As Seen On
Innovative and Gentle, Making Dogs and Their Humans Happy
By design, the Sidekick® is a tool that aids in transforming the human and dog relationship from confusion, frustration, disrespect, or total absence into relationships of respect and clear understanding. With proper application and dedicated practice, the gentle fit of the Sidekick® can help calm your pup and allow for a positive and respectful connection.Why the Sidekick®?
Pup-Comfort Technology
Our leashes are handmade with your pup’s comfort in mind. Using the softest, stretchiest materials, this leash is strong, but flexible and gentle on your pup’s skin.Recommended by Professionals
Used by trainers and professionals across the globe, The Sidekick® has been proven to be a useful training tool.Lifetime Support
We are proud of the tools we offer and we stand behind them. Need additional help? We're here to support you through your training journey, so reach out to us at any time.Jessica O.
Great leash! High quality material, easy to use.
Anna H.
I work with adoptable dogs and at my work we have a dog who is incredibly sweet but has issues with getting too excited and having trouble controlling herself around people. I bought the sidekick to train her and help to calm her down, because of the sidekick I can now safely take her places and her energy levels while on the leash has improved greatly! Would definitely buy again! Thank you Heather’s Heros!
Pam L.
I got this 16 month old, 160lb great Dane in for training. Biggest issue? You guessed it, leash pulling and reactivity on walks! I went thrift every other tool in my toolbox before I bit the bullet and purchased the side kick leash. I've had my eye on it for a while but needed a dog that i KNEW nothing else was going to work long term. The moment that leash was on, he was calmer. Attentive to me, and needed very subtle communication with it. Perfect tool for my older clients who owned him. Doesn't require a lot of techniques to operate it effectively. I will be ordering more, one for my personal dog. The only recommendation I have is to allow for the option of an adjustable handle to allow for a longer leash. This guy was big, so if I wanted to allow him to sniff and explore, he couldn't really go far before he was at the end of the leash. Other than that, the quality of the leash was great! Soft,flexible, nice leash.
Margaret M.
I had a different gentle leader which provided some control but not enough. A friend recommended Heather's Heroes and it has made all the difference.
James M.
Makes walking the dog much easier.
Lillian H.
We purchased the leads with the recommendation of our dog trainer. At first, the dogs were not big fans but with some treats and praise, they got used to them. The leads are a game changer and I’m able to walk two big dogs alone without struggling. My son who’s 14 can also walk both by himself.
Michele D.
The sidekick is a great training collar. I like that it can be used as a slip collar and a gentle leader type leash, and even if my dog pulls off the nose piece, he is always connected in some way.
The only problem I have is getting it on my dog. Wish it was easier to do. Hopefully in time, it will get easier.
My dog walks really well with it on. Much better than a harness which he could pull out of.
The sidekick works!!
Jillian B.
fantastic product!
Tiffany C.
My aunt showed me this product with her dog and I just thought “well her dog is more behaved than mine”, but I was WRONG! This made such a difference while going on walks with my dog. She still tries to paw it off when I first put it on, but she is so calm when it is on and doesn’t pull AT ALL. I used it as a slip leash to walk out of the house and she pulled all the way to our driveway. Then I put it over her muzzle and she instantly stopped pulling! I am considering getting a second to keep in our camper. People often mistake it for a muzzle, but I almost enjoy that on walks as people don’t try to pet her or talk to us.
Kerry M.
Absolutely love these . I use in 3 different organizations I’m involved in!!!!
Olivia B.
I LOVE these leashes. This is my 3rd! This is not because they break down, but because I love having one in reach EVERYWHERE. It keeps my pet under complete control, but also allows me to convert it to a normal leash whenever he is relaxed. I have tied knots down it as places to hold in addition to it's appropriate length! Can't speak more highly! Every pet owner should have one!
Kathleen G.
While working with a difficult dog, I discovered the Sidekick while viewing some videos on FB. I decided it is worth the try and it worked wonderfully. I also do volunteer at a local shelter and I am sure it would be very helpful on some dogs there as well! Thank you!!
Jenny W.
I absolutely love the sidekick. We recently adopted a puppy and leash training was something that we were very concerned about since our puppy is very active and always excited to greet new people and other dogs. We wanted to make sure that our walks were structured and that we could easily redirect her if needed. We've seen these transitional leashes before and although it may look bad, these are excellent leashes for puppies and adult dogs alike. The sidekick is easy to use and has helped make our walks more easygoing and structured. We've really enjoyed using this. The quality is great as well - you can tell that the leash is well-made! This is definitely worth the purchase!
Debbi M.
Love love love!!
Victoria A.
I love Heather's Heroes "Sidekick" leash. Our dog is a "puller" and we struggled to walk him. I purchased the sidekick and it has made all the difference - walking now is pleasurable instead of a struggle. Love it :-)
Magdaline O.
I bought the mini and regular sidekick, both are fantastic. I use one on my border collie and one for my pit. They both walk so nicely on these leashes. I love that for my border collie I can easily switch to a slip lead once we enter the agility ring. The collar attachment also gives me a bigger peace of mind. I've already recommended the sidekick to a few friends
Earlene F.
There was a glitch in receiving my Sidekick but when I called I got a very helpful courteous young lady that took care of the problem. She made it more than right and handled the problem right away. It is rare to get the kind of service this company gave me in todays world. The sidekick works the best of the three collars I own for my dog. The quality is excellent. I have a 70 pound rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback/German Shepherd and this collar has been the best one I found for training him. I thank the young lady that helped me and highly recommend the company.
Jennifer R.
This works so well for my dog. Would recommend!
Renee B.
Wonderful tool for our young hound girl. An immediate turnaround to her overly enthusiastic behavior on leash.
Linda T.
This is my second purchase of the sidekick. The first one is over two years old and still in perfect condition. It was originally recommended by our trainer when my Border Collie was just a puppy. It took a while to convince her to wear it, but now we use it daily for her walks and training. The control and security I feel is unbeatable. We've tried other headcollars, but none compared to the quality and comfort you get with the sidekick. People comment all the time on how well behaved my dog is in public situations, but I have to tell them I owe it all to the sidekick.
Alixandra R.
Great leashes!
Colleen F.
I experienced Great customer service with Heathers Heroes!
The sidekick is a beautiful sturdy yet soft comfortable product. I love having all the options with this leash. The security of clipping to my dog's collar gives me added comfort as she is a young, anxious, and super energetic Aussie rescue dog off the streets.
My dog responded immediately when I first used the slip leash by itself. It took little effort or pressure from the leash or me and that was Amazing as she is very strong and wild! She never resists even when I use the head halter with the slip leash and clipped to the collar all together.
It is a great tool that I feel helps her and me to relax and become calmer and more organized. It also helps facilitate a deeper relationship for us.
I am so grateful! Coe
Jennifer H.
My pitty mix is 7 and a 5 month old puppy (maybe pitty/rottie mix) just joined us. To say that walks got enthusiastic is putting it mildly. A friend recommended the Sidekick and the older dog has walked just at my side since the first day and the puppy knows the difference between when she’s wearing the Sidekick (all walks and when in public always polite and well behaved) vs a normal leash attached to her collar for potty trips.
I’ve recommended the sidekick whenever anyone tells me their dog is misbehaving on a walk. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Heather and her crew!
Maggie C.
We ordered a sidekick and used it twice and it started to unravel. We contacted the company and they replaced it at no cost to us.
Rosa C.
Game changer for my giant schnoodle.
Maggie B.
Love this lead. This is our second one simply because I wanted another color. This is the mini size on my 65 pound Labrador. The cord is so soft and the safety clasp can't be beat. We have been practicing putting this leash on and training with it every day.
Jennifer B.
The sidekick has been an amazing tool to help me train my puppy when on leash. I would recommend it anyone!
Norihisa S.
This is our third sidekick leash for one and a half years. Our dog, Norman, has a reactivity issue. Once he sees a dog, he freaks out and bites his leash. We feel how nervous Norman feels with the leash and have good leash communication with him. We love Sidekick, but we hope to use this new one much longer than the previous two.
jodi l.
This is an easy to use, good quality tool. I have been using it on my reactive heeler and got one for my daughter's reactive Border Collie. She loves it as well. It's nice to have the extra support for dogs with high drive.
George O.
Great quality and prompt delivery. Use it daily and it doesn’t fray or wear badly.
Loren D.
The Sidekick beats all! I've used head halters and slip leads looped to a figure 8 to create a head halter, and then tried the Sidekick. Many dogs object to a loop on their nose, but the design of the Sidekick seems to prevent this. I've put it on some very anxious dogs arriving at group classes and the owners were stunned at the difference in their overall demeanor and the ease of walking.
Nikka L.
Having a fearful pup getting used to the sounds of the city can be pretty overwhelming - but the K9 Lifeline has added so much more ease and joy to our walks! Being able to stay on track and feel safe together as we bond has been invaluable, and we all love the high quality and ease of use. We use it both solo and with a traditional leash, and notice a huge difference in our pup's comfort and demeanor when she's not on her K9 Lifeline. Thank you for helping us become a stronger and more bonded family!
Jana B.
Exactly what I needed for my leash-reactive GSD- we are finally achieving an enjoyable and calm walk for the first time! Amazing what the right tools can do!
Barbara W.
Great product and very user friendly. I love to recommend for my clients.
Jolie L.
We have 2 large, reactive dogs that we were using prong collars on (with still not a lot of control over). The trainer at the doggy daycare we use recommended these since that is what they use at the facility. This has been a game changer. This is the most control we've had (and we've used so many types of collars/leashes). We do use the nose part as well. One dog doesn't like that, but the other doesn't mind it at all. When we walk past other people and dogs now, they still get a little anxious, but the parking and pulling and rearing up have all gone away. What a blessing!
Marja V.
I have dogs and sometimes taking care of dogs from friends. My dogs and the other dogs have a lot of power and/or behavior issues. This lead makes it easier to control them and rewarding them for good behavior and I can really train them.
Colleen C.
This is my 2nd Sidekick. It worked so well for my reactive adult rescue, I decided to use it from the get-go with the new, very excited puppy. It's a fantastic tool. I wish it wasn't so expensive but it's a good quality soni don't expect to have to replace it for a long, long time. My only complaint is the long shipping time.
Laurie B.
I have a 150 pound Anatolian shepherd. I’ve tried other head collars which I never could get him to wear. This type of leash is so much easier to use but still had the nose loop that you simply slip on him. I’m having more luck training him, and I hope to successfully lead him into the vets office in a few weeks. So far so good.
One suggestion: make it a little longer for huge breeds like mine!!
jordan g.
Excellent product that I was already familiar with. Unfortunately after more than a month of waiting, I found out that the order was never sent after I finally was able to find the correct phone number to call your company. The product itself met all my expectations. I believe you need to pay more attention to customer service and make sure that the appropriate contact Information is available to the customer . The product itself was ideal for controlling and training my 120 pound bloodhound.
Eileen C.
After evaluating our 9 month old, very timid rescue puppy, our trainer recommended the SideKick. Lexi is an Australian Shepherd and was pulling very hard when we walked her to the point where it was very unenjoyable. The SideKick has made all the difference!! She now walks beside us and sits when we stop. We have gained so much confidence in ourselves and she is becoming more confident as well. We highly recommend this leash and are so grateful to have it!!
Susan R.
It works great and is easy to use (after our trained showed us). He no longer pulls and it seems to calm him nicely. It is so much more comfortable walking him now.
Josephine L.
She walks awesome !!
The Best Training tool ever
Lori W.
I love it! I've tried it with 2 of my dogs at home and I've also started using it at the shelter where I volunteer. A couple of the most reactive dogs are able to calm down, focus on handler, and learn. I'm starting to suggest it to others.
Clare V.
I had been using the Halti brand harness for several years and although it helped my dogs walk nicely, they cried every time we put it on and they were time-consuming and complicated. The Heather's Heroes Sidekick is SO easy to put on, easily adjusts to a regular leash without the facial harness when needed, and my dogs no longer cry about it! It's perfect.
Chris M.
Great quality, good instructions on use
Maureen F.
The gentle leader was a savior for our reactive dog. We are able to take her on walks without her pulling. I was surprised but I am grateful we can now enjoy walking the dog. It is incredible how well this works to control a wild dog on a leash.
Jacqueline R.
I tried several harnesses and gentle leads. This is the one….. look no further.
Marsha
This leash has helped my 9 month old boxer puppy to quit pulling. He didn’t like it at first and got super pouty when we put it on him, but I let him wear it around the house to get used to it and he doesn’t throw as big a fit when we put it on now.
Valery K.
Love this product!! I walk my 2 and 3 year old labs together and NOW they no longer pull me along!! Wish I had started using this earlier! My 2 year old lab is a bit skittish on putting it on but once on it’s amazing!
Josephine
We can’t wait to use it!!
We trained with one and had to have it
We Love it❤️
Vera S.
These leashes are lifesavers. I am a trainer and often new dogs need a gentle approach. The dogs will pull so hard that my safety is at risk and the sidekick is a savior. It really is super easy to use and helps tremendously with that wild pulling dog. I also use this on my dogs as well for everything. I’ve had 4 of these now and will always have them.
Sueane R.
I have a Great Dane puppy. Shortly after adopting him I had a significant knee injury. I feel much more comfortable walking him with the sidekick. It is a wonderful tool. My only note is it takes a minute or more to put on. So if potty training you might need another collar that is easier to grab for those moments. You def get better at putting it on. But every once in awhile I over think it or it is tangled so takes me a couple of minutes. But he is very responsive to this leash. I also think it is safer to use than others such as the Gentle Leader.
Terry
Great product and training support for its use.
Deborah U.
We love these leashes. These. Leashes they made all the difference for our
Britnie
Amazing is all I can say! Made a huge difference for my Brittany spaniel right away.
Meghan C.
This lead was an absolute game changer. Walking my dog went from a complete struggle and me feeling like I had no control to a much more confident and easy walk. I would recommend this product to anyone whose dog has a pulling or barking/lunging issue when walking.
Meghan D.
Completely changed our walking experience with our dog. We absolutely love this product.
Teresa S.
I have this leash from my dog trainer and swear by it. Upon meeting a friends new rescue, I suggested she try it after witnessing her doggher fly her behind like a kite.. I ordered her the this leash and from the first moment we used it, puppers realized who was leader of the pack and it changed their dynamic in the BEST of ways. This elderly woman can now walk her pup with confidence that she won’t be laid flat.
Mitchell G.
Game changer, my dog us walking like a normal dog now and she loves it!
Sheryl B.
Love these leashes!
Bart W.
We had been using a Gentle Leader and our dog hated it. Heather’s Hero is so much better. The softer leader and how the pressure is applied works great for our dog.
Abby L.
This has changed the way we work with our dog and the quality of our walks. It’s easy to put on and works so effectively.
Jeanne
This
Leash is a godsend for pulling dogs. I had tried every collar, harness, leash, etc and finally found the one that works. I love it and would recommend to anyone who has a dog that pulls.
Jonni G.
I have used all sorts of collars for my dog. I felt they were horrible because I was always jerking her neck. After 2 weeks of slowly using this leash my dog doesn’t mind the harness. And I love it. She even heals better now. She’s five!!!
Amanda
Best transitional lead around! I’ve now used them on both of my dogs and can’t rave enough about how great it is. Much better than a flat collar or harness when they were puppies and I still use it on my full grown shepherd/mastiff mix because he doesn’t respond well to a prong collar. Will forever recommend this leash to everyone!
Debbie B.
I really feel I’ve got almost 100% control over my 95 lb bernedoodle.. I prefer the leash tighten under her chin rather than on top of her neck. But it’s confusing trying to remember how I put it on before, so I have that positive grip. But regardless, I’m very satisfied with it. I bought a second set, just in case.
MNancy L.
I have a 100 lb. rescue girl who is ever aware of her surroundings and can be somewhat reactive if something catches her attention. Heather’s Sidekick settles her and helps us enjoy our walks.
Erika P.
This was recommend by our trainer and has worked great for us. Our dog likes it better than his former face harness. Bonus that is looks cute too.
Anne W.
Very useful for this particular dog who tended to pull and was easily distracted. The fact that it can revert to a typical slip lead was a plus.
Pamela B.
It takes time for the dog to get used to it!
Alexandra H.
The best leash ive ever seen what works so quick to calm my dog. And also the book. I never stop lerning. Thank you
Marcia J.
Love it. I can add a picture later
Nobuko I.
I love the product. But I hope the leash is available in different lengths. I have a dog with huge neck. When installed on my dog, the leash length is only 2 1/2 feet which I found to be too short for my liking. So I had to purchase 2 ft leash to extend the length.
Alexandra B.
Love this product!!! I am a dog trainer and I recommend this to many of my clients. This tool is so versatile and essential to our training!
Sarah H.
We have been fostering dogs for years. Our foster dogs almost always come with terrible leash manners. After years of struggling to leash train dogs, a dog trainer recommended this leash and it's a complete game changer! So much easier to walk and train. It's not cheap but this leash is worth the price!
Johan S.
Very good.
Maggie B.
I have a 1 year old Labrador who is in training to be a service dog. Pulling in our biggest hurdle. This was referred to me and is a game changer. We use this for on duty outings. No others like it. I love the safety clasp. Wish there were a few more colors! Especially tan.
John M.
Wonderful product. The Sidekick worked amazingly fast. Our dog Boddie Brown was a powerful human puller/dragger on a regular leash with collar or chest harness.
The Sidekick was absolutely magical in conforming our Poodle to walk calmly, side by side with us, no matter the setting or environment. Encountering other dogs while walking with the Sidekick, was transformed into a non-anxious, non-overly excited experience. It seemed like this Sidekick product instantly influenced our Poodle into a state of happiness, tranquility and loveliness while walking out and about. We will certainly recommend the Sidekick to our friends and people we meet during our daily strolls with our Poodle, Boodie Brown.
Bria H.
This leash is a game changer. My dog doesn’t pull, tolerates it on his nose without rubbing and is much more responsive to the leash on walks. Easy to use.
Raymond L.
I am so happy we purchased. It has helped tremendously for our Golden retriever.
Michael K.
Better than any other method I’ve used.
Lisa S.
This leash has allowed me to enjoy walking my dog again. She is extremely dog reactive and this is the only leash that has worked without hurting her. I love that it can easily be slipped of her nose when she's walking well. I highly recommend this leash and will be buying a second one for another dog who pulls a little.
Veronica M.
This is a great leash, good quality, eat transitional leash I have found. Just wish the clamp was a bit more durable or at least there was a way to replace the clamp piece each time my wild pup chews it off :)
Kimberly S.
Instantly changed on- leash behavior of one of my dog sit pups! She's generally trying to live life at the end of the least and is reactive to other dogs while walking in the neighborhood. But after about 2 minutes, no issues.
I also used it with a 90 pound foster Staffie at the same house. This big squishy doesn't realize his size and is still very puppy- like. He had the exact reactions Heather outlined in her video! His training will take longer, but I'm hoping his foster parents will become foster - fails with the help of the Sidekick. I loaned them mine until they received the one THEY ordered!
I'll be taking my Sidekick to all of my dog sits from now on!
Jodi G.
I now have 3 of these! And I love them!!! My puppy chewed my first one, so I bought 2 more
It makes a day & night difference in my very large baby!! Thank You!
Jesse P.
This was a game changer for my adopted, 1 year old golden retriever who was pulling. I was struggling to get him the exercise he needed because he pulled so hard on the leash. This changed the game for us! Now we can walk and even run peacefully with a loose lead, and I feel like I have full control over him! Happy pup and happy dog mom! Thank you!
Barbara K.
Ellie is a 1 year old golden who has grown to 70 pounds. I have gone to several obedience classes and she did well during the classes However, outside was a different story. She is very distracted by people, dogs, squirrels. Nothing I tried to get her to listen to me worked. I must have tried 5 different well known harnesses. I really was at the end of my leash! We began taking walks less and less. It wasn’t fun for either of us. I met a dog trainer at the dog park who recommended the sidekick. Well, I wasn’t optimistic but I had to try. After putting on the sidekick, she immediately walked perfectly alongside me (even while walking by squirrels). The videos provided on YouTube were helpful in learning how to put the leash on correctly. This leash is a miracle!
Ann M.
Great product for the right dog .
Ginger S.
This is fantastic! I have 2 dogs and walking them at the same time was super difficult as they always wanted to pull...this leash has changed their behavior...I can now go out on walks with a slack leash and enjoy our walks together. Thank you for our dog trainer for recommending your product!
Jenny M.
This was instrumental in helping my reactive rescue feel safe, secure, and not snap at other dogs. In addition, he's able to walk on leash without pulling me down the street. I now feel safe to walk my dog. He was overpowering me. This easy to use tool gives us both peace of mind.
Robin M.
Our almost 4 year old Great Dane had been getting progressively worse on her gentle leader with pulling and also when coming in contact with other dogs on walks. Was told about this harness at a restaurant while talking to another guest. We decided to purchase that day and it was the best $40 we’ve ever spent. I can literally walk our 130lb girl with one finger!! Highly recommend and have already told friends
Terri T.
Game changer. Kai's whole demeanor changed. She would of course rather pull, however, she gives in to this new gear that sends her a clear message that pulling isn't working for either of us.
Bravo!
Allison E.
Got one for my puppy from our trainer, then ordered another one for my 5-year old and it's making our walks WAY easier!
L B.
We purchased two "Sidekicks" for our Bernie-doodles. Because Berner's were bred (originally) as cart dogs, they tend to lunge forward in their collars (halters). These transitional leashes are the perfect solution! I or my daughter can walk these big dogs by ourselves without getting pulled over. Highly recommend!
Pam
This has been a lifesaver and so easy to use. My very persistent pulling golden retriever has responded well immediately with this head collar. Love it!
Arkin H.
This is our favorite leash. As a dog trainer, we recommend it to all our clients!
Amber B.
Our trainer introduced us to this leash and it's the only thing that has helped us on our loose leash journey. We are forever grateful!!
Jeanne A.
nice purchase
Jim C.
Fantastic training lead. We mastered focus and healing within a week. Lightweight, great length, quickly became my favorite lead to use for long walks with lots of distractions.
Staci P.
This leash was a game changer. I can walk my dogs with more comfortable control! They responded well to it