Stop a Leonberger pulling on the lead

A 60kg teenage Leonberger on a mission — that's not a dog pulling on a lead, that's a small horse with an agenda. At that size and age, a no-pull harness alone often isn't enough because the dog is simply too strong to redirect from the chest. The most effective tools for serious pullers are no-pull harnesses and head collars, but for a giant breed adolescent with this much drive, the right choice really comes down to size, fit, and whether the pulling is excitement-based or prey-driven. What breed and size is the dog — and have you tried any equipment yet, or are you starting from scratch?

Right, so excitement-based pulling in a giant adolescent male — that's actually the most workable kind, because he's not reacting to anything specific, he's just got an enormous engine and zero brakes yet. The flat collar is doing nothing for you at his size and needs to come off for walks entirely. Before I suggest anything, one question: is he brachycephalic at all, or does he have a normal long muzzle? Leonbergers typically have a good long nose, but I want to be sure before recommending a head collar, because fit is everything.

Perfect — then my clear recommendation is the Halti Optifit Head Collar in size 5, which is specifically designed for large and giant breeds. For a 60kg enthusiasm machine, a head collar is the single most effective tool because it gives you directional control — when the head turns, the body follows, and no amount of brute strength overrides that. The Halti Optifit has an adjustable cheek piece that gets a proper fit on big heads, a safety connector strap that clips to his collar as a backup, and a padded nose band that won't cause rub sores even on daily use. It's not a punishment device — it just means he physically cannot drag you when he spots a squirrel. Pair it with a 2-metre training lead rather than an extendable one, and you'll have actual control from day one. One thing to know: spend 10–15 minutes getting him comfortable wearing it at home before the first walk — treats, lots of praise, let him get used to the feel. Giant breeds can be dramatic about new sensations on their face, and a panicked 60kg dog swiping at his nose mid-walk is no fun for anyone.

Yes — and this is the key thing people misunderstand about head collars. It's not about the equipment being stronger than the dog, it's about mechanics. When he lunges forward, the head collar turns his nose back toward you rather than letting him drive with his full chest and shoulders. He can't generate the same force in that position. A 20kg person can manage a 60kg dog on a head collar because the physics are completely different to a harness or collar. The Halti Optifit is well-constructed and the safety strap means if he ever gets the nose band off — rare but it happens — he's still connected to you. At his age and with consistent use, most owners see improvement in pulling within two to three weeks, because the dog starts to associate forward momentum with the gentle redirect rather than reward.

The one thing worth adding is a good fixed-length 2-metre lead if you don't already have one — something like the Halti training lead or any leather or rope lead rated for large dogs. Extendable leads undermine head collar training completely because the dog learns he can still get distance if he pulls hard enough. Other than that, you don't need anything else to start. Get the Halti Optifit size 5, do the indoor introduction properly, and give it two consistent weeks. Leonbergers are smart and biddable under all that teenage chaos — he'll figure it out faster than you expect.