i'm a little fatigued, but i'll respond to what i can. to say it's "settling" though is rather BS, since my reason for purchase has nothing to do with not wanting to train him. thanks for the assumption, however.
the theory is that the reason for not pulling is the realization that it's not achieving what he wants. i have not had explained to me why an uncomfortable sensation is necessary to train, as opposed to simple positive reinforcement.
to use a different analogy, most training manuals suggest that if you have a jumping dog, you don't swat him on the head until he stops jumping, you simply refuse to give him attention until he stops jumping, thus making him go "hey, when i don't jump, i get nice things!" i have yet had anyone explain to me why a dog cannot learn other things in a similar manner; the simple restraining from movement when pulling and giving of freedom when being calm.
i understand the idea, and i really, really wish you'd stop getting so confrontational since i don't think i've taken that attitude with you. my thing is that i quite literally don't see why sheer positive reinforcement cannot be used in general. i'm strong enough to stop him from moving if i don't want him to move. if we're out for a walk and he goes in directions i don't want him to go, the walk stops and i restrain him. he settles down and we move along.
now, if it's a harsh case and i cannot restrain him via the harness, sure i'll go back to the leash because it seems more is needed. all i'm saying is that the "collars are all that work" attitude has never made sense to me when the same attitude is not applied elsewhere.
again, i am not saying "collars are bad and no one should use them ever", they have a track record and are universally trusted. all i'm suggesting is that this is not something i buy to "settle". if anything it could take a little more work for exactly the reasons you outlined. what i'm saying is that it's entirely reasonable that this thing could work well.
so i'll give it a try, and i will 100% eat crow if after a few weeks he's not responding to it. this isn't a point of ego to me, i'm not personally invested in whether or not it works. i just really think it could.
So swatting them in the head doesn't hurt, but a choker collar does?
I personally also have never heard swatting a dog on the head as a method to stop them from jumping. To take issue with that, what do you think is more humane and effective? A slight pop of a choker collar around one of the most sensitive parts of a dogs body, so that little force needs to be applied...or directly striking your dog on the head because it is jumping? I honestly don't even see the reason why that is a warranted correction, jumping is usually seeded in alot of other reasons that go deeper than the dog just 'jumping'. You can tell alot of times when a dog has been taught using physical force by whether or not they are hand shy. You know, when you outreach your hand and it backs away or is leary.
No one is being confrontational and no one said said you are settling. Relax. I used the large % of harness buyers as those who settle, I never said you, you had explained why you bought the harness.
In my personal opinion, you are setting yourself up for defeat with the harness. That is just what I personally believe. There is a reason people do not use them for training purposes, and the reason is the reason I stated.
the theory is that the reason for not pulling is the realization that it's not achieving what he wants.What he wants to do is to pull. To guide. To lead. So by your way of thinking, he pulls and you stop walking. So he stops pulling. Where did he ever realize that he can't pull? You start walking again, he starts pulling. Repeat. Where is the correction? I am sure a 'no' is going to do nothing if he is that determined and hell-bent on pulling, not to mention how unsincere your 'no' is going to sound when you are in such a frustrating situation. If anything, the stopping and going is going to make things worse. It becomes a game and he is anticipating the pulling. It is almost like rewarding him for being calm with pulling.
If a dog were to live with their mother until they were grown, or if he lived in a house full of balanced, pack oriented dogs, they would never ignore a puppy's misbehavior. Growls, baring of teeth, muzzling, and many other ways would be used to show the puppy that his behavior is unwanted. They are all corrections. Dogs are not passive creatures when the stability of pack life is threatened. Yes, they are dogs and not wolves, but there is still a survival instinct. Any weak link is an issue.
I'm just trying to help you, but it appears you have bought into the hype. I had already stated that it is not impossible to train a dog wearing a harness. But in years of obedience class, I have never seen any dog wear a harness, nor have I seen the older, accomplished dogs with anything but at least a choker. This includes small, sensitive breeds such as a poodle and miniature schnauzer, who have worn at least a choker since puppyhood, and both have their UDX....and are confident and affectionate too.
You do what you feel is right.