What is a Gentle Leader Harness?

The Gentle Leader Harness has been invented by a vet behaviorist, and it allows pet parents to have more control while walking their dogs. This works great if your dog is a puller and can give pet owners a stress-free walk.

The Gentle Leader Harness allows your dog to bark, eat, drink, and play without your dog harness getting in the way. It also prevents dog pulling, something that is more common than we can imagine.

This head collar applies gentle pressure on pain-free points instead of your dog’s neck, thereby reducing your dog’s tendency to pull. Additionally, the collar is made using a padded neoprene nose loop that prevents choking and gagging.

The Gentle Leader Harness also works by putting pressure on the back of your dog’s neck rather than its throat. The adjustable nose loop and quick-snap neck strap fit perfectly to the headcollar of your furry friend in no time at all.

PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar
  • The headcollar is designed to reorient your dog's pull by putting gentle pressure on points that are pain-free and relieve pressure on his throat.
  • It is safe and gentle to help control undesirable leash behavior like lunging, pulling, and jumping, even for the most determined pullers.
  • A neoprene-padded nose loop places tension on the back of your neck, not the dog's throat. This keeps your dog from choking or gagging

What Is the Best Gentle Leader Harness?

PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar is the best Gentle Leader Harness.

PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar

Life Stage: All Lifestage

Price: $24.99

Size: Medium (8 x 1 x 5 x 2 inches)

Color: Black

Material: Nylon

Summary: This headcollar instinctively redirects your dog’s tendency to pull by placing gentle pressure on pain-free points and eliminating pressure on your dog’s throat.

Additionally, this product also helps you take greater control during your neighborhood strolls while still allowing your dog to bark, eat, drink, and play fetch.

Whether you accidentally purchase the wrong size or your dog mistakes its headcollar for a chew toy, the brand’s Customer Care Center will assist with replacements or resizing.

Closure Type: Buckle

Padded: No

Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes

Locking Mechanism: No

Front Clip or Back Clip: Front and Back 

Reflective: No

Pros
  • Teaches leash manners
  • Reduces choking and coughing
  • Allows full range of motion
  • Easy to fit and durable
  • Recommended by vets
Cons
  • The size might vary for different breeds
  • The color might get washed away with frequent washing

Customer Review: Pet owners like the fact they can use the adjustable nose loop and quick-snap neck strap to properly fit the headcollar on their furry friends in seconds. Overall, customers give Gentle Leader Harness 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Onevet.ai Review: Our team at onevet.ai is giving PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:

  • Pet Suitability (10/10): The Gentle Leader Harness is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
  • Material Quality (10/10): The Gentle Leader Harness is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
  • Cost Effectiveness (10/10): The price of the Gentle Leader Harness is perfectly aligned with its quality.
  • Customer Feedback (10/10): All customer reviews are positive regarding the Gentle Leader Harness. No allergic reactions/inconveniences were reported against the product.
  • Product Variety (10/10): This Gentle Leader Harness has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.

Can a Gentle Leader Hurt a Dog?

No, Gentle Leader cannot hurt a dog thanks to its unique design. The collar has been designed in such a way that it redirects your dog’s tendency to pull. Through some dog training, the collar places gentle pressure on certain points around your dog’s neck and removes strain from their throat.

What Is Gentle Leader Harness Intended for?

If your dog engages in unwanted leash behaviors, including pulling, lunging, and jumping, the gentle leader harness will help control this, even with the more adamant pullers.

As a result, there are various benefits of using this harness:

  • Vet-Recommended: This product is recommended by most vets and is a great training tool in the form of a pain-free dog leash. This is also a top-recommended product on Amazon and works well with both small and large dogs.
  • Teaches Manners: This training collar is the perfect tool to teach your dog leash manners and how to behave. This dog head collar does not block your dog’s nose in any way, making the training process much smoother.
  • No Coughing and Choking: Since your dog will not have any pressure on its throat, you can reduce coughing and choking using this tool. You can also prevent unwanted behaviors using this easy-walk dog harness. This works great with any small to extra-large dog breed, from Pugs and German Shepherds to Bulldogs, and Golden Retrievers.
  • Allows Full Range of Motion: Thanks to its unique design, the product allows a full range of motion for your dog. It also offers gentle control during leash walking. There are a lot of similar items available, but nothing beats the original.
  • Easy Fit. This training collar is made with durable nylon and therefore offers a snug fit right from the first time it is used. You can also opt for a training DVD to better understand the product.
  • Made with Top-Quality Materials: This leash is made using top-quality materials and offers free delivery in most cases during checkout. It is also paired with exceptional customer care that makes life easier for pet parents in addition to their dogs.

What’s the Difference Between a Gentle Leader Harness and an Easy Walk Harness?

The main difference between the Gentle Leader and the Easy Walk Harness is based on the way they work. The Gentle Leader is a head halter, while the Easy Walk Harness is a no-pull harness. Both products have been made to make your dog’s walk more smooth. However, they are built differently depending on your dog’s needs. Let us look at some key features of both products –

Characteristics of the Gentle Leader Harness:

  • No Pressure: This headcollar has been designed in such a way that it eliminates any pressure on your dog’s neck and throat.
  • No Sudden Movements: This product also helps to discourage excessive jumping, lunging, and pulling on the leash, making your dog’s walk more manageable.
  • Added Nose Loops: The leash also has nose loops that are padded for comforting your canine during their walks.
  • Redirect Focus: Finally, this product prevents pups from pulling and allows you to redirect their focus to other things during the walk. 

Characteristics of the Easy Walk Harness:

  • Reduces Pulling: This product discourages pulling on the leash without adding pressure to your dog’s throat and neck.
  • Snug Fit: This harness fits perfectly on your dog and is available in different colors to separate the top and bottom loops.
  • Adjustable Options: This harness has eight sizing options that are adjustable and fit almost any four-footer.
  • Works for Most Dog Breeds: This product works well for most brachycephalic dogs along with various other dog breeds.

What Should I Look for in a Gentle Leader Harness?

Before you decide on your dog’s harness, it is best to consider some aspects to make its use more convenient for you and your dog:

  • Size: Choose the correct size so that there is less strain on your dog’s neck and your hands. Having the right size also gives your dog more options to move around without any pressure.
  • Dog’s Temperament: It is best to choose a harness depending on your dog’s temperament. Talk to your vet regarding this for their suggestions, depending on your dog’s age and breed.
  • Type of Harness: There are various types of harnesses available on the market. They include a martingale collar, prong collar, and over-the-head strap, among others. It is best to do some background research on these to see which are a good fit for your dog.
  • Cost: A harness should not be too expensive but should last a long time. Therefore, ensure that the harness you choose does not burn a hole in your pocket.
  • Durability: Your harness should be extremely durable to sustain a lifetime of pulling from your dog.
  • Washability: Finally, the harness should be easy to wash to maintain hygiene to keep your dog free from diseases.

When Should I Start Using a Gentle Leader?

It is best to train your dog to be on the harness as early as possible. Additionally, if your dog is being aggressive or has been pulling on the leash a lot, you can use the Gentle Leader Harness for added advantage.

Make sure you use loads of treats and encouraging words to get your dog used to the harness, so they know what it is for. Soon your dog will love every walk and exercise session they participate in with this harness.

How Do You Walk a Dog with a Gentle Leader?

Here are some instructions on how to use the Gentle Leader Harness:

  • Hold the Nose Loop Open: Firstly, it is suggested that you use treats to encourage your dog to fit its snout through the nose loop. This will help them get used to the product.
  • Fit the Neck Strap and Adjust Nose Loop: Secondly, snap the neck strap at the highest point on your dog’s neck. You can then use the nose loop’s clamp by moving it up and down to adjust.
  • Check Fitting: You can then test the nose loop by pulling it forward. The best fit is when it touches the beginning of the fleshy part of the nose without being so loose that it completely comes off the snout.
  • No-Pull Solution with Full Range of Motion: This product offers a full range of motion even when in use. When it is fitted properly, the headcollar should display a “V’“ shape when viewed from the side.

author avatar
Katelyn Son