easy walk harness or gentle leader?

 The harness, because of the risk of neck injury and the adjustment time with the nose loop.

 EW or similar - you don't have time to properly introduce a head halter in a shelter setting.

 I would also suggest the harness over the leader for the above reasons.

 That being said I think they can take a bit of work to adjust on a dog, especially an excited ready to go one.  I also think they are easier for dogs to slip out versus a standard collar or harness, especially if not fitted properly, so personally I would want a back up lead if I was going to walk dogs I wasn't familiar with in an unsecured area.

Neither -- a dog CAN get out of an easy walk if it's not adjusted perfectly and they can hurt their neck with a GL.

HOWEVER -- try the old-style Sporn -- adjusting it is a BREEZE -- you just pull up the strap thru the knot at the back of the collar and it's done.  And it truly makes them unable to pull.

 I like the Sporn, too.  But, if all you have available is the EW, then use that and just add a lead to the dog's collar for security.  GL's take time to acclimate a dog to, as others have said, so you really don't have time for that unless your shelter has a behavior program in place and is able to do that training.

I vote neither. I perfer actually teaching a dog not to pull over using some tool that prevents them from pulling, its just a band aid for the behavior because as soon as the gentle leader/easywalk harness comes off, they go right back to pulling.

If you really want to use that style of tool, I would recomend getting a regular nylon harness from the pet store, and clipping the leash to the O ring that is in front on the dogs chest. It works the same as a Easywalk harness, but not as easy to get out of and much more sturdy.

Something like this... You can find them at any pet store. Just clip the leash to the O ring in front instead of the Dee ring thats on the back.
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-5630195t400.jpg

Neither.  If you don't want to actually train the dogs not to pull, then try to find a Sporn harness.  To mitigate the potential for escapes, find a long slip that the dog can wear and attach to the leash at the same point as the Sporn.  It needs to be loose so there's no correction from the slip collar, it's simply there to keep something connected to the dog should he escape from the harness. 

You can find the Sporn at PetSmart:  http://www.petsmart.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=sporn&origkw=sporn&sr=1

 Not my fave tools, also I agree the GL would be out because most dogs fight it so much. I'd actually much prefer a prong collar - instant results and dogs don't tend to have any sort of poor reaction to them.

 That said, in a shelter situation I'd probably just leash belt the bad pullers. Pretty much it is making a quick no pull harness from whatever leash you are using. With the leash oriented to the back of the dog's neck, put the leash under the dog behind the dog's left elbow, bring it up behind the dog's right elbow and under then over where the leash is attaches to the neck. Using this, walk the dog on your left side and the "harness" will tighten if he pulls. This might be your best bet, since it requires no extra tools other volunteers might be more likely to use it.

I tried the GL with Max when he was pretty young and he got so he'd just hang his head down and turn away when he saw the leash come out.  He pretty much stopped enjoying his walks and I gave it a good long time.  My only regret with the EW is that it took me so long to get one.  It would be nice if the packages would go by size/weight instead of breed.  I got the large and and it was way too big so I went back and got the medium.  I looked at it and thought it would never fit him, but it's perfect. He's 60 lbs. and has a deep chest. It's so much easier to keep him under control now when he spots other dogs, cats, squirrels etc.

Joyce

Thank you for all the replies and information.  I appreciate the helpful responses.

I swear by the EW harness.  When Bella was a puppy she was a horrible puller.  After 10 minutes with the harness she never pulled again.  Once she was old enough for basic obedience classes we switched to a regular collar and never looked back.  Since you are needing something for shelter dogs I think the harness would be a good temporary fix.

spiritdogs

 I like the Sporn, too.  But, if all you have available is the EW, then use that and just add a lead to the dog's collar for security.  GL's take time to acclimate a dog to, as others have said, so you really don't have time for that unless your shelter has a behavior program in place and is able to do that training.

ShelterDogs

spiritdogs

 I like the Sporn, too.  But, if all you have available is the EW, then use that and just add a lead to the dog's collar for security.  GL's take time to acclimate a dog to, as others have said, so you really don't have time for that unless your shelter has a behavior program in place and is able to do that training.

Hi Anne. Have you always favored the Sporn over the EasyWalk? If so, why? I was going to get a large EW, but decided to do research first before I get one. I wanted to see if anything new has come out since these anti-pulling tools were introduced early last decade. It doesn't look like anything has come along since then. Just copycats of the Sensation. I think Sensation was the first, not sure.  

No, but in the shelter environment, you are trying to walk dogs quickly so that each dog gets out, and at least some of the dogs are more likely to be types that will try to escape - the Sporn is harder to get out of than the EW.  I think Sense-ation was the first, but it has a stationary chest ring, and the EW ring slides.  The Sporn is better for handlers who are inclined to jerk the dog around, too - because the EW can injure a shoulder if the dog hits the end of the leash hard.

Our shelter required us to use nylon slip collars, too many dogs getting out of their collars or a harness.  You can make both a head halter or a harness that goes around the chest area or the groin area using your leash.  This is what I do it I need absolute control.  For example today Nikon got muddy and our hose is alongside the house, very close to the neighbor's house and they go in and out with their large pit bull all the time so I need to make sure I have Nikon under control.  I don't like getting collars wet so I usually just use a slip lead and then either do the makeshift harness around his belly or around his snout until I'm sure the coast is clear.