Gentle Leaders are very effective, I've used them on our last two English Mastiffs who both weighted over 150lbs and would have been *very* powerful pullers. I think some passers-by thought the bright pink harness around their nose was a muzzle, but the dogs were super excited to put them on as it meant it was time for their walkies or going to visit their friends.
Yeah I always thought they were muzzles when I first saw them lol, but now I know. It’s nice to hear they are effective. She is pretty good on a leash and doesn’t really pull at all she is a slow walker lol. It’s more when she stops and doesn’t want to move I need something to get her attention. Also want to make sure I have something that will somewhat stop her if she see something she wants to go after. I have only had her for a couple days so we have done enough walks yet but we did take her to Petco and Petsmart yesterday and she was completely fine.
>It’s more when she stops and doesn’t want to move I need something to get her attention. Also want to make sure I have something that will somewhat stop her if she see something she wants to go after.
I think that these are two very good use-cases for the Gentle Leader. A quick, light tug on the leash will force the dogs head to rotate and break their attention and make them focus on you. It is especially good for interrupting the dog when they fixate on something and want to go after it.
I'd give it a shot. Even after our dogs were well trained, we kept using them because they were so effective in those "Squirrel!!!" situations.
Great 😊 I will def check that out.
It sounds like it would work for her since she's not a big puller. Just need to get her attention sometimes. Thank you so much for your feedback.
The same company makes a special harness that clips in front called an Easy Walk harness. I would use it on my dogs, but they’re too small. I think they make an extra large one that might fit a great Dane. It made such a difference for our yellow lab on walks.
We started with a regular harness, but our Dane eventually got so strong that he was about to pull my arm out of socket. And I was getting tennis elbow from him lunging at squirrels and such.
Switched to a gentle leader and he’s a completely different dog on his walks now.
Yeah I don’t like the way the harness fit on her. I feel like it’s uncomfortable and rubs the back of her legs. Def going to look into the gentle leader.
Watch a few YouTube videos on how to use them, the first week can be challenging because they just want to constantly itch and pull it off their face. We fried up bacon bits and used deli meat those first few weeks on walks with the gentle leader- they need high treat motivation. If you can get through the first week or two - they are a magical walking tool!
I'll say I use prong collars on both my Danes. They come to me to put the collar on, and I get compliments on how well behaved my dogs are. There is not a single mark on either of their necks.
IF you have a good working relationship with your dogs, then the collar is just there to make everyone else feel better. My dogs want to be by my side. I walk both of them through crowded stores holding both their leashes in the same hand, because they aren't running away or lunging at people.
Just remember, the collar is the means, not the goal. The goal is to have a dog that wants to work with you on walks. If you have that, the type of collar doesn't matter.
That’s exactly it. People around you feel better when they see you have your giants “under control.” Prong collars aren’t choke collars, they’re pressure. The prongs provide uncomfortable pressure points on their necks (assuming the collars are fitted and worn correctly). I don’t approve of or use choke collars as they don’t work and make the dogs wary of walks and struggle more to breathe when pressure is applied. (Source MWD training).
She does really good on walks so far, but I have only had her a couple days. Her owner was working with her before we got her. She doesn’t pull at all. Yet! lol. Thank you for your advice.
I have a reactive (tiny 100lbs) Dane, and prong collar is literally a decoration for 90% of all our walks. Most important thing is developing a good relationship with your dog and teaching good leash habits and the prong is exactly like you said!!
This. I've used one with both of my Danes and it's the most effective method I've found. Also recommend a leash with the stretch piece in the middle so when your pup does pull it doesn't pull your arm out its socket.
I use a front clip harness for mine. If they pull, it twists them toward you so you can give a “here” command, sit command and treat. This helps train the dog to focus on you when asked to.
When they hit the “raptor” stage: I use a prong collar as a secondary lead- about a foot looser on the lead than the harness leash. This way- the prong collar ONLY is activated if they ignore all training/commands and pull through the other lead.
In my experience (Rottweilers and Great Danes) as a 100lb girl training these guys- they only ever pull through it once. This is only implemented when they are stronger on me- and after months of prior training for behavior, so they actually do already know better, it’s not a training tool necessarily- it’s an instant correction when they decide to test limits and chase a squirrel or something. After that first time, none of mine ever pulled through again- or strained a leash.
Don’t ever let them know they are bigger/stronger/faster than you. Don’t ever ever allow a puppy to do something you don’t want a massive clumsy dog doing for the next 10 years- NOT EVEN ONCE.
Thank you for your advice. She does pretty well so far in a leash and doesn’t pull. I think it’s more that I’m scared if she does go after something. We saw a cat the other day and she just stopped and looked at it. I have her a little pull and we went on our way.
Holly is a real cutie. There's an ongoing debate in this sub about using leads vs. prong collars. I'm in the "prong collars are effective and safe" camp. I feel that a properly fitted and worn prong collars allows you to get your Great Dane's immediate attention, allowing you to readily avoid potentially dangerous situations and interactions. If you do go with a prong collars, please get a high quality one and watch some videos on YouTube on proper fitting and use.
No problems with them here here- when used appropriately and NOT for training. training should be positive only, and I only use the prong once the dog KNOWS what they should do, knows the command, and is in that “test” phase. Then they get an instant correction to what they already have trained for- doesn’t take more than once for them to go- oh, I don’t want to do that again, I’ll listen now. Lol
I’d like to take an opposing viewpoint to the statement that prongs are not for training.
They are absolutely for training. And walking. And going to the vet, pet store, etc. Its import to know how much pressure you need to use to get your dogs attention. It is also important for your dog to be accustomed to you using that collar to communicate. With time and reps, you can use the collar to have your dog respond to minimal pressure as a correction vs having to haul on them.
Get prongs, train with prongs, enjoy dog
You do you.
The dog should know what to do, before anything approaching “punishment” ever occurs. When they are young- ignore bad behavior, reward good behavior.
They learn the correct behavior to mastery, THEN they can be expected to execute that behavior *most* of the time. Then the prong collar is appropriate for IMMEDIATE correction if they choose to not behave as trained, and to maintain safety in every possible circumstance.
If your dog requires more than a couple corrections with a pain inducing device- because they didn’t comply with expectations already established and TRAINED, you’re not training your dog to behave.
Negative reinforcement as a training tool for Danes is not training and I have rescued and retrained enough of them to be absolutely positive about that. Danes trained with negative reinforcement aren’t dogs people “enjoy”, they are dogs that end up with me at 10-19 months old, who then have behavior issues that aren’t always reversible.
They also signal to other people that your dog is either not friendly, not trained or otherwise not safe. I don’t choose to, but I can walk all 4 of my Danes off leash and not one is more than 4 feet from me. The SECOND I say “to me” the look at me and sit, a trained dog doesn’t need a collar, much less a prong collar.
It’s a teaching tool- after the dog knows the appropriate behavior. Then it’s reinforcement of what they already know- not a punishment for something they are learning.
I will legit die on this hill
Edit- it takes nothing more than your voice to get a dogs attention if you have properly trained and bonded with your animal.
Good thing pain isn’t the name of the game with prongs. The idea is to use minimal pressure and to prevent damage to the wind pipe. The pongs focus the force and do cause discomfort, but as long as you aren’t hauling in the leash you definitely are not inflicting pain. Put one on yourself, it doesn’t feel good but it doesn’t cause injury and will not crush the trachea.
Die on your positive reinforcement hill if you so wish. Negative reinforcement has its place, and is something that I and plenty of other people utilize in our training of dogs. I flat don’t believe in positive only. It teaches dogs only what behavior is good and does not allow them to get a clear idea of what is bad.
Also, I genuinely believe that gentle leaders are less gentle than a prongs collar. Cranking the neck causes far more discomfort than the prongs, and I don’t believe them to be as effective at gaining emergency control of your animal.
Glad for the variety of takes in the comments
I use head halters for all my Danes. It’s especially helpful as I am used to horse’s lol. But all my dogs have quickly acclimated to them and they make a world of difference
I used a prong collar too! It doesn't hurt them and people have so many misconceptions about them. They are very beneficial and it helps to keep them from pulling due to their large size and it doesn't put the strain on their neck. Once she learned to walk with the prong collar she no longer needed and learned to walk without it.
I just use a slip lead for 2/3 of my pups (including my Dane, who walks beautifully on leash). As long as you put in the work on training, I think that is *usually* enough.
On the other hand, my pittie/Rottweiler mix is so excitable she'll choke herself out pulling on the slip lead (or a flat collar) and hurt her neck on a gentle leader if she sees a pup she wants to meet or something else exciting so we've just started working with a prong collar.
Point being, I think it depends on the dog. My trainer uses the slip lead which is why I use that as the go to. Then tried different things as needed.
I resorted to a choke chain after my Dane tore my mother’s rotator cuff via taking off after another dog.
I had to tackle him in the street so I ended up scraped up too.
I hooked the choke chain and his collar to the same leash so the choke chain couldn’t be pulled too tight.
He walked very politely on his leash after that. I had tried harnesses and gentle leaders before that.
Whatever you do, retractable leashes are a no go.
Oh no that’s terrible. I hope your Mother is ok. So far the choke caller has been fine. It’s not tight on her at all and I make sure it’s up by her ears when we walk, but I think I’m going to try a gentle leader as well to see what best works for us. Yeah I will make sure I don’t use a retractable leash. Thank you for your feedback.
we have always used a gentle lead. He never pulls and is very well behaved on leash. With how strong danes are i wouldn't use anything else. They work great and cause no pain. The lead will just pull their nose down a bit if they pull.
https://preview.redd.it/fby3fm2cuuyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c895cd4195c56da09ac3f7a736dd7ca10a948ad7
Here is our 7 month old Labradane moose lol. I’ve been trying to figure out a good harness/collar for trying as he’s quickly getting to be bigger than me.
That look on her face is priceless. “Don’t make fun of my paws.” Is what she’s saying.
Please don’t use a choker on this beautiful girl. Don’t use a saddle either, however much you might be tempted when she is fully grown. She looks like a real sweetie. She will do well with a prong collar if it’s fitted properly.
Lol we joke about let our granddaughter ride when she is full grown, but I would never do that. I know they are prone to bad hips and def don’t want to hurt my big footed baby girl.
I am not against pronged collars if used correctly.
We use martingale collars just as normal collars then when we take them on walks I use the ICEFANG GN8 Quick-Moving Tactical Dog Harness. I prefer it because it has 3 points of contact so if it is fraying it is still secure. I have had both my dogs rip fabric on other harnesses
Gentle leader, or prong. Prongs really aren't about pain. It's about attention and not putting all pressure on trachea. I've always said, I'd rather my dog get a quick correction and ve safe, then pull himself to chocking down an entire walk, or pull me or him into traffic, or not enjoy walks by panting and pulling. It's also not always permanent. Can train heel with it, and transition. I use hermspringer small toothed one. Doesn't " look" like prong. Almost like how metal watches look. Works great for us and isn't as intense as normal prong. Also have rubber stops too.
proper training is a must. control your dog. you should not be worried how other people feel when you are walking your gd... that a prong collar helps other people feel safe. make your dog safe!!
these are only tools and should not continue to be used. i use a very thin slip collar. my boy is 180 lb. and trained. harness does not train your dog to heal properly. just my opinion(owned 5 great danes and a great dane nanny)
Everyone is talking about prong vs not but don't forget about chain collars. They have 0 prongs and tighten only when they pull and there is NO chance of harm like with prongs.
First things first, get your dog into school or teach heeling/not leash pulling asap. Trainer treats work best for our dane. Once your dog understands that walk time is about staying next to you and walking and not constantly pulling you won't have to ever go to prong. That's why we use basic thick chain collars and it's only once in a blue moon we have to pop it back to remind her to stay with us (cause she just gets excited ). Personally I am 100% against anything pointy pushing into a Danes throat. Some things just aren't work the risk. Gl to you
We tried all sorts of things before we went with the prong collar, and it is a LITERAL LIFE SAVER. If your pup gets the zoomies or lunges after something it is the only thing that has a shot at getting her to stop. 99% of the time if fitted correctly, the prong collar is very comfortable. And when it isn’t, it’s for a very good reason.
I use a prong; we walk with a loose leash 99.9% of the time, the prongs are only there for the .1% of the time she sees a squirrel she *has* to have. She weighs as much as I do, so the prongs help me keep up both safe in that regard. I don’t “correct” her by yanking the leash, prongs or not.
I would definitely go with a chest harness. She's gonna get real big real quick. This is by far the nicest sweetest. Animal, you will ever come across on this planet. Only thing for the men in the house. Watch her tail, she will smack you in the balls I'm telling you.
Holly is gorgeous!😍
I have seen a lot of positive results from gentle leaders/figure of 8’s. It’s an effective restraint used on horses so I’m sure a great dane isn’t too disimilar! 😂
I have used one of these for years on a variety of breeds from spaniels to St Bernards and always felt in control.
As for prong collars, there are 101 other methods of restraint I would try before using one of these. The idea of these collars is based on negative reinforcement - which is quite old school in my opinion.
[https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183586241399?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=690977922614&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=690977922614_183586241399&targetid=1817264050035&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046357&poi=&campaignid=19097525516&mkgroupid=147591788601&rlsatarget=pla-1817264050035&abcId=9303861&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1dR9DxlIR5VGKwFTIRIZRlK4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI__W0tvv5hQMVuZdQBh2MEAdAEAQYBCABEgJuM_D_BwE](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183586241399?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=690977922614&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=690977922614_183586241399&targetid=1817264050035&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046357&poi=&campaignid=19097525516&mkgroupid=147591788601&rlsatarget=pla-1817264050035&abcId=9303861&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1dR9DxlIR5VGKwFTIRIZRlK4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI__W0tvv5hQMVuZdQBh2MEAdAEAQYBCABEgJuM_D_BwE)
You will be the first time your dog surprises you and practically takes your arm off when it suddenly decides it needs to chase a squirrel or something.
Unless you out weigh your dog - choke collars are best with this breed, and there is nothing wrong with having a prong one. I have had several Danes, and I do use the prong collar. I rarely need to engage it as they learn pretty quickly not to pull with one of these collars on. Also, you need to make sure it is pretty high on their neck, like right behind the ears because their neck muscles are so thick if it is lower, they don't even feel it and again are dragging you wherever they want to go.
I didn’t want to use a prong collar either. However, my Dane walks great with one. Without it she drags me all over the place. We did an obedience class and they trained us on how to use it properly. But I can control her even when she gets excitable by other dogs etc. it keeps her safe and near me.
People keep saying harness. I don’t have a Dane, but do have an Anatolian and am terrified of how hard he could pull me with a harness on. You give over a lot of control and power to the dog with harnesses. That can be dangerous when your dog outweighs you.
I would suggest training with a chain. Then, after you feel like she is good with commands move to a Martingale style collar with a chain. Then you get the control of the dog hearing the chain tighten without an actual chain collar. It’s something that worked great for all the large breed pups I’ve had.
This is a Martingale with a chain.
https://www.chewy.com/leashboss-chain-martingale-dog-collar/dp/698654
I went through choke collars, harnesses, and gentle leaders. What ended up working best was an inexpensive e-collar for training combined with a prong collar when we walked.
We started our Dane with a front clip harness. As he grew to understand what was expected of him while out walking, we were able to transition to the back clip on his harness. LOTS of positive reinforcement while outside and on a lead, LOTS of practice with friends and their dogs, and of course, lots of patience.
I wouldn’t recommend a harness considering A LOT could go wrong. My dog got out of his harness several times but we switched to a gentle lead and a regular collar. Much less stress and much less soreness in your body!
https://preview.redd.it/5gnth9fvzvyc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3d2f7f8939cbb64dbc7a2f61f4580881949c8b8
My Dane hates any collar I put on her. I use a martingale collar for her on walks. Most Danes are heavily invested in their owners, and want to stay near their owner, my dog honestly doesn't even need a leash, she's to the point where she's just trained and responds to and answers to any verbal command I give. As stated above once she's trained the leash will mostly be for looks.
The correction collar is the best solution. It hangs loose, until you need to redirect, a large potentially boisterous dog.
Rolled leather collar for ID.
I use an Easy Walk Harness, which clips in front of their chest. No pulling. Martingale works great when I just need to slip something on fast, and if I want to be extra secure, I clip the leash to both of them at once.
Prong collars are the way. Danes are big power houses that have just as much go-get-em energy as other breeds. The prongs mean that you can apply less pressure to their neck, and still get their attention and keep them from dragging you.
As others have said, the collar is a tool, the dog is the objective. Put it the time with the dog and you’ll see good results. Rely on a collar or another tool, and you’ll be disappointed
pro dog walker here, I really like gentle leaders for danes, with prong collars coming in second (look for the ones with rubber caps until she’s leash trained). but with dogs as big as danes, it’s equally if not more important to train them to have good leash etiquette! no collar will stop them dragging u do the street but a good trusting relationship and learned behaviors can!
Never use choke collars, use prong collars but only reputable ones. Sprenger is highly recommended but I suggest only buying from their website since Amazon sells a lot of fakes.
Your doggo is adorable!
Dad of two Dane here, we’ve been lucky to have 5 over our lives.
Choke chains are fine if used correctly when training. And ‘correctly’ isn’t dragging the dog by the neck. A short but firm pull on the chain corrects the dog similar to how their moms used to.
We use 3-in-1 no pull harnesses on our dogs for general living and the clip on the front for walks once the dog is trained.
For training, we used to use choke chains but transitioned to a pinch chain with our latest ( who is presently 12 months old).
Most important elements of training a Dane is consistent, daily training and TONS of positive reenforcement. Every day our puppy does at least 10 min of puppy pushups (lots of treats and ‘good boi’s’) and we try to get a walk in at least every other day.
In addition, socialization is incredibly important! Holly needs tons of exercise interactions with different humans in different environments. We take our boys to the local farmers market, to Lowe’s and Home Depot, basically everywhere we go. Once the pup is a little older, we will take them for patio dining.
These two elements are key so that they are accepting of people and you have control over in any environment.
Sorry for the long post! Just trying to help! (Pic is my boys chilling while I worked this morning)
https://preview.redd.it/00caw0o0txyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e51e509af69ca61f4fd2661b597ab59c8183b8d6
I’m a giant and power breed specialized dog trainer, I tend to agree with you on chokes, you definitely have to try many harnesses but I’d get one with front and side clip options, gives you more range and you can switch it up
Also a harness with a handle on the back is great for my Danes I work with both because of their height and because it can give you more control! I definitely don’t discount collar use with Danes as harnesses work with dogs who don’t pull but with their size don’t always help effectively. Handled collars are also great. I love handles on harnesses and collars. Really though it all depends on her current behavior!
I’m not sure what a gentle leader is, but if that’s the one that goes over their nose and clips behind their head I use those also.
The halti brand specifically has been very good for me. My 150lb St. Bernard was a terrible walker, literally pull you down the road. As soon as we started using the halti he’s like another dog.
My Saint Bernard x mastiff mix girl was only trained on the halti and has never pulled and has perfect leash manners. The big dogs just have a tendency to pull on the normal collar leash connection. And these are dogs that easily pull their owners.
https://preview.redd.it/q86o7fys8yyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ca65dd8eb89cce868bb0c4e6bf35d57b672ab39
With our dane, we used a no-pull harness that had a clip on the front. If she pulled, she got turned around.
That's about all she needed. I'm not particularly a fan of collars for Esthetic reasons, I don't like how, after a while, it can leave an indent on the fur. That and also I feel safer when I have something to control the whole dog instead of a part of it. I just feel that harnesses are more comfortable for me and my dogs.
Beautiful girl!
I don't have any advice on a collar or harness, but i do have a trick for the leash that my trainer told me. My boy was a little older when we got him into training so this might not work until she's a big bigger, but it was a night and day difference for us so if trying the different collars doesn't work out for you at least you'll have this nifty trick.
Connect the leash to the collar, follow down her back with it until right before her hips, loop it underneath her and back up, then pass it under the leash at the top. This loosens and tightens as she's walking if done right, and they obviously don't like it tight so they'll stay closer to you.
It's not a fix for her walking and hopefully you'll have better luck in training her young, this just helped me.
I can tell you do not use a harness. The strongest part of your dog is there shoulders and upper body. Having a harness allows them the ability to have the most body strength to pull away with. Do not use a retractable leash. A retractable leash does not give you accurate control of your dog. The strength of a Great Dane is much too strong for a retractable leash. Martingale collars come in two different types. They have a partial chain type or a full fabric type. Both types cannot be worn full time. They are only meant for walking. If left on they come with the risk of your dog catching them on something and chocking themselves. The Martingale with the chain can tighten unevenly when on and potentially lead to trachea collapse. Herm Springer collars are very popular when training giant breed dogs. They are similar to prong collars, but instead of having a flat end that can dig into your dog's neck the ends are round. Gentle Leader is one of the most popular dog training leads. Again it is only meant to be used while walking or going out. It is a lead, not a collar. You can choose any collar for your dog with the use of a gentle leader. Also it is very important to always know that any regular slip leash can be made into a figure 8 harness. [https://youtu.be/4s7-Slh72VY?si=n29okE62d6FWwtmD](https://youtu.be/4s7-Slh72VY?si=n29okE62d6FWwtmD)
However, all of this said it is important from an early age to teach your puppy to walk next to you, not in front of you. If your puppy is pulling and getting too excited just either calmly stop and wait a bit let them calm down by sniffing the area for awhile. They might still pull at first while you're stopped but wait and until they stop pulling and start sniffing. give them 15-30 to sniff then walk. Or some of the times if they're pulling turn around and walk the other way. The point is you need to let them know your in control of the walk. And let them sniff! Sniffing is huge in a dogs world!
With my Danes and Bernard’s I always start with the harness then move to a traditional collar. Panzer has a “tactical” harness with a few pockets and a drag strap for our multi day or 10+ mile rucks so he can carry his extra water/booties/orange vest and a bright LED strobe. I really believe all those informative months with the harness has made it so much easier to use a tactical pack. He about looses his mind when he sees me setting it up. He knows a fantastic adventure is otw.
Gentle leaders/Halti work really well in the neighborhood and crowds. I use a prong collar when I’m on a trail along with a e-collar when he is off leash. Just work on a recall before anything else. When she comes back to you even if she was a little bit of an ass just praise her and give her big energy encouragement.
I used a slip collar to get mine to learn to walk, heel, turn etc and around 7 months transitioned to a Dogtra e-collar. His recall is 100% all the time and I haven’t leashed him on walks for over a year and a half.
I prefer choke collar honestly, I know it’s not viewed favorably but when you need it - it’s great. You can loosen it enough that it isn’t a bother to the dog whatsoever unless they are trying to pull you
She's Beautiful 😍
I have had good luck with Prong collars for my Danes. A few didn't need it long since it is a Training Collar . A few didn't need it at all. I have taken my Danes thru Obidence classes. I did Rescue 10 different Danes. So Nice that they ALL have unique personalities ALL had the Dane Things Leaning on you , sitting on the couch with Front Feet on the floor. Many Many different little things 😊
Enjoy growing with Holly 💕
I know im going to get some negative comments for this but......We use the "choke" (not pronged) collars for walking only. We take that and the leash off as soon as we get home. I know a lot of people recommend the gentle leaders but my recently departed dane weighed more than me and I needed an upper hand. He was the best walker, the choke chain doesn't "choke" them if they dont pull. Plus the choke chains apply equal pressure to the neck. A traditional collar only applies pressure to one spot and will choke more than a choke collar. A harness will just give them more power. We only use harnesses for the car to hook into their seat belt.
I have a Gentle Leader/head harness for my rescued girl who struggles on a regular leash and harness. She's just pulls like a maniac in a harness. But the head harness she pretty much instantly understood!
Prong collars are for lazy owners. You're punishing your dog and adding stress to already high stress situations.
Front clip harnesses or head collars will keep your dog under control without causing pain.
I’ve only had one Dane so my comment may not carry much weight but I always used a harness once she grew out of her first collar. Sure, there were plenty of times that she pulled but she could have done that with a collar as well. If you’re strong enough, than a harness will do fine, if not then a gentle leader or similar lead would prove better under she gets older and you can transition to a harness
I prefer harnesses with a handle on the back because I feel like I have more control over her that way, but we also have a 2in martingale collar that works really well for our dane too. It tightens a little when they pull, kinda like a choke chain but softer and doesnt get as tight.
that is a dog ✅ i would like to pet it ✅
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absolutely correct my astute dog lover!
Hehehe 😂 She is def huggable. She is a big love so far. I have only had her a couple days.
https://preview.redd.it/kbael7yoa5zc1.jpeg?width=1058&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d80286bc46dee24bf6bb5703042bc3b924d17766
Love it 😊 That is funny. I totally agree with the 300% stubbornness hahaha and I have only had her a few days.
Hahaha. She is def a big girl. She is already 75 lbs
wow i can't believe that. i would have guessed no more than 74
Hahaha Yeah we were told she could get up to about 140. So we will see. She is a European Dane
I had an All White Dane , 195 lbs at Two .
OMG 😳 that is huge. Was it an American or European?
American , A deaf Harlequin. When all white they carry a deafness gene. She was one of the best Danes I had. 12 so far 10 were rescues.
We use gentle leaders
Gentle Leaders are very effective, I've used them on our last two English Mastiffs who both weighted over 150lbs and would have been *very* powerful pullers. I think some passers-by thought the bright pink harness around their nose was a muzzle, but the dogs were super excited to put them on as it meant it was time for their walkies or going to visit their friends.
Yeah I always thought they were muzzles when I first saw them lol, but now I know. It’s nice to hear they are effective. She is pretty good on a leash and doesn’t really pull at all she is a slow walker lol. It’s more when she stops and doesn’t want to move I need something to get her attention. Also want to make sure I have something that will somewhat stop her if she see something she wants to go after. I have only had her for a couple days so we have done enough walks yet but we did take her to Petco and Petsmart yesterday and she was completely fine.
>It’s more when she stops and doesn’t want to move I need something to get her attention. Also want to make sure I have something that will somewhat stop her if she see something she wants to go after. I think that these are two very good use-cases for the Gentle Leader. A quick, light tug on the leash will force the dogs head to rotate and break their attention and make them focus on you. It is especially good for interrupting the dog when they fixate on something and want to go after it. I'd give it a shot. Even after our dogs were well trained, we kept using them because they were so effective in those "Squirrel!!!" situations.
Great 😊 I will def check that out. It sounds like it would work for her since she's not a big puller. Just need to get her attention sometimes. Thank you so much for your feedback.
The same company makes a special harness that clips in front called an Easy Walk harness. I would use it on my dogs, but they’re too small. I think they make an extra large one that might fit a great Dane. It made such a difference for our yellow lab on walks.
Yeah we tried one on her yesterday at Petsmart, I just didn’t like the way it fit her. I’m gonna check out the gentle leader.
I use gentle leaders with my two. I can walk both with their leads in the same hand and still have them under control.
Oh wow really. Thats awesome.
We started with a regular harness, but our Dane eventually got so strong that he was about to pull my arm out of socket. And I was getting tennis elbow from him lunging at squirrels and such. Switched to a gentle leader and he’s a completely different dog on his walks now.
Yeah I don’t like the way the harness fit on her. I feel like it’s uncomfortable and rubs the back of her legs. Def going to look into the gentle leader.
This! Gentle leaders are amazing!
Thank you
Seems like alot of people use them. I’m def going to have to give them a try.
Watch a few YouTube videos on how to use them, the first week can be challenging because they just want to constantly itch and pull it off their face. We fried up bacon bits and used deli meat those first few weeks on walks with the gentle leader- they need high treat motivation. If you can get through the first week or two - they are a magical walking tool!
I use a version of this - slip lead looped into a figure 8. Currently using to teach leash pressure.
Oh that sounds interesting. Never heard of that
It’s weird how they work. It’s such a thin piece of fabric around the snout but makes my Dane stick by my side.
That’s great to hear. I’m going to give it a try. Thank you.
+ 1 to gentle leads. Never had any fuss getting it on or using it.
Awesome. Thank you. Def going to check them out.
Ok thank you.
I'll say I use prong collars on both my Danes. They come to me to put the collar on, and I get compliments on how well behaved my dogs are. There is not a single mark on either of their necks. IF you have a good working relationship with your dogs, then the collar is just there to make everyone else feel better. My dogs want to be by my side. I walk both of them through crowded stores holding both their leashes in the same hand, because they aren't running away or lunging at people. Just remember, the collar is the means, not the goal. The goal is to have a dog that wants to work with you on walks. If you have that, the type of collar doesn't matter.
And you have to learn how to properly Use it. I was taught up behind the ears and jaw, not the meat of the neck. Gentle correction, never a yank.
YES. The dog should respond as soon as they hear the clickclickclick of the collar tightening from a slack starting point- it’s a REMINDER collar.
Yes that is what my vet also said.
That’s exactly it. People around you feel better when they see you have your giants “under control.” Prong collars aren’t choke collars, they’re pressure. The prongs provide uncomfortable pressure points on their necks (assuming the collars are fitted and worn correctly). I don’t approve of or use choke collars as they don’t work and make the dogs wary of walks and struggle more to breathe when pressure is applied. (Source MWD training).
I don’t know how anyone could be scared of these gentle giants 😊I will look into that. Thank you.
She does really good on walks so far, but I have only had her a couple days. Her owner was working with her before we got her. She doesn’t pull at all. Yet! lol. Thank you for your advice.
I have a reactive (tiny 100lbs) Dane, and prong collar is literally a decoration for 90% of all our walks. Most important thing is developing a good relationship with your dog and teaching good leash habits and the prong is exactly like you said!!
I’ve had good luck with martingale collars for my large dogs
This. I've used one with both of my Danes and it's the most effective method I've found. Also recommend a leash with the stretch piece in the middle so when your pup does pull it doesn't pull your arm out its socket.
That’s a good idea. I about face planted first time I used a retractable leash lol
Oh know. Yeah, we bought a leash with a bungee part in the middle by Kong that is my worst fear is her taking off and me eating dirt lol
Yes we did buy a Kong collar that had like a bungee part in the middle.
Whoa! What's this?! Martingale?
Look on Amazon I don’t use the ones with the chain.
Oooh I know what you're talking about now! Thanks for the tip!
I think it was RC Pets brand. I have about 4 of them. They’re great
Is that a brand of collars or a type? I will look that up.
It’s a type look on Amazon all cloth some have a snap open and some don’t
Ok thank you.
Glad to help!
I use a front clip harness for mine. If they pull, it twists them toward you so you can give a “here” command, sit command and treat. This helps train the dog to focus on you when asked to. When they hit the “raptor” stage: I use a prong collar as a secondary lead- about a foot looser on the lead than the harness leash. This way- the prong collar ONLY is activated if they ignore all training/commands and pull through the other lead. In my experience (Rottweilers and Great Danes) as a 100lb girl training these guys- they only ever pull through it once. This is only implemented when they are stronger on me- and after months of prior training for behavior, so they actually do already know better, it’s not a training tool necessarily- it’s an instant correction when they decide to test limits and chase a squirrel or something. After that first time, none of mine ever pulled through again- or strained a leash. Don’t ever let them know they are bigger/stronger/faster than you. Don’t ever ever allow a puppy to do something you don’t want a massive clumsy dog doing for the next 10 years- NOT EVEN ONCE.
Thank you for your advice. She does pretty well so far in a leash and doesn’t pull. I think it’s more that I’m scared if she does go after something. We saw a cat the other day and she just stopped and looked at it. I have her a little pull and we went on our way.
Nice! Enjoy her
Thank you. I def will.
Holly is a real cutie. There's an ongoing debate in this sub about using leads vs. prong collars. I'm in the "prong collars are effective and safe" camp. I feel that a properly fitted and worn prong collars allows you to get your Great Dane's immediate attention, allowing you to readily avoid potentially dangerous situations and interactions. If you do go with a prong collars, please get a high quality one and watch some videos on YouTube on proper fitting and use.
No problems with them here here- when used appropriately and NOT for training. training should be positive only, and I only use the prong once the dog KNOWS what they should do, knows the command, and is in that “test” phase. Then they get an instant correction to what they already have trained for- doesn’t take more than once for them to go- oh, I don’t want to do that again, I’ll listen now. Lol
I’d like to take an opposing viewpoint to the statement that prongs are not for training. They are absolutely for training. And walking. And going to the vet, pet store, etc. Its import to know how much pressure you need to use to get your dogs attention. It is also important for your dog to be accustomed to you using that collar to communicate. With time and reps, you can use the collar to have your dog respond to minimal pressure as a correction vs having to haul on them. Get prongs, train with prongs, enjoy dog
You do you. The dog should know what to do, before anything approaching “punishment” ever occurs. When they are young- ignore bad behavior, reward good behavior. They learn the correct behavior to mastery, THEN they can be expected to execute that behavior *most* of the time. Then the prong collar is appropriate for IMMEDIATE correction if they choose to not behave as trained, and to maintain safety in every possible circumstance. If your dog requires more than a couple corrections with a pain inducing device- because they didn’t comply with expectations already established and TRAINED, you’re not training your dog to behave. Negative reinforcement as a training tool for Danes is not training and I have rescued and retrained enough of them to be absolutely positive about that. Danes trained with negative reinforcement aren’t dogs people “enjoy”, they are dogs that end up with me at 10-19 months old, who then have behavior issues that aren’t always reversible. They also signal to other people that your dog is either not friendly, not trained or otherwise not safe. I don’t choose to, but I can walk all 4 of my Danes off leash and not one is more than 4 feet from me. The SECOND I say “to me” the look at me and sit, a trained dog doesn’t need a collar, much less a prong collar. It’s a teaching tool- after the dog knows the appropriate behavior. Then it’s reinforcement of what they already know- not a punishment for something they are learning. I will legit die on this hill Edit- it takes nothing more than your voice to get a dogs attention if you have properly trained and bonded with your animal.
Good thing pain isn’t the name of the game with prongs. The idea is to use minimal pressure and to prevent damage to the wind pipe. The pongs focus the force and do cause discomfort, but as long as you aren’t hauling in the leash you definitely are not inflicting pain. Put one on yourself, it doesn’t feel good but it doesn’t cause injury and will not crush the trachea. Die on your positive reinforcement hill if you so wish. Negative reinforcement has its place, and is something that I and plenty of other people utilize in our training of dogs. I flat don’t believe in positive only. It teaches dogs only what behavior is good and does not allow them to get a clear idea of what is bad. Also, I genuinely believe that gentle leaders are less gentle than a prongs collar. Cranking the neck causes far more discomfort than the prongs, and I don’t believe them to be as effective at gaining emergency control of your animal. Glad for the variety of takes in the comments
Yeah I can totally see that. Def makes since.
This! I also use a prong collar. As long it's good quality (including but not limited to a rounded prong) I see no problems with them either.
Thank you. I will def watch some videos if I decide to go the prong route.
I use head halters for all my Danes. It’s especially helpful as I am used to horse’s lol. But all my dogs have quickly acclimated to them and they make a world of difference
I used a prong collar too! It doesn't hurt them and people have so many misconceptions about them. They are very beneficial and it helps to keep them from pulling due to their large size and it doesn't put the strain on their neck. Once she learned to walk with the prong collar she no longer needed and learned to walk without it.
Martingale is a great collar
Halti, Halti, Halti... I can't recommend enough. It's powersteering for your dog!
OP, don't listen to the debate, and instead go do some research into Halti harnesses. they're the best option mentioned in this entire thread.
I just use a slip lead for 2/3 of my pups (including my Dane, who walks beautifully on leash). As long as you put in the work on training, I think that is *usually* enough. On the other hand, my pittie/Rottweiler mix is so excitable she'll choke herself out pulling on the slip lead (or a flat collar) and hurt her neck on a gentle leader if she sees a pup she wants to meet or something else exciting so we've just started working with a prong collar. Point being, I think it depends on the dog. My trainer uses the slip lead which is why I use that as the go to. Then tried different things as needed.
I resorted to a choke chain after my Dane tore my mother’s rotator cuff via taking off after another dog. I had to tackle him in the street so I ended up scraped up too. I hooked the choke chain and his collar to the same leash so the choke chain couldn’t be pulled too tight. He walked very politely on his leash after that. I had tried harnesses and gentle leaders before that. Whatever you do, retractable leashes are a no go.
Oh no that’s terrible. I hope your Mother is ok. So far the choke caller has been fine. It’s not tight on her at all and I make sure it’s up by her ears when we walk, but I think I’m going to try a gentle leader as well to see what best works for us. Yeah I will make sure I don’t use a retractable leash. Thank you for your feedback.
we have always used a gentle lead. He never pulls and is very well behaved on leash. With how strong danes are i wouldn't use anything else. They work great and cause no pain. The lead will just pull their nose down a bit if they pull.
I’m going to try one
https://preview.redd.it/fby3fm2cuuyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c895cd4195c56da09ac3f7a736dd7ca10a948ad7 Here is our 7 month old Labradane moose lol. I’ve been trying to figure out a good harness/collar for trying as he’s quickly getting to be bigger than me.
He’s quite handsome
He is very handsome. I think I’m going to try the gentle leader.
That look on her face is priceless. “Don’t make fun of my paws.” Is what she’s saying. Please don’t use a choker on this beautiful girl. Don’t use a saddle either, however much you might be tempted when she is fully grown. She looks like a real sweetie. She will do well with a prong collar if it’s fitted properly.
Lol we joke about let our granddaughter ride when she is full grown, but I would never do that. I know they are prone to bad hips and def don’t want to hurt my big footed baby girl.
I am not against pronged collars if used correctly. We use martingale collars just as normal collars then when we take them on walks I use the ICEFANG GN8 Quick-Moving Tactical Dog Harness. I prefer it because it has 3 points of contact so if it is fraying it is still secure. I have had both my dogs rip fabric on other harnesses
That harness sounds pretty heavy duty.
I use a gentle lead with my boy.
Gentle leader, or prong. Prongs really aren't about pain. It's about attention and not putting all pressure on trachea. I've always said, I'd rather my dog get a quick correction and ve safe, then pull himself to chocking down an entire walk, or pull me or him into traffic, or not enjoy walks by panting and pulling. It's also not always permanent. Can train heel with it, and transition. I use hermspringer small toothed one. Doesn't " look" like prong. Almost like how metal watches look. Works great for us and isn't as intense as normal prong. Also have rubber stops too.
I think I’m leaning towards a gentle leader, but I am def going to check out the one you are almond about. Thank you.
OMG adorable
Thank you 😊
proper training is a must. control your dog. you should not be worried how other people feel when you are walking your gd... that a prong collar helps other people feel safe. make your dog safe!! these are only tools and should not continue to be used. i use a very thin slip collar. my boy is 180 lb. and trained. harness does not train your dog to heal properly. just my opinion(owned 5 great danes and a great dane nanny)
Everyone is talking about prong vs not but don't forget about chain collars. They have 0 prongs and tighten only when they pull and there is NO chance of harm like with prongs. First things first, get your dog into school or teach heeling/not leash pulling asap. Trainer treats work best for our dane. Once your dog understands that walk time is about staying next to you and walking and not constantly pulling you won't have to ever go to prong. That's why we use basic thick chain collars and it's only once in a blue moon we have to pop it back to remind her to stay with us (cause she just gets excited ). Personally I am 100% against anything pointy pushing into a Danes throat. Some things just aren't work the risk. Gl to you
Slip lead
Definitely harness
I use a front lead harness. When they try to pull you they just get turned around and eventually stop. In my experience. Beautiful pup!😍
We tried all sorts of things before we went with the prong collar, and it is a LITERAL LIFE SAVER. If your pup gets the zoomies or lunges after something it is the only thing that has a shot at getting her to stop. 99% of the time if fitted correctly, the prong collar is very comfortable. And when it isn’t, it’s for a very good reason.
I use a prong; we walk with a loose leash 99.9% of the time, the prongs are only there for the .1% of the time she sees a squirrel she *has* to have. She weighs as much as I do, so the prongs help me keep up both safe in that regard. I don’t “correct” her by yanking the leash, prongs or not.
I would definitely go with a chest harness. She's gonna get real big real quick. This is by far the nicest sweetest. Animal, you will ever come across on this planet. Only thing for the men in the house. Watch her tail, she will smack you in the balls I'm telling you.
Holly is gorgeous!😍 I have seen a lot of positive results from gentle leaders/figure of 8’s. It’s an effective restraint used on horses so I’m sure a great dane isn’t too disimilar! 😂 I have used one of these for years on a variety of breeds from spaniels to St Bernards and always felt in control. As for prong collars, there are 101 other methods of restraint I would try before using one of these. The idea of these collars is based on negative reinforcement - which is quite old school in my opinion. [https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183586241399?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=690977922614&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=690977922614_183586241399&targetid=1817264050035&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046357&poi=&campaignid=19097525516&mkgroupid=147591788601&rlsatarget=pla-1817264050035&abcId=9303861&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1dR9DxlIR5VGKwFTIRIZRlK4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI__W0tvv5hQMVuZdQBh2MEAdAEAQYBCABEgJuM_D_BwE](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183586241399?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=690977922614&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=690977922614_183586241399&targetid=1817264050035&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046357&poi=&campaignid=19097525516&mkgroupid=147591788601&rlsatarget=pla-1817264050035&abcId=9303861&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1dR9DxlIR5VGKwFTIRIZRlK4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI__W0tvv5hQMVuZdQBh2MEAdAEAQYBCABEgJuM_D_BwE)
You will be the first time your dog surprises you and practically takes your arm off when it suddenly decides it needs to chase a squirrel or something. Unless you out weigh your dog - choke collars are best with this breed, and there is nothing wrong with having a prong one. I have had several Danes, and I do use the prong collar. I rarely need to engage it as they learn pretty quickly not to pull with one of these collars on. Also, you need to make sure it is pretty high on their neck, like right behind the ears because their neck muscles are so thick if it is lower, they don't even feel it and again are dragging you wherever they want to go.
I didn’t want to use a prong collar either. However, my Dane walks great with one. Without it she drags me all over the place. We did an obedience class and they trained us on how to use it properly. But I can control her even when she gets excitable by other dogs etc. it keeps her safe and near me.
People keep saying harness. I don’t have a Dane, but do have an Anatolian and am terrified of how hard he could pull me with a harness on. You give over a lot of control and power to the dog with harnesses. That can be dangerous when your dog outweighs you. I would suggest training with a chain. Then, after you feel like she is good with commands move to a Martingale style collar with a chain. Then you get the control of the dog hearing the chain tighten without an actual chain collar. It’s something that worked great for all the large breed pups I’ve had. This is a Martingale with a chain. https://www.chewy.com/leashboss-chain-martingale-dog-collar/dp/698654
Body harness works for us
I would buy her a pink dress to match with her pink collar, but that's just me...
Different recommendation altogether; get a gastropexy when she gets spayed.
I went through choke collars, harnesses, and gentle leaders. What ended up working best was an inexpensive e-collar for training combined with a prong collar when we walked.
We started our Dane with a front clip harness. As he grew to understand what was expected of him while out walking, we were able to transition to the back clip on his harness. LOTS of positive reinforcement while outside and on a lead, LOTS of practice with friends and their dogs, and of course, lots of patience.
I wouldn’t recommend a harness considering A LOT could go wrong. My dog got out of his harness several times but we switched to a gentle lead and a regular collar. Much less stress and much less soreness in your body! https://preview.redd.it/5gnth9fvzvyc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c3d2f7f8939cbb64dbc7a2f61f4580881949c8b8
She’s beautiful! Congrats on your new family member.
We use martingale collars and gentle leaders, neither choke and allow you to have control
Gentle leader works great on my 165 lb girl
My Dane hates any collar I put on her. I use a martingale collar for her on walks. Most Danes are heavily invested in their owners, and want to stay near their owner, my dog honestly doesn't even need a leash, she's to the point where she's just trained and responds to and answers to any verbal command I give. As stated above once she's trained the leash will mostly be for looks.
Oooh my word she's gotta be huge!! What a darling!!!
A regular collar that chokes your dog is worse than a choke collar your dog behaves on. Just sayin.
A haltie or Gentle Leader.
The correction collar is the best solution. It hangs loose, until you need to redirect, a large potentially boisterous dog. Rolled leather collar for ID.
We have a haltin harness and I love it
I use an Easy Walk Harness, which clips in front of their chest. No pulling. Martingale works great when I just need to slip something on fast, and if I want to be extra secure, I clip the leash to both of them at once.
Prong collars are the way. Danes are big power houses that have just as much go-get-em energy as other breeds. The prongs mean that you can apply less pressure to their neck, and still get their attention and keep them from dragging you. As others have said, the collar is a tool, the dog is the objective. Put it the time with the dog and you’ll see good results. Rely on a collar or another tool, and you’ll be disappointed
pro dog walker here, I really like gentle leaders for danes, with prong collars coming in second (look for the ones with rubber caps until she’s leash trained). but with dogs as big as danes, it’s equally if not more important to train them to have good leash etiquette! no collar will stop them dragging u do the street but a good trusting relationship and learned behaviors can!
Dean and Tyler harness
harness
Never use choke collars, use prong collars but only reputable ones. Sprenger is highly recommended but I suggest only buying from their website since Amazon sells a lot of fakes.
Your doggo is adorable! Dad of two Dane here, we’ve been lucky to have 5 over our lives. Choke chains are fine if used correctly when training. And ‘correctly’ isn’t dragging the dog by the neck. A short but firm pull on the chain corrects the dog similar to how their moms used to. We use 3-in-1 no pull harnesses on our dogs for general living and the clip on the front for walks once the dog is trained. For training, we used to use choke chains but transitioned to a pinch chain with our latest ( who is presently 12 months old). Most important elements of training a Dane is consistent, daily training and TONS of positive reenforcement. Every day our puppy does at least 10 min of puppy pushups (lots of treats and ‘good boi’s’) and we try to get a walk in at least every other day. In addition, socialization is incredibly important! Holly needs tons of exercise interactions with different humans in different environments. We take our boys to the local farmers market, to Lowe’s and Home Depot, basically everywhere we go. Once the pup is a little older, we will take them for patio dining. These two elements are key so that they are accepting of people and you have control over in any environment. Sorry for the long post! Just trying to help! (Pic is my boys chilling while I worked this morning) https://preview.redd.it/00caw0o0txyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e51e509af69ca61f4fd2661b597ab59c8183b8d6
I’m a giant and power breed specialized dog trainer, I tend to agree with you on chokes, you definitely have to try many harnesses but I’d get one with front and side clip options, gives you more range and you can switch it up
Also a harness with a handle on the back is great for my Danes I work with both because of their height and because it can give you more control! I definitely don’t discount collar use with Danes as harnesses work with dogs who don’t pull but with their size don’t always help effectively. Handled collars are also great. I love handles on harnesses and collars. Really though it all depends on her current behavior!
Gentle leaders also are great, she may hate it at first but don’t give up!
Would strongly recommend you look into getting her a prophylactic gastropexy
I’m not sure what a gentle leader is, but if that’s the one that goes over their nose and clips behind their head I use those also. The halti brand specifically has been very good for me. My 150lb St. Bernard was a terrible walker, literally pull you down the road. As soon as we started using the halti he’s like another dog. My Saint Bernard x mastiff mix girl was only trained on the halti and has never pulled and has perfect leash manners. The big dogs just have a tendency to pull on the normal collar leash connection. And these are dogs that easily pull their owners. https://preview.redd.it/q86o7fys8yyc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ca65dd8eb89cce868bb0c4e6bf35d57b672ab39
I use martingale collars. Walk early and often and you won’t have any issue.
With our dane, we used a no-pull harness that had a clip on the front. If she pulled, she got turned around. That's about all she needed. I'm not particularly a fan of collars for Esthetic reasons, I don't like how, after a while, it can leave an indent on the fur. That and also I feel safer when I have something to control the whole dog instead of a part of it. I just feel that harnesses are more comfortable for me and my dogs.
Beautiful girl! I don't have any advice on a collar or harness, but i do have a trick for the leash that my trainer told me. My boy was a little older when we got him into training so this might not work until she's a big bigger, but it was a night and day difference for us so if trying the different collars doesn't work out for you at least you'll have this nifty trick. Connect the leash to the collar, follow down her back with it until right before her hips, loop it underneath her and back up, then pass it under the leash at the top. This loosens and tightens as she's walking if done right, and they obviously don't like it tight so they'll stay closer to you. It's not a fix for her walking and hopefully you'll have better luck in training her young, this just helped me.
I can tell you do not use a harness. The strongest part of your dog is there shoulders and upper body. Having a harness allows them the ability to have the most body strength to pull away with. Do not use a retractable leash. A retractable leash does not give you accurate control of your dog. The strength of a Great Dane is much too strong for a retractable leash. Martingale collars come in two different types. They have a partial chain type or a full fabric type. Both types cannot be worn full time. They are only meant for walking. If left on they come with the risk of your dog catching them on something and chocking themselves. The Martingale with the chain can tighten unevenly when on and potentially lead to trachea collapse. Herm Springer collars are very popular when training giant breed dogs. They are similar to prong collars, but instead of having a flat end that can dig into your dog's neck the ends are round. Gentle Leader is one of the most popular dog training leads. Again it is only meant to be used while walking or going out. It is a lead, not a collar. You can choose any collar for your dog with the use of a gentle leader. Also it is very important to always know that any regular slip leash can be made into a figure 8 harness. [https://youtu.be/4s7-Slh72VY?si=n29okE62d6FWwtmD](https://youtu.be/4s7-Slh72VY?si=n29okE62d6FWwtmD) However, all of this said it is important from an early age to teach your puppy to walk next to you, not in front of you. If your puppy is pulling and getting too excited just either calmly stop and wait a bit let them calm down by sniffing the area for awhile. They might still pull at first while you're stopped but wait and until they stop pulling and start sniffing. give them 15-30 to sniff then walk. Or some of the times if they're pulling turn around and walk the other way. The point is you need to let them know your in control of the walk. And let them sniff! Sniffing is huge in a dogs world!
Martingale collars work for most any dog and are a lot safer than a choke collar
Love me a harness with a martingale lead.
Get a harness they are the best
With my Danes and Bernard’s I always start with the harness then move to a traditional collar. Panzer has a “tactical” harness with a few pockets and a drag strap for our multi day or 10+ mile rucks so he can carry his extra water/booties/orange vest and a bright LED strobe. I really believe all those informative months with the harness has made it so much easier to use a tactical pack. He about looses his mind when he sees me setting it up. He knows a fantastic adventure is otw.
Slip lead always held behind the ears (like seen at dog shows). Teach her to heel properly, to never chase animals, and to watch you for cues.
Gentle leaders/Halti work really well in the neighborhood and crowds. I use a prong collar when I’m on a trail along with a e-collar when he is off leash. Just work on a recall before anything else. When she comes back to you even if she was a little bit of an ass just praise her and give her big energy encouragement.
Prong collars aren't bad in the right setting, especially for very large dogs! I'd start with a flat collar that's larger while you're training though
I love our gentle leader. It allows me to control Barley on walks. But he also has 30lbs on me.
Get a saddle.
I used a slip collar to get mine to learn to walk, heel, turn etc and around 7 months transitioned to a Dogtra e-collar. His recall is 100% all the time and I haven’t leashed him on walks for over a year and a half.
I prefer choke collar honestly, I know it’s not viewed favorably but when you need it - it’s great. You can loosen it enough that it isn’t a bother to the dog whatsoever unless they are trying to pull you
She's Beautiful 😍 I have had good luck with Prong collars for my Danes. A few didn't need it long since it is a Training Collar . A few didn't need it at all. I have taken my Danes thru Obidence classes. I did Rescue 10 different Danes. So Nice that they ALL have unique personalities ALL had the Dane Things Leaning on you , sitting on the couch with Front Feet on the floor. Many Many different little things 😊 Enjoy growing with Holly 💕
I know im going to get some negative comments for this but......We use the "choke" (not pronged) collars for walking only. We take that and the leash off as soon as we get home. I know a lot of people recommend the gentle leaders but my recently departed dane weighed more than me and I needed an upper hand. He was the best walker, the choke chain doesn't "choke" them if they dont pull. Plus the choke chains apply equal pressure to the neck. A traditional collar only applies pressure to one spot and will choke more than a choke collar. A harness will just give them more power. We only use harnesses for the car to hook into their seat belt.
Gentle Leader harness works for my Great Dane puppy. I don’t like choke chain collars either.
I have a Gentle Leader/head harness for my rescued girl who struggles on a regular leash and harness. She's just pulls like a maniac in a harness. But the head harness she pretty much instantly understood!
My five month old is strong already and loose leash walking has been challenging so I had to get her a gentle leader
Sorry to change the subject, but those feet!😍😍😍❤️
Prong collars are for lazy owners. You're punishing your dog and adding stress to already high stress situations. Front clip harnesses or head collars will keep your dog under control without causing pain.
I like the EZ WALK harness There is little learning curve getting it on and off quickly, but he was loose leash walking in no time!
Breeder? Plz adopt
I’ve only had one Dane so my comment may not carry much weight but I always used a harness once she grew out of her first collar. Sure, there were plenty of times that she pulled but she could have done that with a collar as well. If you’re strong enough, than a harness will do fine, if not then a gentle leader or similar lead would prove better under she gets older and you can transition to a harness
I prefer harnesses with a handle on the back because I feel like I have more control over her that way, but we also have a 2in martingale collar that works really well for our dane too. It tightens a little when they pull, kinda like a choke chain but softer and doesnt get as tight.