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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. Got a chew-happy pup? Whatever the reason, just be sure to create an account, then contact us and we can help.Maddie C.
exactly what I ordered, good quality and shipping within the time frame they anticipated
Brittany M.
Love this lead. It’s hugely helping me get control of my reactive pup. We are still transitioning from her old hardness however she is quickly adjusting and learning to love it. I love the control I have and the freedoms she has. We both get to feel comfortable
Wendi P.
Worked with a trainer once and has helped my reactive dog
Cynthia E.
Great quality!
Patricia R.
The sidekick has been a great tool to help my foster dog make some needed adjustments while on walks. He pulls less on leash, reacts promptly to handler tugs when correction is needed, and it's so nice to see no marks on his snoot from tight squeezing like often noticed with other tools. I found the instructions on the packaging to be a little confusing, but your online videos were very helpful. Thanks.
Janette D.
Leashes really help with control. Also, Katy and Penny have stopped from wandering in front of me.
Heidi F.
Our dog trainer recommended this leash and it’s amazing. We bought two so we always have one available. So much more comfortable and easy to put on than a gentle lead.
Susan L.
We have tried multiple leashes, collars and halters with our year and a half old lab. This is the only option that has worked for us. She becomes immediately docile when we put it on.
Alisa A.
This leash works really well. I love it. Sometimes I get mixed up when I put it on because I don’t use it every day.
Corrie W.
Its great, just WAY too expensive. I love it though
Lois K.
The lead works good. However, I would like to have had about a foot more lead. It is a little too short for my dog.
Teresa M.
We do not use the lead around our dogs nose however we use as a slip leash. The extra latch is essential for attaching to my dog’s collar for extra safety. We have more control and he has plenty of freedom. Great leash! I recommend you have someone experienced to teach you how to use it.
Jeffrey C.
works great, well designed
Debra W.
I just wish the small leach was longer.
Patricia F.
Absolutely loved the leash!
My 20 month old Lab loved it so much she chewed it in half when she was obediently sitting by my feet!
It was well made but no match for her chewing.
Lesson learned.
todd k.
Great leash and quality. Only issue was paying more for shipping then the collar was worth. But collar is wonderful
Sara S.
Works well for my puppy. He is very attentive when wearing it as it is a signal to him we are in training mode
Amanda C.
It took some time for her to adjust to leash, but it helped with her training so much. She not longer needs to wear it over her nose most of the time now.
Marcia C.
The leash wasn't something my dog liked. It was a little expensive. I did return it and had no issues. Good company, just didn't end up being what I was looking for.
Chris D.
Our dog pulled like crazy on walks. THe sidekick has changed the game. Walking with Willow is so much less stressful than it was before.
Lewis Z.
It's fast and great for puppy training
Amber H.
Great product! Using sidekick to train 6 month old puppy not to pull while on walks.
Alexia W.
I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. My dog cooper was unsure at first, he would paw at his nose and wanted it off obvi. But omg has it changed our lives. He pulled like no other and we tried everything for two years. Now walks are a breeze, he even has recall! There is slack in the leash the entire walk and cooper is at my heels, when he gets excited a little tug and he’s back at my heels. The leash is so soft too, it hasn’t caused any irritation for my boy. Easy walk leashes and harnesses in the past caused major irritation for his skin due to his pulling. I can’t say enough how much this leash has changed our lives for the better. I’m so freaking happy and so is my boy coop!! Thank you my shoulder thanks you and so does coop! Dogs really just want leadership and he’s so much calmer with this leash and knowing I have control.
Jill P.
My dog is walking so much better on the lease. I now can get a little exercise in
William D.
I'm a frequent volunteer at our local government operated animal shelter, and often work with dogs that need help learning to walk on a leash. The Sidekick has been a great help in this area because it helps the dogs to quickly calm and behave properly. In turn, the dogs get to go on trips outside the shelter more often and are exposed to the public, which helps adoptions. I recently purchased 2 Sidekicks for the shelter to make available to volunteers as they take dogs out for the day. I'm very pleased with the Sidekick.
Laurel S.
I work with many shelter dogs, in addition to client’s dogs. I was hoping this would be a good tool for some shelter dogs, because it would eliminate the fitting required with other head halters. It was more of a one size fits all option. I think the thickness of the leash (maybe the smaller one would have been more appropriate) was bothersome to the dogs on their muzzles. They all lowered their heads and refused to walk. Most dogs take time to acclimate to any head halter, but with this one, they all seemed to shut down as soon as it was on the muzzle. I’m going to keep trying with various dogs, but I don’t want to use anything that the dog finds aversive. Maybe I need to practice with it more as well, as it is quite different from other head halters that I have used. It is very nicely made, so I really was hoping to love it.
Daniel V.
Best gentle leader in the market.
Andrea R.
Great slip lead and leader. It has worked great in helping us transition away from the leader for my service puppy in training.
Colleen C.
I love this leash! I have a beautiful big black lab that was a big-time puller. Walking him was really scary, as my husband and I are in our 60s. I have to say, our dog doesn't LOVE this leash (yet), and he occasionally attempts to paw at it. But it's only been a few weeks and things are improving dramatically all the time. And now my dog walks without pulling at all! It's wonderful! We can take him anywhere, even in crowds with lots of other dogs, and he walks so nicely! We are so happy to have had the sidekick recommended to us! We have already recommended it to many of our friends. Thank you!
Susan R.
I have used many different leashes, harnesses and gentle leaders. I find this very easy to use, although I must admit it took me a while to get it to go on easily. Just rescued a year old husky mix and it makes our walks pleasurable.
Matthew M.
A friend recommended the leash for our 4 month old puppy. I can say he’s not a fan however, it makes a world of difference in his demeanor when leashed. I could honestly compare it to kryponite for the dog. Lol!
Takes a little work to get them accustomed to the leash but worth the effort. Quality was as expected for the price and I would definitely recommend.
Christopher T.
The quality is simply lacking. The plastic like material sleeve that covers where the loop of the handle meets is falling apart after less then a week of use. And this week the actually lease rope material is splitting and unraveling lightly. We would like to ask for an exchange in case this was a defective unit. Which we do know happens in the busniess of manufacturing.
Laury L.
Our trainer recommended this to reduce pulling, reduce negative reactions to other dogs, & improve training focus. We have found it to be very effective! We would love it if you offered a version that was reflective!!!!
Donna Z.
I purchased this to control my two-year-old adopted Afghan hound who charges the crates in my small grooming shop in my home.He seems to be dog aggressive at times.
At lunchtime I close up the gates and let my three hounds out to the bathroom. When I let them in he is awful. He gets the other two going ( like gang rape!!!) and they like dogs! So I put that on him just to get him back to his crate and it works every time right from the very first time. He tried to buck at first, But it took less than a minute to get control over him. When he’s in control the other two are absolute angels.
It’s much like moving a horse around. I purchased a second one to give to my 82-year-old friend who owns this dog’s mother ( she just adopted) who a is a fear runner- She dragged her right down to the ground and bruised her face. I intend to get over there to help her learn how to use it so I will update on my purple lead I got for her as a gift…
A child could walk a dog easily with this amazing lead!!! 10 stars!
Tera W.
The sidekick leashes are game-changers! This is our second purchase from Heather’s Heroes; we knew we needed a second leash when we brought our new puppy home. Their quality is second to none, and we couldn’t be happier. When we are out in public (often!), we are asked about our well-behaved pups, and we always recommend the sidekick. Lots of training, consistent positive reinforcements, and Heather’s Heroes leashes are our go-tos for happy, safe pups!
Ruth H.
We are very pleased with the quality of the leash. It is light weight and with soft texture, yet very strong. The metal hook took us getting used to but is very strong. Because of the texture and weight, the nose loop should be comfortable on the dog. It is a little pricey but worth it. My only problem is that she is a Houdini and wiggles out of the nose loop. I know I must need more training in how to put it on, but as of now we are using it without the nose loop.
I would give it a 5 if not for that.
Thank you, I will recommend it to others!!
Carolyn S.
The sidekick makes a huge difference in walking my 8 month old blue heeler, no more pulling me, she walks beside me and is not choking herself. Our walks are very enjoyable now. Highly recommend the sidekick.
Gie C.
The Sidekick is an aversive tool, but I found it to be much better tolerated than other head halters and safer and, I believe, significantly less aversive than those other head halters. With my dog training clients I'm only using it with grown dogs who have become very strong pullers or sudden lungers with the goal to not need it as soon as possible. I'm glad to have this tool in my toolkit. Thank you!
Linda K.
Perfect for controlling my pulling, lunging, exuberant golden retriever!
Stephanie C.
My dog responded very well to the sidekick leash. It appears comfortable to him and we seem more in sync than with other methods we have tried.
Chelsy P.
My dog is stubborn and just does not phase him
Veronica M.
I’ve used head halters in the past; I wish I found this lead sooner. It’s so much better, and versatile, plus it’s quality. And the fact that it clasps to the collar for security is so nice! I have a rescue husky (read that: sled pulling escape artist). This works well for him
Laurie T.
This is a brilliant design. Gentle leader and leash all in one. My girl still is not a fan but this item works much better than the stand alone gentle leaders. It’s harder for her to remove nose piece and I love how the leash works and there is no “buckle weight” from an external leash hanging under chin.
Merrie W.
Love it and it has been a game changer in our walking!
Patricia M.
This really works with our over exuberant standard poodle puppy
Rhonda B.
Koda would behave badly out in public. He is a 100 pound 11 month old Newfoundland. I had no control over him until I got this leash.
Corey M.
Leo is a rescue pup who is leash reactive towards other dogs. We’ve been working with him for a year with positive reinforcement to build his confidence and his impulse control when he sees other dogs, but he had plateaued and we weren’t gaining any ground in his ability to pass other dogs on leash. As soon as we tried the sidekick, we noticed that he was calmer, more focused on his handler, and was less anxious around his triggers. We’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now, and have already been able to decrease the distance between us and other dogs/owners. We are so thankful for this tool and have high hopes that this will help Leo work through his reactivity!
Jennifer p.
I was amazing. My dog was a "Power Puller" with a harness on. This makes her relax and have much less anxiety during her walks. I plan to use this on all of my dogs for leash training.
Jillian L.
My friend, who is a dog trainer, had recommended this to me 1 - 2 years ago. I have not put the proper effort into leash training my dog and just 'make it work.' We've used both the easy walk and gentle lead. She did really well with the gentle lead, but i noticed it would leave an indentation on her (super cute) face. After she got a scratch along the gentle lead harness' line, I decided we needed to try something new. Finally got this and my only regret was not doing it sooner. This didn't fix everything, AND, she walks so much better now and it's limited her ability to go fully reactive, which I think also helps her calm down faster.
Karen R.
I’ve tried haltees and gentle leaders for my Goldendoodle who pulls, by far, the side kick is the best! All in one, easy to put on and effective. Also, it comes with the link to a great little video with simple techniques to use with the collar, making it even more effective. Thank you!
Laura B.
I like the durability and the leash works well.
The rope over the bridge of the nose may be too thick and impede the dogs vision? Works as expected.
Katie S.
This leash is a godsend. I just adopted a two year old pittie and she's GREAT with this leash but with a regular slip lead, she's pulling me alllll over the place. She has gotten used to the bit around her muzzle and only tries to paw it off towards the end of our walks when she's all tired and hot. Great leash!
A Lab for Life
Awesome product!!
Travis W.
Na
Juliana T.
We our big lovers of Heathers Heroes products! We ordered our first Sidekick after seeing the company profiled on Marcus Lemonis’s show.
We have since ordered 2 more for our dogs and now one for our sons dog and my sister just ordered one. We used a similar product prior to trying Heathers Heroes Sidekick. The Sidekick is by far a superior product with its materials used for longevity and comfort on our dogs. It allows us to have so much more control over our pups and most importantly have Great walk with out our dogs pulling us. It’s a miracle device!
Lu Ann C.
I was told by the lady that is working with my young Newfiedoodle that this would be the best leash to work with and it has worked great!!
ALFONSO M.
This leash sure does make a huge differece in dog pulling and mainly on walking your dog along with teaching him to stay calm from jumping.
Nicole K.
I have this leash for my resident dog and it has worked wonders, so ordered it for our new foster pup, pictured. She is super strong and I could not manage her pulling with regular leash, and now she has perfect leash manners with the sidekick!!! I’ve recommended this leash to every single dog owner I know, it truly works miracles.
Maureen R.
This leash was/is a GAME CHANGER! My rescue dog is very inconsistent when walking, mostly ok but then reacts to some dogs(and sometimes people) in an aggressive manner. While using this leash she is fantastic, always right at my side, matching my pace. If there is a reaction she is totally controllable. It has had a positive affect on her entire attitude and behavior even when she is not on the leash. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!
janice S.
This leash was recommended to me by Dog Trainer - it is the only leash that is soft and comfortable enough for the dog to be content while having an over the snout leash. I use it when in public with my service dog to keep her focused and she knows she is working when it is over her nose. - it's a very quick release to take it off of her nose so I am slipping it on and off as I go place to place. The leash may be thrown in the wash so is easy to keep clean. A bit pricey but lasts forever. If your dog is a chewer don't leave her alone with the leash on or nearby. It is the ONLY lease I use on my service dog. Well made and a great idea.
Toni R.
This is my third sidekick in my dog’s 8.5 years- because the quality is so good! Our trainer first introduced this to us when he was a puppy and he is now a 70+ pound dog who is a delight to walk. Highly recommend.
Susan P.
Really expensive for the quality
Linda A.
I am 68 with an energetic 96 pound 3 year old German Shepherd. I had tried everything on the market including shock collars.
I now get to keep my dog and he and I are both safe. Our walks now are so delightful. No more face plants on the pavement! Thank you.
Jennifer N.
This works great. Used it at camp no lunging and pulling when see other dogs quiet and calm walk. I tried it on my other dog who is 100lbs it helps with pulling but might need a thicker rope like a regular slip lead have but I love this one because it sits on top instead of side. I will purchase another so both of my dogs will each have one
Debra M.
My Golden Retriever would pull my arm out of the socket on walks. Now it's a beautiful walk for both of us. Thanks
Jenna F.
Has really helped with training our puppy. Especially when we take him around other people it helps him stay calm and not jump!
Alyssa L.
The lead was great quality - it works great for dog training! Our trainer recommended it and it’s been great so far to teach our puppy leash pressure and walking on a leash
Clifford M.
I put in an incomplete address for delivery this company received the return and immediately sent it back to a corrected address. GreT customer service and the product is wonderful. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to others Clifford Michael
Susan V.
My rehomed 2-year-old Havapoo needed some help becoming a gentleman. After some professional training, where they used this leash, he is now the best little heeler walking buddy around. I love the many features and it's the only leash I use.
Amanda E.
Works great for controlling walks without discomfort. And love the colors
Greg S.
Really helps my 10 month old Goldador focus and stay calm. Easy to put on and feels nice in my hand.
Jonathan R.
It’s a great product comics made a huge difference with her dog. My only criticism is it’s incredibly hard to figure out how to put this on, especially at the beginning. I think the fact that everything is the same color and looks the same without very clear instructions make it very frustrating. The first two or three weeks, even though I used it three times a day, I often found myself cursing to try to figure it out and having to watch videos. I wish it were more clearly marked.
Jennifer D.
Our dog is a good boy, but he is a PULLER! We’ve tried everything. Grateful our friend recommended Heather’s Helper! Walking our dog is finally an enjoyable experience!
Becky G.
We went from frustrating walks to wonderful fun overnight. It of course takes them a minute to get uses to; however, I love it. My dog no longer pulls, paces with me, and he is easier to control because he controls himself. I love this!
Kimberly H.
Love it
Diane P.
This is a very strong built leash. My dog is reactive and we are working on training him. I would love an option for a 48 inch leash so that I can keep him closer to me as we walk. This leash is 6ft so I have to wrap it around my hand 4-5x's to keep him at a tighter distance. He lunges at people and dogs so I need to keep him close. This is the first leash that I feel safe walking my dog with.
Mary Alice H.
Schutz is a 4month old German Shepherd who pulled on his leash to the point we were unable to practice on leash walking, forget loose leash walking. Our Trainer recommended your leash and the change was dramatic. Of course, he was not happy the first time we put it on but that walk was so different! I will not be without this leash ever!
Dawn B.
This has been a shoulder saver. I have it attached to the front hook on the harness and another leash hooked to the back hook. If this is on right and tight enough the other leash isn't needed. I just saw a bunny and I would need shoulder surgery if not for this leash. She tried to react and go ballistic but with the nose pressure point she decided against it
Nancy D.
I have a huge puppy. Tried the Gentle Leader which worked but he hated it. This one controls him in a directable way and we can take walks!
Mary Anne F.
Buttercup is a "forward" dog. The Sidekick was an instant game changer for her and it is now enjoyable to walk with her. She is not pulling but walks comfortably along with me.
Eric T.
I implemented asap after Heather’s workshop. Feedback from clients has been great so far and introducing the idea of using it has been received far better than other tool options. I also trust people with it more than other tool options. I’m still new to the industry, but this leash will be used pretty often moving forward. It’ll likely be option A until I find a dog or owner that it just doesn’t suit. Heather’s overall idea of using very little commands and keeping it super simple has also been very easy to convey. As with everything, I’m sure I’m doing it differently to an extent and will continue to adapt, but I’m thrilled to have this in my toolbox.
kathy c.
We have tried various collars, halters etc on our two very energetic labradors. This item seems to do the trick without all the fuss of the Halti we were using before. They were continually fighting the halti plus we had to use a collar with it. The sidekick is much more manageable and so easy to put on them. Thank you!!!
Steven T.
We were referred to you by Robert Haussmann for our dog Gerald, who displays signs of leash aggression. This leash has been amazing - he is much more calm and controllable. Thank you!!
Joannie B.
The quality and ease in which you don the item on is super.
Thank you!
Carmine D.
Maddie, very aggressive dog, usually need muzzle……wa La the leash is a game changer, could not take this dog outside around others. Bought this for my daughter and had my neighbor buy one for theirs aggressive dog, no feedback from that yet, ty,
Ashley J.
My dog Houdini’ed himself out of it over and over again.
Jennyfer T.
This leash is the best thing we’ve used on our pitbull puppy. He’s 50 lbs of muscle and pulled constantly before using this leash. It is a game changer. He’s so much better behaved when it’s on also. Thank you so much for this product!
Connie C.
These are the best leads for our very busy big puppies! Makes walking them so great!
Evie G.
I love everything about this … except the length. I use it to control my Great Dane on walks and it’s a lifesaver but a bit too short for us. I almost step on her when she walks in front of me. It would be perfect with another foot or so of rope, even a few more inches would be great. Also, I wish there were better color options like pink.
Kathryn S.
Adopted a teenage terrier mix with alot of prey instinct and general anxiety. This lead helped us learn to walk better together and helped us both stay safe.
skate h.
Such a great product! Did some training with a dog i walk with this lead and fell in love! When i got a puppy i knew this is the lead i wanted to work with. She’s been doing exceptionally with is and love the ease of use!
Betty J.
I have a standard Bernedoodle that is not cooperative on walks. He recently started laying down and not budging to the point where I had to call my husband to pick us up. The Sidekick leash has been a tremendous help in guiding him and making sure he’s not stopping or pulling. Sometimes he will rub his face on the grass to try and take it off, but the metal clasp ensures it stays on.
Bryan H.
The sidekick made leash training our puppies so easy.
James R.
The Sidekick is a godsend!
Olivia T.
I absolutely love the sidekick I encourage all my clients to by this lead. All my service dog work I specifically use this lead. I will forever promote this lead.
Sheri J.
Wow! Dramatic difference in my dog! Something about this Sidekick leash system calmed him down. I can work him in dog class - just beginning obediance - but that was very difficult before this leash. It turns out my sweet pound puppy is a 70 pound, very reactive, unsocialized dog and this leash - along with my trainer's guidance - is helping us learn!
Laura K.
We have a Springer Spaniel pup that is a bad puller while on walks. We tried a few different things to try to get her to stop, but nothing worked until this leash. She has a great nose and just wants to follow all of the wonderful smells, and now she can do that safely. The nose lead helps gently correct her and now my hand doesn't hurt anymore! I would love to see this leash in a shorter length as well.
Katrina M.
Instantly noticed what a difference this leash made versus the traditional gentle leader. My dog is still not that big of a fan of the loop that goes around her snoot, but the Sidekick has definitely helped with her pulling.
Pamela M.
The rope has a few ends filtering out of the leash but overall it was a game changer for my headstrong Louise.
Kirsten B.
My GSP wants to walk well—when she is focused she has a perfect heel. But when we go somewhere new or exciting she turns into a little tow truck. I love that the sidekick is easily convertible in these moments. She immediately returns to being focused and walks by my side.