 

 I'm one of those owners who is extremely proud of owning a pitbull.  I'm used to people walking the other way when Bauer and I walk by.  I just smile and give a friendly wave and continue on my way.  Bauer is extremely well behaved and I know I have nothing to fear with him with other dogs.  We socialized him early and often and he is amazing.  

 As for the prong collar, I can't do it.  I know a lot of people who swear by them (my boss being one of them), but I think they are barbaric.  I don't judge though and understand that they are successful means to an end, I just can't see putting Bauer in one.

 haha.. you thought this through nicely... so you bought one... is it working?

 I had to go to the store to get Bauer a new crate so I figured, why not try it.  If I don't like it I can always return it. 

We put it on Bauer last night and like everything I read, he tried to get it off.  When we finally got the leader on correctly (wow, it's hard to get this thing fitted the first time), Bauer seemed to take to it well.  We walked only short distances in the house to get the feel for it.  When Bauer tried to go for his face, I would redirect his energy into something else (a come, or a sit, followed by a treat) and he seemed to forget about it.  We ended up leaving it on him for about 6-7 minutes in 2 intervals on the first night just to get him accustomed to it.  Tonight, we are going to put it on and take him for a short walk up and down the street (nothing serious, just enough to get him used to it).  

Watching him walk with my girlfriend though, he followed her every move.  Again, this was in the house where Bauer is a lot more calm, but I pray it carries over to the outside.  

CanyonLabradors

Any reason you won't consider a Prong Collar?  It's an effective training tool, and not as brutal as some might make it seem to be.  Often the dog self-corrects itself with one pull and then walks like an angel afterwards....

The OP has a APBT, bred to resist pain and has a very high threshold to force. I wouldnt reccomend a prong collar, LOL.

OP- go to your local petsmart and ask the trainer on duty if you can try out all of the above. Most petsmarts allow you to try all of them in store so you can see what might work best for your dog. All dogs respond diiferently to different tools.

One of my pitties does well with the GL and the other used a no pull harness.

Bauer421

  When Bauer tried to go for his face, I would redirect his energy into something else (a come, or a sit, followed by a treat) and he seemed to forget about it.  We ended up leaving it on him for about 6-7 minutes in 2 intervals on the first night just to get him accustomed to it. 

Whoops I responded before reading your post.

It sounds like you've got the right idea with the distraction solution!!!!

I've rarely found a dog that took to the GL the first time with no issues. When he starts to get upset just pick up the pace and make it a game. Call him in a animated way and get him to chase after you. If and when he becomes extremely stubborn......which will be the next pahse reel in the leash so he has less room to throw a fit and walk as if you have no cares in teh world. If you acknowledge his hissy fit he'll learn thats a good way to get his way........they are smart AND stubborn as I'm sure you know, LOL

I've used the GL on Rosco and like it, but he gets a bit down when he's in it, so we use a sensation harness when we need power steering. It also avoids the "is that dog muzzled question," which I like.

He doesn't need it much anymore, but it's still my go-to tool for him. I like the sensation harness much better than the GL version because it's not a martingale, and I feel the fit is better. Although, I have heard other people say they prefer the fit of the GL front-clip harness, so it's probably 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. 

 Woobie is my determined puller and I've tried lots of things, including a prong collar that has rubber caps on all the prongs to dull the sensation.  I just started using the GL this week (I'm using a Halti, I think they're basically the same thing) and it's been a mixed reaction so far.  Initially, he tried rolling on the ground, pawing at his face and eventually getting it off.  So I put it on when we're on the porch, just as we're leaving and when he tries to paw at his face, I tug upward on the leash attached to it and tell him "Leave It".  Once we're walking at a brisk pace, he ignores it, but if we stop moving, he paws at it.

He walked nicely for the first day.  The second day, he was still determined to pull and just put his face into it.     Determined little booger just pulls with his nose!  I've tried turning around, tugging his face toward my knee a little bit, giving him the "heel" command, etc.  He doesn't pull as hard as he does with a harness, but he still pulls, there's still tension on the leash.  So far, for him, the only thing that has worked consistently is to have the prong collar on him.  We were trained incorrectly in its use by an instructor I have since stopped using, who did administer corrections with it.  Woobie will walk nicely in the heel position if I have it on him without the leash connected to it.  He's also better behaved just with it in place (no leash, no corrections).  But I don't like it either, so I'm restarting training in a positive reinforcement only class that starts tonight.  He's not food motivated and trying to use treats and a clicker to keep him in the heel position hasn't worked.

One trick I use on him is to let the leash go between his back legs and give him a wedgie.  Pulling makes it go right up his butt and he walks better and doesn't pull.  Not a long term solution, but when I'm fed up, I do use it.