Product Review - Gentle Leader Head Collars

Walking your dog is an essential job of any dog owner. Dog's need their exercise on a daily basis, but many people can't or won't walk their dog because their dog seems uncontrollable. An uncontrollable dog can not only be an irritation, it can be dangerous. It is important that your dog be in your control when walking, otherwise we would have no use for a dog leash.

One of my favorite dog training tools is the Gentle Leader Head Collar. I've used it myself on many dogs, and for me it is the only option to stop a dog from pulling when walking on a leash. The Gentle Leader is safe and easy to use. It's a safer alternative to a choke or pinch collar, and it's more effective.

A dog does not wear a Gentle Leader like a normal collar around it's neck. The Gentle Leader wears around the snout and the back of the head, these are often referred to as "head collars".


The use of a Gentle Leader differs from a traditional choke or pinch collar. Where a choke collar is intended to hurt or restrict the breathing of a dog, the Gentle Leader uses the dog's own momentum to stop it from pulling in a safe way. When a dog pulls on a leash attached to a Gentle Leader, the dog's mouth is pulled close, and it's head is pulled down, by the dog's own force. This essentially forces the dog to run itself into the ground, though I've never seen one pull this hard. Dog's tend to get the idea quickly.

Besides the safety advantage of the Gentle Leader, this collar is also extremely easy to use. Large dogs can still pull an unwilling person while wearing a choke or pinch collar, if the dog can stand the pain. With a Gentle Leader, any size dog is completely unable to pull, no matter how strong the person holding the leash is. I have seen small children able to control dog's twice their size in a matter of seconds after attaching the Gentle Leader.















The Gentle Leader brand also comes in small, medium, and large with an instructional DVD, that shows how to properly attach the head collar, and training tips for walking your dog.

If you find yourself unable to take your dog for walks because you always feel like the dog is in control, then try a Gentle Leader. It will put the control back in your hands, and make you AND your pet happier!

Subscribe in a reader

How to Evaluate a Shelter Dog

There are millions of dogs in animal rescues and animal shelters all over the world. This is a great option for someone looking to add a new member to their family. It is my personal opinion that this is one of the best ways to acquire a new dog. That being said, many dogs in shelters have behavioral issues that may not fit into your lifestyle. It's important to make sure a new dog is a good match with it's new family, to ensure the puppy does not get returned. How do you tell what behavioral issues a dog may have with only a few minutes to interact? Here are some clues.



Does the dog guard resources? While playing with the dog, pay attention to how it reacts to you touching it's food bowl or toys. If it bares teeth, emits a low growl, or acts anxious this can be a sign of resource guarding. While it may seem innocent at first, this can lead to aggression problems if you have other animals or children at home that may try to play with anything the dog considers it's own. This is an issue that can be fixed with some extensive training and time, but don't expect it to go away overnight.

Another issue that may not be discovered until several days or weeks into owning a new shelter dog is separation anxiety. A dog with separation anxiety is not for the faint of heart! Dogs with this condition do not handle being by themselves very well. Even in a crate they can damage your home or hurt themselves. So how do you tell? In a shelter, if it generally appears clean and well managed, has the dog used it's cage as a bathroom? Are there small wounds on it's face and paws from trying to escape? If it comes from a rescue where it is allowed to be with other dogs, see if you can get the dog alone, and gauge it's reaction. It should not be whining, drooling, or generally anxious. A dog with separation anxiety must go to a home that can provide the dog with companionship all day every day. This can be a home with more dogs, or even a family that has opposite schedules so there is someone home with the dog all the time. In severe cases of separation anxiety, the dog cannot be left alone for even a few minutes.

Is the dog "hand shy"? Watch the dog's reaction when you reach to pet it's head, or even raise your hand to your own head. If the dog becomes nervous or shy's away from you, this could be a sign that the dog was beaten in the past. It is sad, but it's something you should be aware of. Dogs that have been severely beaten tend to be nervous and scared of sudden movements. This should be a sign that the dog may become scared enough to become aggressive. A behavior like this is fairly simple to fix, but it takes a long time to earn your dog's trust. You should always be cognizant of your dog's past, and realize that in a new home or new situations in the future, it may lash out from fear.

Dogs from shelters, rescues, or humane societies can be some of the best pets. But it's important to know of behavioral issues, before you adopt. Most dogs in shelters are put there by owners who couldn't deal with these issues, and it's important you don't make the same mistake. If you're aware of what you are getting into, it makes a happier life for both you and your pet!

Subscribe in a reader

Picture of the Week! Mother's Day!

It's Sunday and Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to our two legged and four legged mom's out there!


Funny Animals




Subscribe in a reader

Product Review - Kong Dog Toys

Dogs will chew, always. They do it to relieve boredom and reduce stress. It is the eternal struggle of every dog owner to find something their puppy can chew, and not destroy. Everyone wants a dog toy that can be chewed, and survive to be chewed another day. The Kong company has done just that. I have not ever seen a dog toy that can withstand the abuse the standard Kong rubber chew toy just shrugs off and says "Is that all you got?"


It is made of a durable hard rubber that is soft enough it won't damage a dog's mouth, but tough enough that a few puncture holes won't damage it's integrity. Many toys have an air filled pouch of them, to provide some sort of resistance and push back from the toy. Those sorts of toys are easily punctured, and immediately lose their appeal. Not the Kong, it has an open cavity that provides that same unique resistance, yet there is no air filled bladder to puncture.

Another really nice feature of the Kong, is the open cavity. The size of the cavity allows the dog to be able to get it's tongue in, but not it's teeth. This is an excellent device to provide mental stimulation. Dogs crave a challenge, and by putting treats or,  my personal favorite, peanut butter in the Kong's hole, the dog must work to get the tasty tidbits out. This literally can provide hours of fun and mental work for any dog.

Kong has also provided a selection of tasty treats to put in it's Kong toys. These pastes work just like peanut butter, except they have different flavors. They even have one for bad breath! Search Amazon.com for Kong Stuff N Easy.

I give the Kong line of toys and treats a big two thumbs up and 5 stars! Many companies will make similar items, but they never seem to hold up as well as the original. Kong toys are always reasonably priced as well. Often times you can pay double the price that you would for a Kong, for a toy that will only last a day at best.


Subscribe in a reader