4 Paws Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) Just noticed a Gentle Leader Calming cap on a product update I get from a wholesaler A bit of information- http://www.petexpertise.com/index.php?targ...d=29800#petdesc The Gentle Leader Calming Cap is a wonderful tool for easing a dog’s anxiety in high-stress situations allowing an opportunity for easier vet visits, dog-to-dog or dog-to-people interactions and travel. The Calming Cap reduces visual stimuli and lowers the dog’s emotional arousal helping him to remain comfortable, overcome fearfulness, and increase confidence. The single-panel sheer fabric window does not blind your dog, but filters his vision like trying to see under low-light conditions. Dogs can still see well enough to go on walks and play fetch. Most dogs accept the Cap easily. Groomers-for trims & nail clippings Veterinarians-for vaccinations, blood samples, exams, and other procedures on fractious or frightened dogs Trainers & Behaviorists-for use in desensitization, easing dog-dog and dog-people introductions and separation anxiety Pet Owners-for curbing explosive barking when visually stimulated and reducing anxiety in cars, during travel, and on vet visits Available in four sizes! Novato dog behaviorist Trish King can get even the most nervous dog to go for a car ride or visit the veterinarian. The Gentle Leader Calming Cap she created helps quell angst or aggression for dogs in stressful situations. "The calming cap can be used to relax dogs during nail trims, medical procedures and social interactions," said King, director of behavior and training at the Marin Humane Society. "It's a great tool for anyone who needs to calm an anxious dog, including groomers, veterinarians and trainers." The dog's vision is filtered through a gauze-like fabric that gives dogs enough sight to navigate surroundings but reduces visual stimuli that can cause anxiety, Humane Society spokeswoman Sheri Cardo said. "I did not want the dogs to be blinded," King said. "They can see shades - light and dark - they just cannot see specifics." King got the idea for the cap in 2002 when a client - whose Australian shepherd/chow mix enrolled in her "Difficult Dog Class" at the Humane Society - complained that the dog barked excessively while riding in the car. "Together we came up with a scarf-type thing to put over the dog's eyes in the car and it worked well," King said. "The first time, the dog tried to get it off. The second time she just accepted it and the third time she went to sleep." Though originally designed to calm dogs that got excitable traveling in cars, applications of the cap evolved. "People started to use it and said it worked for other things," King said. In 2003 another client had problems with two great Pyrenees. "They would spin in the car," King said. "I suggested they try it and the dogs fell asleep." San Anselmo resident Jean Mansen said her malamute, Kodiak, suffers from severe motion sickness. "He is terrified of being in a car and gets incredibly car sick, so much so he would start drooling when he walked by a car and started throwing up after being in a car for about two minutes," Mansen said. At nearly 3 years old, Kodiak never outgrew the ailment. Mansen tried several remedies including medications, homeopathic methods and behavior modification techniques. Everything changed about a year ago with the purchase of a cap. "Trish did a private consultation for us at home because we could not take Kodiak anywhere," Mansen said. "She had never used it on a dog with motion sickness before but we got one and he was so much better. He still is nervous near cars and still drools a little bit but he never threw up and now he goes up to Lake Tahoe with us. It works and keeps working." At first, two women in Turlock sewed the caps by hand. In 2005, Premier Pet Products based in Richmond, Va., which manufactures and distributes pet products, approached King to produce and market the cap. "We are always excited to produce safe, humane products that help animals," said Sharon Bennett, Premier's chief executive officer. "In the professional market, we saw an opportunity to give veterinarians, groomers, trainers and animal shelter staff an effective tool to allow for easier handling and interactions. "Above all else, we viewed the calming cap as a device to create stronger bonds between dog and owner." The cap attaches to a dog collar with Velcro straps. King said the Marin Humane Society has sold 500 to 600 caps around the country. The item has been offered through Premier for about six months. "We knew it would be a valuable product for many pets," Bennett said. Would be interesting to know how well it works for dogs needing something like this Edited November 12, 2008 by 4 Paws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EISHUND Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Similar principle to putting blinkers on a horse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Can people just socilise their dogs. Really the products are getting rediculous. Gentle this, humane that blah blah most of these products CAUSE more stress then they actually prevent. A dog is not a horse. A dog is not a dolphin. Its a carnivorous, four legged pack animal - for the past how many hundreds of years have people trained dogs without all this junk. All this is just for a dog to exist in day to day life! Christ ... now I have heartburn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Can people just socilise their dogs. Really the products are getting rediculous.Gentle this, humane that blah blah most of these products CAUSE more stress then they actually prevent. A dog is not a horse. A dog is not a dolphin. Its a carnivorous, four legged pack animal - for the past how many hundreds of years have people trained dogs without all this junk. All this is just for a dog to exist in day to day life! Christ ... now I have heartburn. and may I add... just what the dickens are we BREEDING, that they NEED all this stuff??? Is it just that humans are losing touch with what an ANIMAL is ,or is that dogs are being bred/made neurotic like the humans?? *is glad she lives in the scrub, with dogs who smell a bit, can dig holes,don't chew our stuff,enjoy the wind in their face on the back of the motorbike,are allowed to bark at people, put the odd hole in each othe,in time-honoured doggy fashion and just do doggy stuff* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 but we have to be friends with them and tra la la through the fields of daisies, hand in paw, together into the sunset. god forbid we hurt a dogs feelings. If we grew up and stopped pandering to most dogs attitudes and problems we wouldnt need most of this stuff. I love my dogs, I spoil them, but ultimately they are still a dog. Not my furry substitute for a child. They sleep in the garage, they wear correction chains when walking together, and they are not allowed to have an opinion on whether or not they like what I have put in their bowl or if they want their nails trimmed today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesomil Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) Can people just socilise their dogs. Really the products are getting rediculous.Gentle this, humane that blah blah most of these products CAUSE more stress then they actually prevent. A dog is not a horse. A dog is not a dolphin. Its a carnivorous, four legged pack animal - for the past how many hundreds of years have people trained dogs without all this junk. All this is just for a dog to exist in day to day life! Christ ... now I have heartburn. Made me laugh but I totally agree. Terrible what us humans are doing to dogs these days. ETA More people need to step up and be a good leaders and start treating dogs like dogs. Edited November 13, 2008 by jesomil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Nekhbet Mind you I like the paw in hand and the sunset Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Mind you I like the paw in hand and the sunset laugh.gif champagne ,or chardy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) champagne all the way Divani likes vodka and orange, Rex burbon and coke But yesterday Rex found a dead pigeon. I had seen it dead about a week ago if not more.. He took off with it in his mouth, and ate it whole, feathers and all I wasnt keen on the "kisses" afterwards I wonder if he had the gentle leader calming cap on would have he done the same? Edited November 13, 2008 by MonElite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesomil Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 champagne all the way Divani likes vodka and orange, Rex burbon and coke But yesterday Rex found a dead pigeon. I had seen it dead about a week ago if not more.. He took off with it in his mouth, and ate it whole, feathers and all I wasnt keen on the "kisses" afterwards I wonder if he had the gentle leader calming cap on would have he done the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 God - good luck getting that thing on a skittish dog to start off with! Zero would go nutso if i put that on him! I have a sneaking suspiscion he would find a way to rip it off him before he would calm down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjelkier Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Yeah I am pretty sure that would stress my dogs out more then 'calm' them. Bloody stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I did all sorts of experiments on Rexy - he is such a good dog that he let me. He doesnt like water and swimming but we had a boat so one time I had put a human safety vest on him. It was a child size so a bit tight around his chest. He stood in the middle of my living room frozen. Didnt move at all, wouldnt come and had the funnies WTF is wrong with you face. I was in tears laughing at his expression. Another time I have wrapped a jumper over his head. He stood there frozen at first than shook his head side to size to get the stuff off I ahve dressed him in a playboy bunny suit too, he liked the ears as they were fluffy.Thats after he got them off his head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 it also comes with a bottle of vodka and 3 valium tablets, as well as a blow dart gun loaded with tranquilisers ... calm, gentle and effective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) If I had a dog with serious issues, I'd consider trying one of these as a management tool while I tried for behavioral change. However, I don't see a more general use for them... it is just another gadget but if it does provide a calming effect, I'd not be knocking it. ETA: I really don't think this stuff should be available from anywhere other than behaviourists. If it does the same job as a drug, then I'd view it as a better alternative than that. Edited November 13, 2008 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonElite Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I think what it might potentially be doing is shuting the dog down, so its completly out of drive, any drive. Id like to see what do people that have used it think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 ETA: I really don't think this stuff should be available from anywhere other than behaviourists. If it does the same job as a drug, then I'd view it as a better alternative than that. Good point, actually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Am I the only one who thinks it looks just exactly like a pair of jocks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Paws Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 (edited) It does say on the info sheet that it should be used by professionals only who understand dog behaviours such as vets,trainers and groomers although on overseas websites it looks like you can just purchase online Edited November 13, 2008 by 4 Paws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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