As an owner of a large breed dog myself, I can honestly say that a harness is the last thing they need unless they are used as a working dog. A few jerks on the neck under its own power and it will learn where the end of the lead is, not to mention the pure strength of the neck muscles in a dog. I would just get a good strong collar (NO PLASTIC BUCKLES FROM WALMART) and go with it. I use a standard chain choker collar for vaccination tags and walking, but when it comes to tieing out to a picnic table he get a super strong collar and a double cable, and he still can drag a picnic table that takes 4 people to move.