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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. Need additional help? We're here to support you through your training journey, so reach out to us at any time.Staci P.
This leash was a game changer. I can walk my dogs with more comfortable control! They responded well to it
Jack Z.
A vendor at my local farmers market recommended Heather’s Heroes after my dog lunged toward another dog. She’s a 45 pound Springer Spaniel and has always been a handful to walk. After almost yanking down my wife during a walk, we bought this leash and it’s been a game changer for us. She still tries to go after birds and squirrels but having her be able to walk past strangers and other dogs without pulling a lot and with only keeping some light tension on the leash is amazing. I honestly can’t say enough about how awesome this product is. It took about 5 minutes for my dog to get used to it and now she’s fine with the fit and feeling of it.
James D.
I love the product, your staff and your service!!! Thank you Heather's Heros!!
Linda
Love the control… strong boy !
Taney V.
Love the sidekick. The weeks before I got the sidekick, my dog pulled me into the ring, even so hard as he was choking himself. The next weekend I took him into the ring, he was a new dog. He walked right by my side. Never pulling. I am so glad a friend recommended it.
Erin
My dog does not pull with this lead
Rebecca
Did not receive
Rebecca
Have been using these leashes for over a year, need more because I give them away. 1 star because I never received this order…
Maureen S.
I was introduced to this lead by a dog trainer- I have a 100 lb malamute mix who thinks he is a sled dog. This lead enables me to enjoy walking him.
Marjorie M.
Thank you! My dog is strong and as a rescue, he is an adult still in training. This is the only piece of equipment that lets me take him out knowing he is safe and I have a handle on him. The lead being in the back of his head works well because he is so strong and if he pulls hard he won't hurt his neck. Our trainer recommended this product and I am so grateful. Thank you!
Lisa H.
Best training tool. My professional trainer used and recommended it. Love, love ,love it.
My dog responds better with this than ANY collar or harness.
Great product
Byron G.
Remarkable difference in Finn’s performance
Ami S.
Best leash ever! I have a big dog that can pull me down but she can't pull at all with the leash on.
Madison C.
I have tried everything under the moon to help with my dogs pulling and nothing worked. I don’t know what magic you put into this sidekick but my dog is a whole new dog!! Thank you heathers heroes for designing something that works! Great pricing for a great product as well!
Nicole
I LOVE this leash!!! It’s a collar leash, a gentle leader and no pull all in one. If you have a very reactive dog, this is the product for you. Please be sure to check out the videos on their website to better understand how this works.
Greg C.
Our trainer uses the sidekick and provides one to you when training dogs. Our dog behaves so well on this leash that we use it whenever we walk her!!
Laura B.
I really like that this design sits behind the dog's head and not under their chin. It creates less risk of a whiplash type injury IMO.
One thing I do wish is that it was available in a headpiece part only so I could attach my leash of choice.
Michael G.
Amazing leashes would not buy anything else for our Lagotto
Frank M.
It’s great! Super high quality and best design.
Ashley H.
I was told about this leash via my dog trainer. I was someone who took my puppy to the dog park and from there, on walks, all he wants to do is play with other dogs. With this leash I am able to pull his attention back to me with little to no effort. We can now enjoy our walks without the fear of being dragged across a field to visit another dog!
Quiana R.
This I'd my second purchase and I love it.
Skyla M.
Great lead my pitbull pup constantly pulled and gets very fixed on other animals . he is very dominant I’m able to walk him with no problems now .
Jaime B.
Tried it out today and I believe it’s gonna work great! My pup responded great to it. Yes, we have some work to do but this product is a keeper. My dog trainer for my adult dog recommended this product.
Kristen S.
I started to use the transitional leash back when it was "K-9 lifeline" a few years ago. When I started using our trainer for my fear reactive mutt from Sochi, Russia, I was made aware that a large part of their foundational training program is based on conditioning the dog to Heather Beck's Sidekick leash. I was taught that conditioned to appropriately, this leash utilizes the natural pressure point dogs have on the bridge of their noses to help create a calm and confident mindset. It removes unwanted tension from the neck, helps to teach them how to walk politely/respectfully in distracting areas, gives me overall way better control of her, and it helps her to look to me for guidance.
The difference when I walk her with/without the "snoot loop" is outstanding!
Stacey T.
Great leash to ensure my dog doesn't pull me and is comfortable to wear for her!
Thomas T.
Our dog trainer recommended this leash to help improve Asta's loose leash walking, and the results have been amazing! We had tried using a lead leash before, but the Sidekick's extra harness feature + safety clip make us feel so much better about using this tool effectively!
Kelly H.
We were introduced to the sidekick through a rescue organization. We were fostering a 75+ pound young, energetic, deaf dog and the sidekick was an amazing, gentle tool. We would absolutely recommend this product to others. Ordering was smooth & easy and shipping & delivery was quick and painless. Go Heather’s Heroes!
Kim G.
My lab puppy, 9mos, huge and strong, loves to pull during walks. She seriously injured me twice. It amazed me the puppy class instructor put this on her and she was a different dog! Now she knows when the purple lead goes on its time to behave. Very happy with this product.
Asha O.
Love the Sidekick! I have noticed a night and day difference with how my girl walks on leash now that I have switched her over to it, utilizing the head halter. She often would pull quite a bit, and react poorly /obnoxiously when she saw other dogs and now these behaviours have significantly reduced. I am also very impressed with the video tutorials provided via email to explain exactly how to introduce and utilize the leash. Would definitely buy this product again for other pups!
Jessie T.
Purchased the Heather's Heroes Mini to help with training my insecure puppy, and it's been magic! The perfect tool for leash work.
Rebecca M.
My 10 month old lab puppy loves to pull and we needed something that would allow us to walk him in the city. The Sidekick worked miracles. Now I can walk him without any worry that he’ll pull me over. He behaves so well while walking
Jay R.
We recently rescued a female American Foxhound (Mitzi) who was very frightened and just wanted to run away. She was found as a stray in VA and moved to the shelter in PA where we met her. We have had 2 Labs over the last 25 years and have about 10 or more leashes that we accumulated trying to find a good system for my wife to use with our Labs. To our surprise Mitzi is stronger and faster than either of our Labs. On our second visit the attendant used one of your leashes. We got the name of the leash and we ordered it as soon as we got home. Three days later on Friday we took Mitzi home using one of our leash collection which connected to her collar and went around her chest so it wouldn't choke her. It was a disaster. Over the weekend we tried every leash and leash system in our collection without any success. It was a very stressful time for us and Mitzi. The Sidekick arrived midday on Monday. The minute we put it on Mitzi, she was a different dog. By Tuesday she was calm and walking well. Thank you for such a great product. I would have never had believed that it would work this well.
Jeannine C.
Dogs absolutely hate it!
Jamie S.
This is a great product and works very well if you have a strong dog and is helpful either using it as a leash or with the nose guide.
Lauri L.
Our Lab is super strong and this has been the best way to manage her pulling.
Janet E.
This is my second time purchasing this leash. First one is still good, just wanted a new color. The leash helps to control our dog without having to pull. She loves it and so do we.
Gary L.
Wonderful leash. My dog was a totally different dog after he began using the leash with a trainer.
Ellen
They took triple the time to get here that’s my reason for 4 stars and maybe work on one that doesn’t get caught/ twisted up in my Bernadoodle muzzle hair. Just something to think about for long hair dogs otherwise great products. I’ve been using them for my dogs for over five years now.
John P.
It was a real struggle to walk my dog. We have never owned a large dog and was not used to heavy dog pulling so much. Our trainer recommended the sidekick and the very first time we used it, what a huge difference! She didn't pull at all and surprisingly it only took her minutes to get used to it. We are very satisfied customers and highly recommend this product to anyone who is having issues with their dog pulling.
Evie G.
Lifesaver. If I could buy one thing for my dog and nothing else it would 1000% be this. I've recommended it to so many people who bought and love it.
But... would love to see different colors come back like pink, bright green, etc. And for big dogs like mine (130+ lbs), it needs a bit more length or else I'm nearly tripping over her when she walks in front of me because her body is so long!
Rosamond W.
This is not quite what I thought it would be. My dog hates it, and almost seems he is feeling humiliated by the wrap around his nose. Afterall, I know he is a dog, but can't think of any human who would want this on their nose either.
Marilyn S.
My 70 lb Golden Retriever used to pull me down the street like a sled dog. Your leash has given us both a stress free enjoyable walk as he is right by my side. My shoulder thanks you too. This was recommended by my trainer.
Jonathan G.
I sent an email but never got a reply. The metal latch that attaches to collar broke after a month and no longer will stay clasped.
Susan W.
Love this! We have used gentle leader and the figure eight method with a long lead line and this is so convenient having all of the pieces in one leash! Highly recommend!
Candy W.
The leash is high quality. And I wouldn't use any other leash on the market. Definitely helped with walking and controlling the walk
Kristy S.
My 5yr old 95lb golden retriever likes to pull during walks, and she's super strong! This head harness was an immediate change in her behavior. She's not the biggest fan of it, but I sure am. I can walk her now without feeling like she's dislocating my arm. Thinking about getting another one for my 5mth old pup.
Emmy G.
This works- it was recommended by our trainer and has changed our walks!
Linda G.
I have a one year old American Pit who needed help with pulling and jumping. This leash has helped me so much that I ordered another for my friend who has a five year old Bullie. He never walked with her without pulling her down the street but as soon as I put this leash on him he walked by my side. My girlfriend thought I gave him something at first so I showed her what to do and they’ve been walking perfectly since! I think I should have her pay me for the training
Kem B.
Cured the pulling problem and I felt better about not damaging his throat
Elizabeth S.
Excellent quality
Shannon R.
I was having a lot of difficulty walking my puppy for months. We tried a variety of collars but he would just pull me down the street and jump up on me when he did not want to go the direction I was going or want to go see another person or dog. It was almost like he was having a tantrum. He would try to bite my arms and constantly would bite the leash. We worked with a trainer using various collars but he would not respect us on the leash until we tried this one. He had some difficulty at first with it on his nose and tried to paw it off the first few times I used it. I simply pulled up on the leash and he would stop immediately. After a few uses he began walked right beside me without difficulty or pulling and he has not jumped up on me at any time when using this leash. It’s been a lifesaver.
Gigi G.
These are the softest leads. Great quality material. My pups love them!
Yen Shing N.
I’ve used the Sidekick for many years for my own dogs and foster dogs. It’s really a life saver for dogs that need leash training. I put most of my large, strong pullers on it. Used correctly it is a very effective training tool!
Pamela H.
Our dog is 70 pounds of muscle. We are in our late 70's.
Old people should not have big dogs. Went to the Ocala Dog Ranch to swim him on a gentle leader (thin, light weight) which didn't work. The owner told us about Heather's Heroes and so glad she did. There are two sizes and we purchased the larger size and it works great. The dog hates is but we LOVE IT! Can now walk him with my little finger.
Kelly A.
This is one of the only products that have worked for my dog to be able to take her for a walk. It's solid and a great product
Charlenne W.
Although I wanted to love this it did not work for our pup. It made it difficult for her to breath. We ended up using a different nose halter and have had success with it. This is still a quality made product. It just did not work for us.
Tara M.
I have tried every kind of leash for my energetic Australian Shepherd and until a friend recommended this leash, nothing worked! It was so easy to put on and I love that it can simply turn into a regular leash around the neck.
Cynthia B.
Please look for a lighter-weight metal collar clasp. The clasp is easy to operate but quite heavy.
This is a kind training tool. Mostly, it makes it easier on the trainer as it greatly reduces the strength of the dog pulling. Thank you for developing such a product.
Michael R.
a great leash to keep our puppy happy and under control
Nicole L.
Pawsitive K9 Behavior School introduced us to this leash and the current one is starting to wear so I bought a back up. Piper was reactive on her standard leash, so the trainer found this to be the best in helping Piper learn better leash behaviors. Piper has really come a long way and this leash has helped so much in our walks. I especially love that it clips to the collar so if she breaks out of the leader part she won’t be escaping from me. It’s also nice to not need an additional leash as I did when I tried a gentle leader on her. Very happy with this leash. Keep up the great work!
Rebecca G.
Great product
Teresa M.
My pup was not a fan of the gentle leader and I eventually found this online. He is much more approving that’s for sure! He will still try to get it off his nose but only if he is waiting in a down position. The ring under his neck that divides the loops though don’t lie so flat and I have to keep a watch out as it digs in to him. So working on the best adjistment!
Marc Q.
At 105 lbs with low center of gravity it can become a chore to walk Rocky. Even more so when he is distracted by small animals. The leash helps redirect the focus and make walking more of a training exercise.
Becky P.
Best leash ever. I call it her magic leash.
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.
Rickee M.
I think that the piece that connects the rope that ends up under the dog's throat may be improved with a piece of foam. I find that my dog occasionally is choking as this piece digs into her throat. She pulls, and we are training, the slip lead is loosened a bit, but when she pulls I am afraid that she may cut her skin.
Darlene F.
I'm a trainer and I'm taking a class with my young, somewhat reactive personal dog from another trainer. (She's the one who referred me.) I love the control I have with the Sidekick. It works perfectly to calm her. I used Gentle Leaders on my other dogs in the past, but I didn't like the way they fit, and how they left marks on their faces. The Sidekick is soft and not at all harsh. I purchased another one for my other dog, who has a tendency to try to chase cars when we're walking, and I'm very pleased with it. I've already recommended them to several of my clients, so hopefully they'll be in touch to purchase one soon. Thank you for a great product!!
Jeffrey R.
This leash is has done MIRACLES for my dog during walks. He walks calmly alongside me now and if he has the urge to lunge at other dogs, this leash controls him instantly.
Vanessa F.
I actually think the leash is wonderful except I have a 210 lb English Mastiff and the options were not available to accommodate my dog or giant breeds in general.
marjorie e.
Stella is 4 months and full of it, black lab female. she resists me putting it on her nose so I use the slip lead only. we are still working on that . I have had four other labs with no issues on HEEL. this one is unique.
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.