Hi, have two GSDS, and cant stop them ripping our arms off when we take them out, tried one at a time but they are so excitable we cant calm them enough to do anything with them, they both weight 8 stone and im only 9,1/2 i am now at a loss as how we can proceed with them they are 13mths old, been to training , had one to one, but still they are over excitable, have bought every collar going harnesses, alsorts, one dog i tried for two weeks in garden to just to get the haltie on but hes not having any , none are aggressive dogs very good tempered , and anything but the pulling is not a problem, i wondered if anyone knows if a gentle leader is differant than a halti, as thats the only thing we have not tried, its no enjoyment anymore taking them out, though we do and come home so tired , brusied and fed up, other than this they will do anything we ask including recall, but its not practical where we live to have them off lead where they never leave our side, any help i would be very grateful for thanks .

halti's are good but it just cut zacs eye so we don't use it no more
have you tried treats, there is a training/showing lead which is good and it is stopping my american bulldog pulling, here is a shot of zac with his new lead but it was taken in the car


it will just take time and you have to be patient
sorry that i cant help you anymore

Gentle leaders are good so I have heard..I wouldn't use them on my own dogs though, anything that fits around the head or nose I am quite funny about being as my dogs are brachycephalic breeds.
When I have had problems with my dogs pulling on the lead I have preferred to use a harness, or sometimes a half slip/half choke collar These have a section of normal collar, with a chain section. this means that you can only tighten the collar to the preadjusted width. You adjust the collar part to be really snug around the neck when the chain is pulled tight, just so it pinches slightly, but it cannot choke the dog. I give a sharp tug, and quick release action for best effect.

ild say persivere wiv the halti, best thing i invested in wen i got my bully one...she hated it to start of wiv and it took her some getting used to but its payed of a treat....nice calm slow walks for me wen i use it

My sister has a GS and the only way she taught him not to pull is using the halti. At first he used to try his hardest to get it off. Try putting it on when they are in the house so they get used to it. Obviously be careful they can't catch them on anything in the house and hurt themselves.

He is really good now and even without the halti he still turns his head to look at you when you pull him back lol.

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I have a GSD who prefers to pull! He always wears a Gencon headcollar. No, he didn't like it at first, but I am in charge of him, not the other way around. Try putting a headcollar on for a few seconds & then give him some tasty treats. Take it off & repeat at longer intervals. They will get used to it!

they are good, my ex had a huge gt dane x rotweiler i couldnt hold it, i got him a halti, and it was like getting a new dog!
i did get some funny looks when i walked him, me being 8 stone, and the dog being about 12 stone

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You never own a cat unless the cat owns you!

Then u should of got a bridle and rid him instead lol

i coulda done lol

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You never own a cat unless the cat owns you!

It is more difficult with dogs that have already learned that pulling is rewarding (eg. get them where they want to get quicker, which is why they pull in the first place!) but I teach mine not to pull by simply stopping when the lead goes tight, and walking on again when the lead goes slack. You have to be 100% consistent, (if you carry on walking even once you are reinforcing the behaviour) but it works effectively.

You might need to help your dog correct itself at first, by moving him/her to your side when you stop, but they soon get the idea. Our 7 month old pup was almost pulling over my 6ft husband when she came back to us, and the pulling was constant, even if she was choking herself, but I can now walk her with other dogs and a pushchair. She will occasionally take a little pull, but as soon as I stop, she turns her head to loosen the lead and we carry on.

I have only ever had her in a flat collar, although the people we got her back from used a harness.