Dog pulling on the lead? How to start making walks easier
You head out for a walk hoping for some fresh air together. A few minutes later, your arm is stretched out, your dog is heading towards every smell, and you are wondering why the treats worked so well at home.
If this sounds familiar, there are a few things you can change to make practice more manageable.
Loose lead walking is a skill you can build in small steps. Start somewhere easy, reward your dog often and gradually add distractions.
Why does my dog pull on the lead?
Sometimes, pulling gets your dog where they want to go. They lean into the lead, you follow, and they reach the tree, smell or dog they were heading towards. Over time, that pattern can become familiar.
Other dogs rush because they are excited, worried or finding the environment difficult. Before deciding what to practice, notice when the pulling happens.
Is it constant, or mainly when another dog appears? Can your dog respond to you in a quiet spot? Are they trying to get closer to something or move away?
Those details help you choose a useful starting point.
Start somewhere your dog can learn
A busy park can be a hard place to begin. Try your hallway, backyard or a quiet stretch of footpath first.
Use a comfortable, well-fitted harness and a standard lead, with small treats ready to hand. Choose a space where you can keep a little slack in the lead without letting your dog reach traffic or other hazards.
Begin with one or two steps together. You do not need to walk around the whole block to have a useful training session.
Reward the moments you want more of
Notice when your dog walks near you with a loose lead. Say “Yes”, then give them a treat beside your leg.
If your dog has not learned the marker word yet, start in a quiet place: say “Yes”, immediately give a treat, and repeat a few times. “Yes” tells them a reward is coming.
For your first walking practice:
Reward your dog for standing beside you.
Take one or two steps.
If the lead stays loose, say “Yes” and reward beside your leg.
Repeat a few times, then take a break.
Reward frequently at first. Waiting until you have reached the end of the street may be too much to ask.
Also notice when your dog chooses to look back at you. You can reward that check-in without calling their name first.
What should you do when the lead goes tight?
If it is safe, pause rather than continuing towards the thing your dog is pulling to reach. Avoid jerking the lead or dragging them back.
Encourage them towards you with a friendly voice. Once the lead is loose, try again with fewer steps before the next reward.
If you keep getting stuck, change something. Move to a quieter spot, take a break or make the exercise easier.
If your dog is pulling because they are frightened, help them move away to a comfortable distance. Staying still beside something scary is not the goal.
Make room for sniffing
Your dog does not need to stay beside your leg for the entire walk.
You might practice a few steps together, then say “Go sniff” and move with them towards a safe patch of grass while keeping the lead loose.
This gives you a way to include exploration in the walk. Save short periods of closer walking for places where you need them, such as passing a driveway or moving along a narrow footpath.
When private dog training can help
If you are unsure about timing, struggling around distractions or finding walks stressful, a private session gives us time to look at what is happening with your dog.
At Graceful Little Paws, I offer positive reinforcement private dog training for puppies, adolescent dogs and adult dogs across Melbourne’s inner north, including Preston, Reservoir, Thornbury, Northcote, Coburg and Brunswick.
We can work on practical walking skills, choose an easier starting point and put together a plan that fits your daily routine. You will also receive follow-up notes to guide your practice.
You do not need to have it figured out before asking for help.
Find out more about private dog training and book a session.