Switching from choke chain for an Akita

Making the switch away from a choke chain is a genuinely good move — and the fact that your trainer flagged it tells me you're working with someone who knows what they're doing. Good training tools amplify good technique rather than replace it, but the right equipment really does matter, especially with a powerful, independently-minded breed. To point you toward the right thing: what are you training for specifically — loose-lead walking, reactivity, general manners? And what's been the main challenge on the choke chain so far?

That all makes sense. A choke chain on a dog that's already committed to a lunge does very little except put strain on his trachea and cervical spine — your trainer is absolutely right to flag it. For a 40kg Akita who pulls and lunges, you want something that gives you genuine physical control without relying on pain or pressure. Before I give you my recommendation, a couple of quick questions: does he pull consistently from the moment you leave the house, or mainly when another dog appears? And has he ever worn a front-clip harness or head collar before?

Good, that's helpful. Given his size, the fact that the pulling is largely reactive rather than constant, and that he has no harness history, I'd go with a front-clip no-pull harness rather than a head collar to start. Head collars can work well but dogs who haven't worn one often resist them significantly, and with a dog as strong as an Akita that introduction takes real time. A front-clip harness redirects his momentum toward you when he lunges — the lead attaches at the chest, so when he surges forward he ends up turning back rather than dragging you. The one I'd specifically recommend is the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It's built for large, strong dogs, the chest clip is well-positioned for genuine redirection rather than just mild discouragement, and it's robust enough that an Akita isn't going to stress the stitching. Make sure you size it properly — measure his girth just behind the front legs and go by their chart rather than guessing by weight. Pair it with what your trainer is already teaching you on lead work and you'll notice the difference quickly.

Completely normal for an Akita — they're not labs who'll cheerfully accept anything. Spend two or three sessions just letting him sniff the harness and getting treats near it before you put it on him at all. Then do a first fit at home with no walk attached to it — just on, treat, off, done. Keep the first few harness walks short and low-pressure so he's not associating it with the stressful situation of seeing other dogs right away. Once it's just normal kit to him, then you start using it in the harder contexts. The Ruffwear design also has a top clip if you want a standard back attachment for low-distraction walks — that flexibility is genuinely useful during the transition.

Measuring first is exactly the right call — harness fit on a deep-chested breed like an Akita makes a big difference to how well the front clip actually functions. Good luck with it. The combination of a competent trainer and the right equipment is genuinely the fastest route through this.