training collars? Gentle Lead, prong, etc.

[Puppy Madness]

Hello everyone,  Which do you guys prefer to put on your mini doodles for training?  Harley is now 19 weeks and about 21 lbs.  He's supposed to grow up to 30 pounds.  He pulls a lot especially in puppy class where my 12-year old is the handler.  The trainer said I can try the Gentle lead (only because I asked) but she is not the most fan of it because it doesn't teach the dog manners.  I heard a lot of dogs don't like it either.  I know a lot of people say the chain collar is not good because you can yank too hard and really hurt your dog.  The pronged collar apparently now has rubber caps you can put on them to make them gentler.  We've used pronged collars on our Goldens in the past, but now with a 30 lb. dog (full-grown), is it a good option?  Wondering what you guys put on your dogs.  Thanks.

 

[shelly]

Hi Lil... I actually just posted a similar question in the training group.  Are you a member of that group.  I too used a prong with my golden, but a bit nervous about using it on my 38 pound aussiedoodle...  many people have great results!  If I could figure out how to link the discussion here, I will....

[Adina P]

Boca was less than 38 lbs and a pup when I first used a prong on her. Just get the smallest links and buy extra if you need it to be bigger.  I use the smallest links on my great bit 90lb Rosco.

[Jeanne & Shep]

I use the Canny Collar http://www.cannyco.us/ with my aussiedoodle.  As long as I am persistent he will heel and I can control him when he is determined to get to the rabbit that springs out of the bush in front of us.  My husband likes the prong with rubber tips, but I think he still pulls against that too much.  Good luck!

[Harper]

I highly recommend the easy walk, which curbs pulling almost immediately. Here is a version on amazon (you need to find the right size):
http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Harness-Large-Black-Silver/dp/B0009ZBKG4

[Adina P]

I think both the chain and the prong collar are fine for dogs of any size...you just adjust the correction to suit the dog.  You don't give a Mastiff sized correction to a Jack Russel but both can wear a chain collar, for instance.