What Type of Dogs Do the Easy Walk and Gentle Leader Work Best for

An In-Depth Look at Leash Walking Equipment

Do your walks with your dog feel more like a tug of war match? If so, it is probably time for a change in the type of collar you are using. This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the most common types of collars available to dog owners.

Before I get into the pros and cons of the various types of collars, I want to make it clear that there is no substitute for adhering to proper training technique to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash.  The point of using equipment is to give you a training aid to improve your technique.

Front Clip Harnesses
Front clip harnesses are currently all the rage. The Easy Walk Harness made by Premier and the Wonder Walker are a couple of the most well-known brands. The front clip harness is designed to deter pulling by redirecting the dog's forward momentum to the side or backwards. Because the point of tension is on the dog's chest rather than the back, the dog's forward movement is restricted when the leash becomes taut.

Pros

• They generally work okay for small dogs.
• They don't put any pressure on the neck area.
• Most dogs adapt to wearing the equipment quickly

Cons

• Does not provide much control for dogs that have a tendency to lunge toward dogs, cars, people, etc
• Some dogs can escape out of the harness if they twist in just the right way.
• They have a tendency to loosen during the walk and need to be tightened consistently to maintain effectiveness.
• Can cause chaffing in breeds with short hair.
• Restricts full range of movement in many breeds.
• Should always be removed after walks so dog does not chew them off or get their teeth caught in the strap across the chest.

Traditional Harnesses
A traditional harness will have a leash connection ring that is located somewhere on top of the dog's back or possibly in front. You can teach a dog to walk without a pulling using this type of harness, but all of the training must be done by the handler.

The harness itself has no adverse pulling effects built into the equipment. This is why tracking dogs, sled pulling dogs, and search and rescue dogs generally wear harnesses.

Pros

• Quick acclimation period
• May be the best choice for the toy breeds
• Great choice for certain training tasks such as tracking and protection work

Cons

• May cause chafing in some short haired breeds
• Does not deter pulling on the leash
• It will increase the ability for large strong dogs to pull the owner toward objects

Head Halters
The two most popular head halters on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti. Head halters work by controlling the dog's muzzle thus controlling the dog. They provide a lot of control and can deter pulling with most dogs including the giant breeds

Pros

• Very effective at deterring pulling
• Owner has the ability to control lunging even with dogs over 100lbs.

Cons

• It can be difficult for some dogs to acclimate to the sensation and may take a couple of weeks of short leash walking sessions before the dog accepts it without pawing at it.
• The halter tends to slip off short muzzle breeds such as Boxers and Bulldogs.
• Can cause chaffing and irritation to the skin in some dog breeds

Martingale Collar
This type of collar tightens and then loosens depending on the amount of leash pressure applied. They work well for dogs that can escape out of traidtional flat collars that fit around the dog's neck.

Star Mark Collar
This collar is basically a step up from a martingale. Most dog owners are not aware of this type of collar as it is not widely available in pet stores, but can be purchased online through Amazon.com. This type of collar deters pulling by constricting plastic points built into the collar.

Pros

• Can be very effective at deterring pulling when used along with proper technique
• Quick acclimation period.
• Product comes in small and large sizes that can work on all sizes of dogs.

Cons

• May be ineffective with severe leash pullers or large strong dogs when poor technique is implemented.
• Collar links should be inspected periodically for wear and may need to be replaced to ensure collar does not break unexpectedly
• Can be somewhat difficult to put on and take off until you get the hang of it.

Metal Pinch/Prong collar
The metal pinch or prong collar is a constricting collar with metal points. The collar is designed for the points to constrict when the leash becomes taut and release pressure when the leash becomes slack. The collar works by causing an uncomfortable sensation when the dog pulls into the collar and then feels relief when the collar loosens.

Pros

• Can deter pulling and lunging in large breed dogs
• Owner can transition back to a regular collar once lunging and pulling is resolved
• Quick acclimation period when used correctly

Cons

• May be difficult to use properly for the inexperienced owner
• May cause continuous discomfort when used improperly
• May be difficult for some owners to put on dog
• They look intimidating

Slip/Choke Chains
Slip collars or choke chains come in various material from cotton to metal.I never use slip collars for teaching dogs to walk on leash. They can become infinitely tight which can be harmful to the dog and they are generally ineffective.  They do make excellent safety backups for other types of collars.

My recommendations

Now that you have a better understanding of advantages and disadvantages of the type of equipment, I will give you my general recommendations from my own experience training dogs.

Star mark collar- I really like this collar for a large majority of dogs that are in the habit of pulling on leash. Dogs get use to the sensation quickly and it is effective. If you have a dog that is between 30-70lbs and has the tendency to lunge and pull on the walk, I recommend trying this collar. Because the collar fits around the neck, it allows for you to transition back to a regular neck collar when you have a sufficient amount of training completed. You can purchase the collar off amazon.com by searching for "Star Mark Collar".

Traiditional or Y-Shaped harness- The more experience I have with the horizontal strap no pull harnesses such as the Easy Walk or Wonder Walker, the more I have come to dislike them.

If you are going to walk your dog on a harness, I would recommend using a traditional Y-Shaped harness. Many of the Y-Shaped harnessed today have a clip in the front to hook the leash to which will aid a little in detering pulling.

Head Halter- If you have a dog that tends to lunge at other dogs or moving objects on the walk, this is generally a good choice. It provides a lot of control, probably the most control. However, this collar is rarely my first choice because of the long acclimation period before the dogs accepts the head halter. Some dogs will adapt in a couple of days whereas others can take several weeks if at all. You also have to be careful that the dog does not injur itself if they lunge into the leash as this will cause their head to tun sideways very quickly which could cause a muscle strain.

Prong Collar- The design of these collars look intimidating. When used appropriately however, they can provide a lot of control with large dogs without the uncomfortable sensation of a head halter. I have used these collars on my personal dogs and I don't have a problem with a client that wants to use a prong collar with their dog. The goal of all training collars is to get the dog walking without pulling so the owner finds their walk with their dog enoyable.

Use your own judgment when deciding to try this type of collar or any type of collar. If you don't like this type of collar, then you should not use it. It is your dog and you should never feel forced into using something that you don't like whether it be from a trainer or a friend.

Summary
With all of the different sizes and breeds of dogs, there is never going to be one style of collar that will be the best for all dogs. Use this list article as a guide to begin experimenting with the style of collar that is going to work best for YOUR dog.

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Source: https://www.evergreenschoolfordogs.com/dog-training-articles/an-indepth-look-at-leash-walking-equipment

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