Pulling on the lead is the most common challenge UK dog owners report. It makes walks tiring, can hurt your shoulder, and puts pressure on your dog's neck. It isn't a sign your dog is trying to be the boss. It's just that people walk slowly, the world smells amazing, and pulling usually works.
Why dogs pull
- It gets them there. Every time pulling moves you forward, it's rewarded.
- Excitement. The start of a walk, or heading to the park, is the high point of the day.
- Our pace. Most dogs naturally move faster than we walk.
- Worry. Some dogs pull to get away from things, or to get home. This needs a different approach (see below).
Equipment
- Use a comfortable, well-fitted harness and a fixed lead of around 1.5 to 2 metres. Retractable leads teach dogs that pulling gets them more lead.
- Avoid anything that works by causing pain or discomfort, such as choke chains, prong collars and slip leads used to correct pulling. Electric shock collars are banned in England and Wales.
- Head collars and front-clip harnesses can help with strong dogs, but they're a management tool, not training on their own.
How to teach loose-lead walking
- Start indoors or in the garden, where there's little to pull towards. Reward your dog with a treat by your leg whenever they're next to you with the lead loose.
- Reward often at first, every few steps, then gradually less.
- Stop when the lead goes tight. Stand still and wait. The moment the lead slackens, carry on. Pulling should stop you, and a loose lead should move you forward.
- Or change direction. Turn and walk the other way cheerfully, and reward your dog when they catch up.
- Keep sessions short, five to ten minutes of focused practice, then let your dog sniff and relax.
- Let them sniff. Give permission to sniff (“go sniff”) as a reward for walking nicely. Sniffing is calming and tiring for dogs.
On days when you can't train, such as when you're in a hurry, use a different setup (for example a front-clip harness). Keep your usual harness for practice walks, so your dog learns that on that harness, pulling never works.
When to get help
An Animal Training Instructor can help in a class or 1:1, and many offer loose-lead walking sessions. Speak to your vet if your dog coughs or gags when pulling, seems sore, or if pulling started suddenly.
If your dog pulls and lunges at other dogs or people, that's often reactivity rather than excitement. See our reactive dog guide. For pulling driven by fear, your vet can refer you to a Clinical Animal Behaviourist or Accredited Animal Behaviourist, who only see clients on veterinary referral (ABTC). Our guide to who can help with pulling and recall explains the roles.
Recall a problem too? See recall training.