Interesting thread, as I have only just got back in from town and an extended visit to the pet shop.
Here’s my dilemma:
Bramble, our 14wk Briard pup can really, really pull, hard enough for Mrs. B to struggle to hold her back and definitely enough to cause problems for the in-laws who occasionally dog sit for us..
Certainly hard enough be be doing herself damage. Aside from damaging her windpipe, large breeds have to go gently for the first year as their bones and joints haven’t fully formed, which can cause hip dysplasia in later life.
Training wise, she’s at early stages of puppy training, but it takes time to get them reliably walking ‘at heel’ and I need a temporary solution now.
Full harness – too big and bulky with no disincentive to pull, as has been mentioned.
Halty type face harness – that wasn’t going to happen, she immediately hated it, although solved the pulling by causing her to lie on the floor clawing at her face.
Slip lead – just ‘no’, and specifically forbidden by our dog trainer.
Figure of 8, was kind of okay, but the same problem with the lying down and clawing.
We settled for a lead that has an extra steel loop at the clip loop, so you clip it on their collar, wrap the lead around the dog’s chest behind the front legs and then back through the steel loop. Basically an extra slip-lead loop, that tightens around their chest, rather than throat. Sorry I don’t know the technical name for that design.
As a stop-gap to stop her pulling towards people and children around town it seems fine, but ultimately it’s going to have to come down to training, especially with such a large breed.