Great thread.
in case anyone does a poll, I hate flexis. I have a Gentle leader. I used it one week. I'm waiting for someone who can use it. It is great for many, just not me.
I love harnesses in the right situation and right dog. I'm sorry, but once trained, I really don't need to control the head of a 20 to even 50 pound dog. Even in my advancing age I can stop or
turn one. I've had rescues that collars loaded them and training with a harness worked well. I slowly reintroduced collars.
I cannot stand pulling. I teach loose leash from the beginning. Pulling equals stopping. Even semi-ferrel dogs learn that fast.
I am not able to let a dog off-leash in an unfenced area. I just can't. I personally know several people who lost and never recovered their dogs. I realized long ago my heart can't take it. I know the odds are low. But I can't.