Does your dog have issues pulling on the leash, barking excessively or lunging and jumping while walking? Not every dog is a perfect Lassie. So a training leash is a helpful tool to tame your pup’s anxiety and aggression.
Two popular options to help are reviewed here. But which is better: gentle leader vs easy walk harness? Find out which might help your dog.
Article Overview
- Gentle Leader vs Easy Walk Harness Features
- How To Use & Fit
- Harness Pricing (& Our Experience)
- Can You Use Both The Gentle Lender & Easy Walk Harness?
- Tips For Improving Dog Walking Behavior
| PetSafe Easy Walk Harness | PetSafe Gentle Leader |
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| View Easy Walk on Amazon | View Gentle Leader on Amazon |
Gentle Leader & Easy Walk Harness Features
Two popular training collar options are the Easy Walk Harness and Gentle Leader Headcollar.
Both can help train against unwanted behavior, but they are not identical products. So when comparing side by side, we wanted to point out the features of each.
To help you see which one you should pick, take a look at the table below. After reading, you may decide that your dog could benefit from both (more on that below).
| Easy Walk Harness | Gentle Leader Head Collar | |
|---|---|---|
Discourages pulling on the leash |  | |
Helps train against excessive barking, lunging, jumping and even anxiety and aggression in some cases | |
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Perfect for training dogs to heel | |
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Easier to fit because it goes on the body, not the head | | |
Recommended for brachycephalic breeds or short-nosed dogs (pugs, boxers, etc.) | | |
Can be used on most breeds older than 6 weeks | | |
Does not damage the trachea | | |
Prevents gagging, choking and coughing | | |
Requires little acclimation time or special technique | | |
Great for every day walks | | |
Popular among trainers and vets because you can walk your dog more comfortably on a leash | |
Use & Sizing Guide
The Gentle Leader head collar is sized by weight, whereas the Easy Walk dog harness uses chest and girth measurements.
Gentle Leader
Why is the gentle leader effective for dogs who pull? Because the Gentle Leader harness applies gentle pressure on the nose when the dog pulls.
Putting the Gentle Leader on correctly is critical to its effectiveness. Watch this 1-minute video from Austin Pets Alive to see how this head collar should be worn appropriately.
Easy Walk Harness
The Easy Walk harness has four adjustment points, so your dog is comfortable and has a reliable fit. There is a martingale loop in the chest piece to prevent twisting and the quick snap buckles on the shoulder, and belly straps make it easy to put on and take off. The collar sits high on your dog’s neck without putting any pressure on the throat.
How Much Do These Products Cost?
The Easy Walk harness costs $20.95 and the Gentle Leader for dogs is $15.95 .
| Gentle Leader Head Collar | Easy Walk Harness |
|---|---|
| Petite weight under 5 lbs | Petite chest width 6"-7" girth measurement 12"-16" |
| Small weight up to 25 lbs | Petite/Small chest width 8"-9" girth measurement 13"-18" |
| Medium weight 25-60 lbs | Small chest width 8.5"-11" girth measurement 15"-21" |
| Large weight 60-130 lbs | Small/Medium chest width 11"-13" girth measurement 19"-26" |
| Extra Large weight over 130 lbs | Medium chest width 12"-15" girth measurement 21"-32" |
| Medium/Large chest width 14"-18" girth measurement 24.5"-34" |
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| Large chest width 16"-21" girth measurement 27"-40" |
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| Extra Large chest width 17.5"-23.5" girth measurement 32"-50" |
Our Experience With The Easy Walk Harness
We use the Easy Walk Harness on our Lab. It definitely reduces her uncontrolled pulling on walks. However, it gets stuck behind her front legs sometimes, rather than staying in front as it should. I guess this annoyance is worth the trade-off for a more manageable dog on walks! – Michelle, Co-Founder of Canine Journal
Can You Use Both The Gentle Leader & Easy Walk?
These two tools are fairly inexpensive. So, if your dog has issues with pulling on the leash and lunging, you may want to purchase both. You can then apply the training tool that makes sense in a particular situation.
For example, you may use the Easy Walk at the park but the Gentle Leader for dogs at the vet’s office.
Tips For Improving Dog Walking Behavior
View Easy Walk on Amazon | View Gentle Leader on Amazon
We want to remind you that although these harnesses can be immensely helpful, they are still just one of many training tools. If your dog’s issue is that he pulls on the leash, it’s important that you are consistent with your commands. Also, don’t forget to reward him when he isn’t pulling, so it reinforces good behavior.
To further maximize your dog’s walking success you might also consider other dog training collar options, an online dog training class or other harnesses.
What issue does your dog have on a leash?