She likes to tug. Tug of war with a rope. Pulling anything with her chest. Urge to TUG is strong in her.
She would be an excellent service dog pulling someone in a wheel chair.
It has turned cold in Indiana. We have had snow on the ground. We have ice patches.
As you can imagine, after having a very bad brown lab knock me down (last fall) and having my knees come thru with no problems (miracle). And with all the arthritis diagnosis - I am very afraid of falling.
Youngest lives with a dog that also is very strong and has an urge to tug.
That dog has a Gentle Leader.
It is a figure 8. Two loops. One around neck. One around snout. They are connected in middle under her chin and that is where the leash clips.
Pup is very fluffy. So the loops aren't as big as you would think.
Youngest walked our neighbor's pup one time and said - needs a gentle leader.
What the leader does is take away the tug feeling.
When they pull against the leader, it simply turns their head toward you.
They end up looking at you. And their head is pointed the wrong way for the walking forward feeling. They don't like it. They stop pulling. Actually they never really get started pulling. It is highly effective.
And we have noticed they LOOK at you more, looking for cues.
No, they are not a fan of having something on their face. And have to fit properly or they will rub their face against the ground and pull it off.
It does not interfere with their panting. They can drink with it.
We do not leave it on, we put it on with a leash for a walk. We take it off as soon as we get home.
We leave her regular harness on her. They are the same color.
