Our new Chihuahua, she's about 3 yrs old, walks fine on lease but she walks behind us and to either one side or the other...and it's not because we are walking too fast for her. So if's she's right behind me to the right of me, I'll direct to leash to my right, then she walks over to the left. then I move my hand with the leash over to the left and she moves to the right...it is so weird. People probably think I'm crazy, I walk with the leash over my head like a May-pole. LOL

For a very small dog, I like a harness. Our DD's Chihuahua, for example.

Yes to training, no matter what kind of lead.

It takes lots of patience and time to get your dog to heel. It is well worth it.

Eld her leash is always attached to a harness for walking. However, the Gentle Leader is made differently (they say) than a regular collar so I am going to try it when it gets here.

My Yorkie slipped the gentle leader in the first three minutes. I don’t think they are good for little dogs. Use a harness and train to heel. Phoebe knew all her commands and was much happier once she did.

My sister used the Gentle Lead with her golden. I have usually seen them with large dogs. It fits over their snout.

The premise that that the dog "goes where his nose goes." I think it was developed from the concept of how horses are led around.

Every dog no matter what the size can and should be trained how to walk at a heel position. It does take some time and patience, often not too much.

Once that's learned, the dog will walk at your side, at your pace, with any kind of leash and connection. Or with no leash at all. If you use a longer length leash, hold the slack in your hand so that the dog remains at the side of your leg. Play it out when it's toilet time or time to sniff.

Save the retractable gizmos for a hide-away clothesline. It doesn't encourage good walking behavior. No matter what, the dog should never walk ahead of the human on the other end of the leash.

Sometimes when I see someone walking a small dog, I advise, "Just imagine ... if you had a skateboard and a rope, you could let the dog pull you home"!

If they react with humour, which a number do, I continue that it'd work better when homebound than outbound ... for every dog knows the way home.

(In winter, it's "snowboard" or "skis").

ole joyful

I have two small dogs, and they can slip the soft harness thing in a second. I use regular harnesses for walks, and nothing when at home. Collars choke them too much if they pull against them.

When using the gentle leader, I would highly suggest that you attach it to another collar as a back up. They can slip out of them if they pull and if they aren't on correctly. The gentle leader must be put on correctly and it will seem that it's tight but it must be tight as the instructions tell you or they will slip out of them. What I do with my dog is that I put a slip chain collar on her and clip the leash to the loop of the slip chain AND the loop of the gentle leader collar. I had wonderful results with the gentle leader type collar(I actually used a different brand but same concept). If you can do it, I would highly suggest you find a class to take her to so she can be formally trained. It's so easy to do the wrong thing when you think you know how to train and it sends the dog the wrong message. interesting article about slipping the collar

i agree, a couple of training classes is well worth it!! we did them with our last dog and it was such a help! we also used the gentle leader and 'no more pulling'. she needed it, she was an alpha dog and a real handful. she was 50+ lbs, so GL worked well.

our current dog, is so beyond good, no classes needed. he just 'gets it' and rarely if ever pulls and just stays by your side and keeps our pace.

We use a regular harness on our 25 lb. dog (but we used to have 10 - 12 lb. Alpha dogs). We do have a gentle leader but he does not like it.

He has had training - both group classes and at-home private lessons. He was the star pupil at his group classes and did what the at-home trainer said. With us, it is a different matter. He has a tendency to do very well in a controlled environment.

He is always on a leash - and not a retractable one - and I often wrap it around my hand so it is shorter. I also make certain that I can see him at all times - as I did with our Alpha hounds.

Regarding letting dogs go off-leash - every dog has a trigger, prey drive, whatever - our dog is a chick magnet and boy was I happy that the loose dogs were just out to have their way with our neutered boy.

Your pup is very cute!

I personally do not like the retractable leashes for Duchess. My apt complex has a small dog park and often we are the only ones there, and when that happens that we are alone that is the only outdoor place she is allowed off leash.

As small and young as your dog is I don't think I'd put a GL on him. With treats and training he should train quickly to walk nicely at your side. But, as a puppy, do give him his time to romp and run.

My dog wouldn't tolerate the GL and after seeing he was a quick learner I got rid of it. My problem with the leaders is how often I see owners have put them on the dog incorrectly and half the time the harness is nearly in the dog's eye.

Ann I will keep what you say in mind and if the GL is not fitting correctly I will not use it, but I'm going to try it when it gets here. She is not a puppy, she is almost 4 now. She gets her chance to run in the dog park when no one else is there. Letting her run off leash anywhere else is not a favor to her, to me, to other pet owners. There are too many possible adverse consequences.

Even if you think it is not needed please keep a collar with tags on your baby. Depending on your area if animal control does not view tags you could be stopped. While that is not a major problem even if chipped and they could accidentally get out it is a second security measure to receive your baby back. I know that no dog or other pet has ever in the history of the world seen something and gone dashing out the door when you are busy with other stuff.

Maifleur, even when I use the harness she has a collar with her city license, her rabies tag, and one of those little ID tags on 24/7. I totally agree that you are making a very important point here for me and for every dog owner. She is also chipped but now that chipping companies are proliferating as are chip readers, the collar info is so important, because the person who picked up your dog may not use the reader for your dog's chip.