Gentle Leader: What You Need To Know (Complete Review)
This post will discuss one of the market leaders in leash training tools called the Gentle Leader. You probably have seen dogs walking on this tool before. If you are in the process of leash training your dog, you should definitely read this post. This training tool is 100% worth your consideration.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure for more details.
Gentle Leader At A Glance
Gentle Leader Pros
Gentle Leader Cons
Key Takeaway
This product is the #1 in the market for leash training and is a solid option for anyone who wants to train their dog without harming them.
Why should you listen to me?
Ezra is the first dog I’ve attempted any leash training with. I was taking puppy classes and was at my wit’s end with Ezra. He was still a puppy but really pulled on his leash and he was very difficult for anyone to take him outside.
At the time, my trainer recommended using the Gentle Leader. So I went to the store and bought a couple sizes and brought them home to try with Ezra. It was potentially even more miserable then letting him just pull me. He wasn’t used to the head halter and would fight putting it on. I really didn’t want to use a prong or electric collar on him and was not sure what to do.
Fast forward a couple weeks and my dog trainer recommended the Sidekick Transitional Leader, which ended up being super successful for Ezra when he was really young. However, there have been occasions where I didn’t have the Sidekick handy and was forced to use the Gentle Leader. Now that Ezra has calmed down a bit, the Gentle Leader works perfectly fine. I can totally see why people love it now.
It is the market leader in dog head halters
With being the most popular head halter on the market, it has proven its success as a leash training tool. This is great because it means every major retailer carries it in a variety of colors and sizes so you can pick it up on a whim as you need it. Because it’s so popular, there is also a lot of content about it online for free. If you are trying to leash train for the first time or on a budget, free content is an amazing asset. You can find a lot of videos on YouTube.
The picture below shows some of the basic components of the Gentle Leader, but some purchases even include a DVD or training tutorial to help you along the way.
Doesn’t look like a muzzle
Most people, including some dog owners, will assume that anything that wraps around the dog’s snout is a muzzle, or a tool to prevent the dog from biting. All head halters have a nose loop, but the Gentle Leaders is very thin and the least noticeable. There have been times when I’ve been out with Ezra using competing head halters and people are visibly afraid of Ezra and try to keep their kids away because they think he’s wearing a muzzle. I’ve never experienced that with the Gentle Leader. It makes the walk a little more enjoyable when the public isn’t afraid of you.
Gentle Leader Pricing
Pricing is generally $20-25 in each retailer. You can buy this item from any major retailer with a large dog supply section, like Amazon, Walmart, Petco, Pet Goods, Chewy, or Pet Smart. Walmart and Amazon are likely amongst the lowest priced options; however, I recommend watching the deals like on Black Friday or Prime Day to weigh your options.
Don’t forget about shipping – Amazon shipping is free with Prime or if you spend at least $35 for non-Prime members. Chewy also has free shipping above $49. I would take that into consideration when thinking about the best pricing available because it’ll save you on time and transportation costs.
Gentle Leader Competitors
An up-and-coming product on the market that you could use instead of the Gentle Leader is the Sidekick Transitional Leader. This item is made by Heather’s Heroes and it is designed to be a head halter and leash combined into one tool that doesn’t pull on the dog’s neck at all. It puts pressure on the dog’s snout through a pressure point on the back of his head. It’s a complete game changer in the head halter market. It was my first choice option when I first started leash training because it was far easier for me to fit on Ezra when he was a squirming, growing puppy. Now that he’s older, it’s easy to put on either the Gentle Leader or the Sidekick. I still prefer the Sidekick because:
- It doesn’t pull at the dog’s neck.
- It’s not an extra tool you need in addition to the dog’s leash.
- It gives me more control than the Gentle Leader does.
If you are curious about the Sidekick, you can read a more in depth review of it here.
Though I prefer the Sidekick, I do still have a Gentle Leader that I keep as a back-up option. For example, when I was in Maine Ezra chewed through his Sidekick. I ordered a new one but the estimated delivery time was three weeks away. That was not going to work for me. I needed a leash training tool immediately so I went to Walmart and picked up a Gentle Leader. The Gentle Leader worked like a charm and I was relieved to have it.
Who is the Gentle Leader right for?
This is a great leash training tool for anyone who wants to leash train on their own, but needs additional resources like on YouTube, formal dog training, or advice from friends. Because this is a well-known product, you have a plethora of resources at your finger tips to teach you how to use this. This means that the Gentle Leader is also perfect for dog owners who want to train their dog on a budget. Finally, this is a great product for anyone who is already familiar with it and has had training success with it. If it isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it. And don’t waste your money buying a new, shiny object.
Who should not use the Gentle Leader?
If this is your first time training your dog, this is not the easiest tool to get started with. Leash training is already an unfamiliar topic, plus you have this puppy who most likely will fight as hard as he can to not wear a head halter. With puppies growing and the Gentle Leader requiring fitting both the collar and the nose loop, it can be super tricky to get this on. I know I was very frustrated and nearly gave up on head halters until I tried the Sidekick.
If you have a dog with a more unique skull structure, you may not be able to use this product. For example, the nose loop may not fit around dogs with squashed noses and flat faces like types of bull dogs, mastiffs, or terriers.
Lastly, if you have a dog with a fragile neck or throat, there are other options for head halters that will not impact their tracheas. You might be able to still use the Gentle Leader, but if there are concerns, the Sidekick would be a better option.
Conclusion
The Gentle Leader is the top product in dog head halters. You can find it in a variety of colors and sizes in all major retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, Chewy, Petco, Pet Goods, or Pet Smart. If you are on a budget or want to try to leash train on your own, I highly recommend the Gentle Leader.
Have you tried the Gentle Leader? Comment and let us know about your experience with it!
