The Trials of Miles: Gentle Leader

We finally broke down and got a gentle leader for Miles. In case you don't know what a gentle leader is, it's like a horse's halter for a dog. It fits over their face and ties around their neck so that, if the dog pulls against the leash, the pressure gets translated to force against the back of his neck instead of the front. This keeps the dog from choking, important for Miles because his breed has a fragile trachea, and it also makes him much more responsive to commands. Before, when Miles was in a regular harness, he would become so excited at the sight of a squirrel that no amount of shouting could distract him, and he certainly wasn't interested in getting a treat for good behavior. He became so instantly emotional that it was very difficult to break through his frenzy and get his attention. Lots of barking and braying would follow, and my only recourse was to pick him up and walk quickly away, which certainly wasn't any kind of real "training." But now, the leader calms Miles down enough that, even if he has a cat or a squirrel in his sites, he can at least HEAR me when I tell him to "leave it," and when he finally does relinquish his quarry, he is calm enough to take a treat. The gentle leader has magically cured Miles' behavior issues.

So that's wonderful, right? We've finally found the magical formula for giving Miles proper training, and he's responding very well. He heels now, he snuffles at squirrels instead of braying like a mad dog, and he is actually starting to hear me when I say "leave it" because he knows that if he obeys, a delicious chewy treat will follow. He is finally becoming a good dog both in and out of the house. Except...

He hates the gentle leader. He HATES IT!!! He rubs his paws against it, trying to pull it off. He drags his face along the ground as if trying to relieve the pressure on his little nose. I've tried loosening it as much as possible, but it makes no difference. He still hates it. I don't blame him. It looks uncomfortable. I imagine having a strap across my face like that, running just below my eyes, pressing on my tender nose, and I cringe for him. I feel guilty every time I put it on him, though I know that, considering how ingrained his behavior problems are, it probably is the kindest and best method for breaking him out of those long-cherished vices. Still, it's painful to make him do something he hates in order to satisfy my expectations for acceptable canine behavior.

So a couple nights ago, I decided to see if the gentle leader training would transfer if he were back in his old harness. He was so happy when I put the gentle leader aside and picked up his harness instead. He licked my hand as I fastened it around his chest, which I imagined was a "thank you." Once outside, at first, he was the old Miles, pulling against the leash, jogging around haphazardly looking for squirrels and kitties to bark at. But I pulled him to me and I made him heel, and when he finally did, I gave him a treat. By the end of the walk, he was behaving quite well. But we have to repeat this cycle with every single walk. For the first five minutes or so, it's a battle. And it's a lot of hard work.

I could make it easier on myself. I could simply put him in the gentle leader, and I wouldn't have to deal with the battle at all. He would be entirely within my control, and unable to put up any resistance. But is that really training? To force him to submit? Is it really any different from picking him up and carrying him? I'm not so sure. For now, I'll keep up the battle and hope that it gets easier day by day. If it doesn't, there's always that sadistic looking black strap, waiting on its hook by the door. But I'll avoid it if I possibly can. It seems only fair to meet Miles in the middle. He certainly enjoys my praise when he walks placidly by my side, and the yummy treats seem to make him feel appreciated. After all, it's important that my dog learn to be a good citizen, but it's just as important that he feel happy. If that means I have to work a little harder, so be it.