As a dog owner there are few things more frustrating than your dog pulling you down the street. You set off for a nice walk on a sunny day with your best friend and the next thing you know you are practically being dragged down the street in pursuit of a squirrel whether you want to chase the squirrel or not! This can be frustrating and embarrassing for you and cause fear and disapproval from others. A dog who walks his owner can frighten some people as they aren’t certain you are able to control your animal. A dog who walks his owner also runs the show and is acting as the pack leader. If you would like to regain your pack leader status, but are unable to make your dog stop pulling armed with only a standard collar and leash, there are other alternatives to safely put you back in charge and allow you to enjoy walking your dog. There are  a variety of anti-pull collars on the market today so read up and decide which is best for you and your dog.

1. The Halti and the Gentle Leader: These are not collars at all, but halters similar to those on a horse. They are made of nylon webbing just like a collar, but slip over the muzzle and behind the head and meet with a loop under the muzzle of your dog. Your standard leash clips to the loop under the chin and acts as a guide for your dog. If your dog stays with you and moves in the direction you want him to then he is perfectly comfortable. If he begins pulling or trying to go in the opposite direction the Halti tightens around his mouth. Your dog will not like this so he is more inclined to walk nicely as desired. Haltis or Gentle Leaders must be tight enough not to slip off, but loose enough to not cause discomfort when your dog is walking properly. Some people think that your dog is wearing a muzzle; however, he will be able to freely open his mouth to pant and drink. Aggressive pullers and dogs with short muzzles like boxers or mastiffs have been known to pull out of these leads so it is best to acclimate your dog to them over time so he will not react adversely when out on your walk.

2. Sporn Anti-Pull Harness: The Sporn is a body harness that loops under your dogs front legs and around the body. When a dog pulls the harness causes discomfort to the under arm area and reduces pulling. The Sporn is a little more difficult to put on that the Halti or Gentle Leader; however, it will not come off during normal use. Due to the design of the harness chaffing can occur on the chest and under arm area and is not ideal for dogs with very short hair.

3. Choke Chain: The choke chain is a chain with two loops on either end that can be made into a collar and slipped over your dogs head. The leash is attached to one loop on the collar and when the dog pulls a simple pull on the leash tightens the chain and causes discomfort. Owners must use this tool properly to avoid abusing or choking their dogs. They must learn to jerk once and release as a correction. If they do not learn to release they could be walking around choking their dog, which does not teach the dog anything and could hurt him. Choke collars should be removed when the walk is finished and is never an acceptable collar for daily use. The choke collar works well on smaller dogs who pull aggressively; however larger more aggressive puller sometimes need more motivation not to pull.

4. The Prong Collar: This works similarly to the choke collar; however, it has metal prongs around the dog’s neck and causes pressure through them when the dog is corrected. Some trainers swear by these for larger, stronger breeds who pull aggressively while others say that these collars are medieval torture devices. When used properly they do not result in injury; however, the owner must learn the proper timing and pressure of the leash pull in order for the tool to be effective. These collars are sturdy and will not slip off during normal use, but are never to be used as daily wear collars as dogs can get hung up in them and choke themselves.

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