u/Repulsive-Equal-9802

I rescued a five and a half month old standard poodle puppy from a bad breeder situation about a year ago. When I brought him home he had no idea what a leash was or what taking a walk was, so for months the only thing we worked on was socializing him to the idea of walking outside. Now he is a confident well adjusted young man but for the last 4-6 months he has been pulling like a freight train constantly on walks and hikes(I take him every day because he is also super high energy.)I started off using one of the harnesses that clips in the front and tightens when they pull, that never stopped him. I then went the head halter route thinking surely that will stop him and it did seem to help for a while but it got to the point where he would just tuck his chin and steam roll through. I had to discontinue trying to use it because he was pulling so hard with it her was rubbing a raw spot on the bridge of his nose. Then I moved to a martingale collar, I watched a bunch of videos on how it works and then started working with him on it, it seemed to kind of work initially and now he just completely ignores it. I still use it because he can’t put as much power into the pull and I at least have more control. But I’m worried he will damage his wind pipe or something if we keep using it. I’ve done so much research and watched so many videos and I feel like I’m being backed into a corner and the only other option is trying a prong collar. I’m open to it if it’s the only other option and it won’t hurt him, but I just have never had to use such intense correction with a dog and I don’t love the idea. Honestly every other dog I’ve had the no pull harness works on. So I guess my questions are is there anything else I should/can try first before a prong collar? If used correctly will the prong collar work and not do any damage? I got shamed yesterday by some old dude claiming to be a retired police dog handler when I was out walking him because he was pulling and getting over stimulated by an event going on in the park. The dude just told me I need to tell him no and I don’t so he has me trained now. I get that he’s not perfect and I’m not a professional or anything but I really am trying and I can’t just stop taking him for walks because he needs the energy outlet. If the dude had given me actual actionable advice I wouldn’t have minded so much, but just saying I I need to say no is unhelpful and demoralizing as someone who is really trying. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I rescued a five and a half month old standard poodle puppy from a bad breeder situation about a year ago. When I brought him home he had no idea what a leash was or what taking a walk was, so for months the only thing we worked on was socializing him to the idea of walking outside. Now he is a confident well adjusted young man but for the last 4-6 months he has been pulling like a freight train constantly on walks and hikes(I take him every day because he is also super high energy.)I started off using one of the harnesses that clips in the front and tightens when they pull, that never stopped him. I then went the head halter route thinking surely that will stop him and it did seem to help for a while but it got to the point where he would just tuck his chin and steam roll through. I had to discontinue trying to use it because he was pulling so hard with it her was rubbing a raw spot on the bridge of his nose. Then I moved to a martingale collar, I watched a bunch of videos on how it works and then started working with him on it, it seemed to kind of work initially and now he just completely ignores it. I still use it because he can’t put as much power into the pull and I at least have more control. But I’m worried he will damage his wind pipe or something if we keep using it. I’ve done so much research and watched so many videos and I feel like I’m being backed into a corner and the only other option is trying a prong collar. I’m open to it if it’s the only other option and it won’t hurt him, but I just have never had to use such intense correction with a dog and I don’t love the idea. Honestly every other dog I’ve had the no pull harness works on. So I guess my questions are is there anything else I should/can try first before a prong collar? If used correctly will the prong collar work and not do any damage? I got shamed yesterday by some old dude claiming to be a retired police dog handler when I was out walking him because he was pulling and getting over stimulated by an event going on in the park. The dude just told me I need to tell him no and I don’t so he has me trained now. I get that he’s not perfect and I’m not a professional or anything but I really am trying and I can’t just stop taking him for walks because he needs the energy outlet. If the dude had given me actual actionable advice I wouldn’t have minded so much, but just saying I I need to say no is unhelpful and demoralizing as someone who is really trying. Any advice is greatly appreciated.