Personally I always hated them....but... DD1 was a runner and when DD2 was on the way I caved and bought one in the hopes that I could get her to stay with me. I used it twice!! Both times I felt like I was being looked at and I felt like I was being cruel. DD hated it too and decided that throwing herself on the floor and tugging at the lead was a great game. Needless to say I have one sitting in my cupboard barely used.