Does anyone have any ideas on how to get my dogs to stop pulling me when we walk?

Firstly, NO training or management tool is going to TEACH your dog good leash manners, but they can sure make life easier while you work very hard to motivate and teach your dog to attend to YOU while on leash.

Choke chains are generally not helpful with pulling...they are designed to be a correction collar (for aversive-based training...that when used as designed, delivers a snap/release correction...NOT constant pressure), rather than an everday collar or walking tool. With a dog pulling hard, the choke collar remains tight and triggers the "opposition reflex" which basically means that a dog tends to pull AGAINST any backwards pressure against their head or neck...even if it hurts to do so. Choke chains have been known to damage the tracheas of some hard-pulling dogs. There is no almost limit to how much the collar can tighten. If you're attached to the idea of a correction collar, the prong is preferable to the choke for a lot of reasons (even though it definitely looks more evil!)...

Gentle leader or Halti head collars work really well, too, and are less aversive than the correction collars, but many dogs have a very difficult adjustment to the strap around their muzzle, right under their eyes.

Soooo, I highly recommend the 'Easy Walk Harness' made by Premier/Gentle Leader. It differs from a traditional (sled-dog style) harness because it directs your dog's body from the front of the chest. When your dog pulls, their whole body is redirected toward you...making training so much easier! There is no backward pressure like on a standard harness that connects on the back.

Most dogs adjust instantly to the Easy Walk and it works like magic! Good luck!

I have 3 50 lb. Pits and sometimes 4 when my sons dog is here. I'm 5'3 and getting old! Not as strong as I use to be, so I use prong training collars and have no problems controlling the dogs. They don't pull and never choke. I think I have had to snap it once or twice and that was it. I take them all over the place and we run into lots of different dogs and situations. Controling 235 lbs. of dog would not be possible for me without them. I know some people think they are cruel but if used right they are not. I consider the saftey of my dogs more important than an a pinch on the neck once in a while.

I'll add to the praise of Haltis/Gentle Leaders. It's the same idea as a horse halter, and worked wonders on my very headstrong, very big (125 lbs) shepherd mix. The one complaint I had was that it was a solution so long as it was on him.

If you'd rather go the behavioral route, classes as well as watching a few Dog Whisperer clips about it might help. (Pay attention to what he's teaching the people, not the dogs) Another favorite method is to "be a tree" - essentially standing still once the tugging starts. Once you're able to move forward again without pulling, praise and treat. Once I can make it any distance at all without significant tugging, I like to fall back on a slip collar for a "Hey! I have the important end over here!" tug when they forget, but never as the primary restraint.

Also - consider your dogs, and the amount of energy they get to really burn each day. Is it enough?

Hi. I used to train dogs to walk on a leash. What I usualy did was every time they pulled, I clapped my hands loudly and made lots of startling noises untill their attention came to me and we would turn around and walk the opposit of what they were pulling me too. Small dogs were a little bit harder especialy terriers. Another trick is to socialize them with as many dogs as possible to keep more attention on you. You can do a command ALL of my animals know called watch me and they would stop what they were doing and watch me. You can train them to do this by giving treats every time you say watch me and they look at you.

I used to think that the choking collar should work until I went to Pet Smart and got the 'Easy Leash' Head collar plus I was advised to if he still pulls to every time walk into the opposite direction for a few feet if he pulls until he realizes that pulling will get him nowhere, but you got to remain stubborn until he gets the point.