Thanks Duane and I appreciate the feed back. On one side I have Zoey who I trained from a pup, I can go any where with her no leash needed using command close under distractions of other dogs, cats, ect she is awesome on so many levels, time invested. And all new to me a 5 yr old or so GSD with 0 training not sure he even know his name yet certainly doesn't seem like he does, lol.
I haven't had time to do any training with him yet or get him in a zero distraction area to work on anything, hopefully soon. I'm sure many can relate to finding the time or I should say making the time to train someone else's dog when I have so much I still would love to do with Zoey.
My main goal right now is exercise so I figured pull on the pinch or pull on a harness that's my thinking anyway.
I have found a fenced in baseball field with larger than normal field where I can take him and let him run and see if I can get him interested in the ball or tug. It has about 8 gates that I plan on chaining & locking shut for safety while I'm in with him just in case someone decided to enter and leave a gate open.

Hi, Joe;

I laud you for helping out your friend, and understand about the time constraints. I got your point about the dog needing exercise, and if he was gonna pull, might as well be on a harness. I can certainly understand your sentiment. After sleeping on this, I still have two concerns, and think a little attitude adjustment for Troy might not take as much time and effort as you might think.
1. At what point, and how, do you switch from "It's okay to pull" to "It's not okay", and
2. Isn't this lack of etiquette what caused the problem in the OP?

IMHO, in just a couple of short sessions you could teach Troy what a prong correction is for and that it's not the end of the world, and a couple of simple commands (such as "Don't pull" and "Halt!") that would give his handlers a LOT more control of that dog. This would also lay the groundwork for furthering his education and for whoever is going to be handling him in the future. Once he learns a little leash etiquette and what leash pressure is, the rest is gravy.
Wishing you guys the best,
Duane

1. I don't have an exact time frame of when, but I can say it's probably not real far off. I know that's kinda vague but I'm interested in the harness kinda for my own test and some for the dog. I think when I'm a little farther along with him and he understands whats expected of him then use the pressure, maybe I'm nuts?
I can guarantee results with the prong collar but I don't want to create a negative response and I didn't want to teach new behaviour and how to turn off pressure at the same time.
I hope to see what Troy can actually do as far as commands he might already know in a no distraction area and hopefully teach some basics. Try to build a relationship with him have him paying some attention to me and get some basics before I pressure him in hopes he will like to work with me instead of this guy sucks.

2. I do think because his lack of training and pack structure is why he's a wild man and he has spent most of his life in the back yard no real exercise or useful stimulation.

Sounds like you have a plan. I was mostly speaking from my own experience. When I adopted my GSD, she had been walked on a prong but not trained with it. I was surprised at how quickly she learned that I wasn't gonna be pulled down the street like her previous owners had allowed.
It wasn't long before she earned the long line and recognized not to pull on it, either. This is not to say that she's not allowed to forge ahead; she keeps the line taut, but she shan't lean into it (I don't discourage a tight line because we will start tracking soon).
I was also afraid of scarring her image of me, but her confidence actually grew as she learned and practiced better behavior.
Keep up the good work.

I'm guessing the beautiful sable dog pic in your posts is the dog your referring to, love sables. Good to hear of the progress you made.
I did find a leash on our walk and tied the 2 together and he didn't seem to pull as much but he may have just been tired already?
I also have a 100ft line to use in unfenced ares so I always have control.

Quick update with Troy I've been getting him out every weekend and can say he loves it. I see a little improvement on our walk/jogs he's not pulling as bad and I can now get him to sit calmly before putting on harness & leash and before crossing the streets.
The first time out he was a complete spazz at the door and pulled like a John Deer tractor.
I purchased a no pull harness that I think helps a little but not sure you can call it no pull, at least with Troy but maybe my adjustment is off.