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Most vets recommend the head collars first. The Gentle Leader comes with a cd that trains YOU to use it properly and safely. It's not magic, because it takes training. Think about how a person can control a horse with a head collar. It's the same type thing with dogs. The Gentle Leader must be fitted properly and used properly. About half the dogs absolutely hate it at first, so we have people put it on their dogs to wear around the house a bit. Prong collars DO NOT WORK. Dogs that pull will just pull with the prongs. I have used the choke collar in the past, and if it's done correctly, it works. But most people don't have a clue and use them totally wrong, which injures the dogs. There is a harness that hooks in the front. It's made by Premier Pet Products, the same company that makes Gentle Leader. It's called the Easy Walk Harness, and it works well, also. I just think the Gentle Leader works a little better. There is a website with the products I mentioned. Good luck.

I have a 10 year old Pit Bull, an 8 year old Pit mix,a 4 year old Boxer mix and a year old little dog. I don't have one collar that I use for everything, but a variety for different things. I have tried head collars/gentle leaders and will NOT use them. My dogs wear plain 1" leather collars with their ID tags. If I'm walking 1 dog, they wear a martingale, more than 1 dog, they wear prong collars. The little dog mostly wears a martingale or harness. At agility trials, they wear K9Julius harnesses or a fleece martingale collar that I make. In Rally trials, they wear a plain flat, or rolled leather collar. Our 8 year old recent had a tumor removed from his neck, so he is using a regular harness until the staples are removed and the incision is healed.

So, basically, it depends on the dog and the situation, but the best thing to use is a lot of training.

A normal collar would be fine.He doesn't pull because he has a high prey drive but rather because you encourage it.Before you leave for a walk,make sure both of you are calm before you leave the house.If you put tension on the leash,he will pull.Its as if someone pulls you back,you will instinctly go forward.So take deep breaths,loosen the leash and walk.Dont focus on him,focus only on the walk.You will notice a big change.Think of a role model while you walk to change your energy from weak and nervous to strong and powerful.Keep the leash short so you have better control over him.Collar has to be high at the top of the neck so in case he starts to wander off,tug the leash to the side to snap him out of it.When you pull to the back,he goes front,like a sled dog.

Good luck:)

Gimmicks such as the ones you've mentioned often don't work, and in the wrong hands cause more harm than good.

What the dog needs is proper training. A child can walk a properly trained dog on 3/8" show collar/lead.

A martingale collar might be a good choice for this dog. You can get them made up to 2" wide (& maybe wider now?) - so they spread the pressure of a collar over a wide part of the neck.

They also will tighten when pulled against, but unlike a choke collar, you have total control on how tight the collar can get on your dog. They are fully adjustable to fit your dog.

Make sure any martingale collar you buy is reinforced with nylon inside, as a strong puller needs a strong collar.

I wouldn't buy a harness, I have a pit bull my self and harnesses are no good, you have no control over your dog with them. I suggest a strong leather collar and walk him/her on a short chain leash, so that you have more control. Do not use a choke collar, yes they may work with other breeds but pit bulls are very head strong dogs and will still pull even if they have a choke collar on. Good luck.

You can get a super thick and wide collar made by "shack's working dog supplies". They're so nice and because they're wide they help with the pulling. I had mine made probably 2 years ago now and there are no signs of wear and tear yet.

I'm glad you don't like choke collars. If he has throat problems, choosing a harness over a collar shouldn't be a question to you. One of my dogs is a terrier, and they were bred to have huge prey drives, too.

Harnesses are the best in my opinion. I used to have a British Bulldog with a small airway and had trouble breathing 24/7. We had collars for him when he was a puppy but soon changed to a harness. It helped him quite a lot as he liked to walk ahead whenever we went anywhere and it wouldn't choke him. We only ever use harnesses on our dogs and that's what I always recommend to my friends.

While my two where being trained, I used a choker, then moved on to a normal collar. When round the house in the back yard, I took the collars off. But on walks, or trips, there collars and tags were on.