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A dog who pulls on leash can make it hard to enjoy walks—for both you and your pup. Need a quick tip? The first best advice we learned is to walk faster. According to professional dog trainers, walking faster than your dog can motivate them to keep up with you instead of wandering or pulling on the leash.
In practice, walking ahead of your dogs keeps their attention on you and helps break the cycle of leash pulling in the moment. (Editor’s note: This tactic does not mean the alpha dog theory works.) For some dogs, walking ahead works because you got their attention. But for dogs who are young, with high prey drive, or poor socialization skills, you will need to work more slowly on slowly on long-term leash skills.
In this article, we’ll cover the types of pullers, why they pull, and expert-recommended training solutions. Weighing in are Alexandra Bassett, a certified professional dog trainer and behavior specialist at Dog Savvy in Los Angeles, and Karah Wilkes, a certified professional dog trainer and the director of training at ABCs Puppy Zs.
Get the Right Pre-Walk Routine and Equipment
If your dog is a regular leash puller, investing in the right equipment and establishing a pre-walk routine can help set you and your pup up for success.
1. Use no-pull gear
Choosing the right leash is key. The best leash to stop dog pulling is generally a short one, under six feet in length. Short leashes give you better control than a long or retractable leash, ensuring your dog is never so far away that you can’t quickly step in for safety or correction. Pairing these with a no-pull harness or head collar can help.
2. Exercise before you walk
According to Wilkes, the first few minutes of a walk are often the hardest. “Some dogs need help managing their excitement and releasing some energy before walking to be able to think and listen to cues,” she says.
For hyper pups and dogs easily distracted by scents on a walk, Wilkes recommends “a good sniffing session” or some simple enrichment just before the walk. Try tossing a few treats in the grass for your dog to find, or play a quick game of tug to work off a little energy.
3. Practice training cues at the door
Consider engaging your dog in a short training session before each walk. Refreshing their memory of cues like “heel” or “stay” can help, or even just a few repetitions of “look at me.”
Tips to Stop Leash Pulling On the Walk
Successful leash training relies on repetition. It may take some dogs longer than others to learn the rules, but being consistent makes a big difference.
Here are some simple tactics you can use during a walk to stop your dog from pulling on the harness or leash.
- Walk faster than your dog. If your dog is a constant puller, walking a little faster can help. It can calm down a high-energy dog and force your pup to focus on keeping up with you instead of pulling to get ahead.
- Don’t walk in a straight line. When you’re walking in a straight line, your dog will probably be pulling from in front of you. Quickly switching directions puts your dog behind you and forces them to keep up.
- Feed your dog when they are next to you. Offer your dog a high-value treat right when you start the walk and hold a few more in your hand so your dog can smell them. As you walk, give your dog a treat each time they look at you.
- Stop walking when your dog pulls. If you keep moving when your dog pulls, they learn that it’s a way to get what they want. Instead, stop and hold the leash firmly at your side. As soon as your dog moves toward you, resume walking.
- Reward your dog every time they check in with you. Even if you’re not working on specific cues with your dog, you can still reinforce desired behaviors. Offer a treat when your dog stops at an intersection, for example, or when they look at you instead of reacting to a trigger.
- Don’t your dog pull back. “Dogs have a natural instinct to resist pressure,” Bassett explains, “so when they feel tension on the leash, they pull harder.” If you pull back when your dog starts pulling, it triggers that opposition reflex and can turn the process into a game.
- End your walk early. You’re both more likely to become frustrated on a long walk, and you might not enforce discipline as consistently if you tire. It’s okay if you only make it to the end of the block at first.
Be aware of your dog’s attention span
One of the most important parts of training a dog not to pull on leash is knowing when to end a walk. When puppies go outside, for example, they will have with short attention spans. Don’t expect them to handle 30-minute walks at 16 weeks old.
The most effective tactic to stop dog pulling is the end the walk entirely and head back home. If you’ve wandered far from home, call a friend or partner to pick you up.
kzenon via iStock
Training Cues to Practice Gradually
The tips above won’t be effective unless your dog makes a clear connection between walking nicely on the leash and receiving a reward. Some dogs will pick up on the fact that they’re getting treats for walking calmly, but others need training cues to connect the dots.
These cues can be helpful to curb leash pulling:
- “Heel” teaches your dog to walk directly beside you. When your dog walks next to you instead of in front, they won’t be pulling on the leash. That lets you set the pace during your walks.
- “Look at me” directs your dog’s attention to you instead of something in the environment. If your dog is prone to darting off after squirrels, this cue lets you take control of the situation before there’s a problem.
- “Wait” signals a short hold before being released. (“Stay” is typically used for an extended hold, while “wait” is temporary.) You might ask your dog to “wait” when a distraction pops up, reminding them to keep their attention on you as you move forward.
- “Okay” gives your dog permission to release their hold. You can use whatever word makes sense to you, but pair it with “wait” in training so your dog understands it as an intentional release.
Putting the cues together
Here is how the cues will work in practice, but keep in mind that you will need to teach and practice each cue with your dog, without distractions, to help build a reliable response:
- Clip the leash on your dog, then ask them to “wait” while you open the front door. After a brief pause, you say “okay” to release your dog and step outside together.
- When your dog starts to pull ahead, say “heel” and reward them when they return and walk by your side.
- If another dog appears around the corner, you say “look at me” to redirect your dog’s attention. If your dog still seems eager to react, say “wait.”
- Once the distraction has passed or your dog calms down, you say “okay” and resume your walk.
Why Dogs Pull on the Leash — And How to Help
The trick to stopping or redirecting pulling is to figure out why your dog is doing it. Having an understanding of your dog’s motivations helps you customize your training sessions to address the issue quickly and effectively.
Here are some of the common reasons dogs pull on their leashes, plus what different types of leash pullers look like.
Excitement and eagerness
According to Bassett, some dogs simply can’t contain their excitement. These are the dogs that start pulling as soon as you clip on the leash and don’t let up until the walk is over.
“Dogs are eager to explore their surroundings,” says Bassett, “and pulling allows them to reach interesting sights and smells faster.”
Try: Picking up the pace of the walk and changing up your route each day. Frequently switching directions and rewarding them with a treat when they follow will also help build their focus on you than their surroundings.
Exploring smells
It’s not natural for dogs to walk in a straight line or at a leisurely pace—that’s something they learn through training, Wilkes explains.
A wandering dog might pull on the leash in response to an intriguing sight, smell, or sound. Some breeds just love to sniff—like German Shepherds, Beagles, and Labrador Retrievers. Others like Border Collies and Golden Retrievers have a strong prey drive.
Try: Adding dog-specific activities into your day. Teach your dog not to pull will be a lot easier if your dog has opportunities to use those instincts elsewhere. Good outlets are dog sports like flyball and lure coursing or focused training in scent work.
Scared or anxious
Leash-reactive dogs typically walk nicely until something triggers them—then they lunge and bark. Dog trainers often recommend walking leash-reactive dogs on a harness instead of a collar so you have greater control over their body. A no-pull harness that clips at the chest instead of the back is ideal. You can also try a head collar like a Gentle Leader.
Try: The first step in working with a leash-reactive dog is to learn their triggers. Your dog can’t help their reflexes, so it’s your job to avoid situations that might be triggering while you work on long-term desensitization training.
Puppy energy
“If a dog hasn’t been taught proper leash manners,” says Bassett, “they may not understand that pulling isn’t acceptable.” A puppy is the prime example of this type of leash puller.
Puppies and dogs who lack leash training may need to build up some foundational walking skills before they’re ready for the leash.
Try: Start with positive reinforcement training to teach your puppy to walk by your side in the house. Then get your puppy used to the leash and use short indoor walks to teach cues like “heel” or “wait” before you explore the neighborhood.
Zuberka via iStock
How Long Does It Take To Teach a Dog To Stop Pulling?
There are tricks to help calm your dog or regain control in certain situations, but the truth is leash training takes time. And the more consistent you are with your training, the better.
“Typically, you may see noticeable improvements within 4-6 weeks,” says Bassett. How quickly you can progress also depends on your dog’s temperament and how deeply ingrained the habit of leash pulling is.
For example, puppies and adult dogs who already have a foundation of basic obedience may respond quickly to leash training.
Reactive dogs, high-energy breeds, and adult dogs who are firmly set in their ways (like untrained rescue dogs) might require more training. These dogs may also require additional work to address the underlying cause of their leash-pulling behavior.
Training your dog can be challenging, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Consider looking up dog training classes in your area or talk to a professional dog trainer for more specialized advice.
