How to Put a Gentle Leader on a Dog

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Is your dog a little wild on the trail? Does he pull on the leash like he's in a race, or stop at every plant within sniffing distance? A gentle leader can help make walks with your dog much more enjoyable. Gentle leaders draw on a dog's pack instinct and will help him to see that he needs to follow your commands when on a walk. Best of all though, is the fact that gentle leaders do not cause your dog any harm.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Parts, Pieces, and Position

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  1. Before you purchase a gentle leader, you should put it on your dog to make sure that it fits properly and that you understand where each part is supposed to go. If you do not have a leash, buy one while buying a gentle leader. The control ring is the metal ring that is located at the end of the strap extending out from the neck strap and nose loop. Clip your leash in so that once you get your dog into the gentle leader, he won’t run away. [1]
  2. When you do this, your leash and the nose loop should hang down directly in the center so that the whole gentle leader forms the shape of a ‘T’. Place the neck strap around your dog’s neck. The center bar ring (which connects the neck strap, nose loop, and strap with leash) should be under your dog’s chin, above the Adam's apple, while the back of the neck strap should rest at the base of his skull behind his ears. [2]
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  3. Putting it on before unclipping it ensures that it fits properly (it is harder to adjust when the nose loop is on your dog). control ring. Once you have the neck strap adjusted to the right size (See Part Two), unclip it. It is easier to clip the neck strap back into place after you put the nose loop on your dog. [3]
  4. Make sure your dog is either between your legs or at your side so that you can hold him in place while putting the gentle leader on for the first time. Slip the nose loop onto the base of your dog’s muzzle by reaching under your dog’s head. Once you have the nose loop on, give your pup a treat to tell him he’s doing great, and to distract him a bit.
  5. Once your pup is snapped in, make sure all of the parts of the gentle leader are in place (see Part Two).
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Neck Strap Fit

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  1. The gentle leader’s neck strap must be long enough so that it as high up on your dog’s neck as possible. This means the front of the neck strap should be above your dog’s Adam's apple, while the back should reach around to touch the base of the skull directly behind your pup’s ears. [4]
    • You can adjust the tightness of the neck strap by sliding the adjustable snap clamp down towards the control ring (the ring where you clip your leash to the gentle leader).
  2. It should be tightened enough so that you can barely fit one finger underneath the strap. This is like the ‘collar’ of the gentle leader--it wraps around your dog’s neck and helps you to guide the dog. Keep in mind that it does not cause your dog any discomfort--resist the urge to keep the neck strap loose as doing so will reduce the effectiveness of the gentle leader.
  3. It is important that the neck strap is tight enough that it doesn’t rotate because the point of the neck strap is to dictate the direction your dog heads in. If your dog can turn around in his neck strap, the strap is too large and will be not effective.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Nose Loop Fit

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  1. The nose loop, unlike the neck strap, should be loose enough that your dog can open his mouth as wide as he likes--even wide enough to catch a tennis ball. However, you should check to make sure that it is not so loose that it can be pulled over and off the nose. [5]
  2. As stated above, you don’t want the nose loop to be able to come off the nose, but it should be able to move from just above where the wet (or fleshy) part of your pup’s nose begins to right in front of his eyes. This movement will allow your dog to be comfortable, as well as help you to guide him.
  3. This means that the gentle leader should fit behind the corners of your dog’s mouth. If it doesn’t, you have probably chosen a leader that is too small for your pup. [6]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I choose the best lead for my dog?
    Allison Weeks
    Dog Training Professional
    Allison Weeks is a Dog Training Professional, as well as the Owner & Operator of Peticularly Perfect. With more than 12 years of experience, she specializes in dog walking, dog psychology, and dog behavior. Peticularly Perfect won the Best of Escondido business award for the pet care category in 2020 and Allison was featured as the owner of Peticularly Perfect in SD Voyager online magazine. Allison earned a Bachelor's Degree from Kaplan University.
    Allison Weeks
    Dog Training Professional
    Expert Answer
    Research the medical history and natural tendencies of your dog's breed when you're choosing a lead. Let's say your dog's breed often has trachea issues—in this case, you'd choose a lead that doesn't put a lot of pressure on their trachea, like a gentle leader. If your dog tends to spook easily, you might choose a gentle leader or a Martingale collar.
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  • Question
    Should I leave the leader on my puppy to get her used to it? If so, how long should I leave it on for?
    Community Answer
    The gentle leader makes it harder for dogs to run. If your dog is more active and likes to play outside in the yard, then only put it on for walks.
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  • Question
    The neck clip is jammed after trying to clip it when the strap was twisted - how do I fix that?
    Community Answer
    You will have to carefully cut it off, but I would try releasing the buckle first.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/dog-collars
      2. ↑ https://www.petsafe.net/media/manuals/gl-gentle-leader-headcollar-manual.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159198001130
      4. ↑ https://www.petsafe.net/media/manuals/gl-gentle-leader-headcollar-manual.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/dog-collars
      6. ↑ https://www.wihumane.org/loose-leash-walking

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To put a gentle leader on your dog, start by putting the neck strap around your dog’s neck, so the center connecting ring is under its chin. Then, fit the strap so it’s above your dog’s Adams apple, and touching the base of the skull behind its ears. Next, unclip the neck strap, then reach under your dog’s head and slip the nose loop onto the base of its muzzle. Make sure it’s loose enough so your dog can open its mouth fully, but not so loose it can be pulled off. Once you have the nose loop fitted, clip the neck strap back in the pre-fitted position. For tips on how to make sure the neck strap and nose loop on your leader are fitted properly, scroll down!

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