Why train it?
To spare your arms and your dog’s trachea. It is not fun or safe for you to have a dog take you for a walk, and pulling while wearing a collar can actually damage your dog’s throat. Since our dogs spend most of their time outside on-leash, training them to walk without pulling is better for everyone.

Why do dogs pull?
To get to whatever is out ahead: Great smells, other dogs, open spaces, fun and adventure. Pulling gets dogs to what they want faster. As a strategy, it works. This is why it is best to teach dogs loose-leash walking as early as possible. Pulling is rewarding to the dog, so the more he does it, the harder it is for him to give it up. If you have an expert puller, however, don’t despair. Any dog can be taught loose-leash walking.

How to train it:

Step 1: Your dog learns to stand calmly next to you without pulling away.

• Load one hand with treats.
• Praise and treat when your dog is calm and/or looking at you.
• If your dog pulls away from you, don’t yank the leash and don’t reel him back in. Stand still and wait until he returns to you. If he is very distracted, call his name or tap your thigh repeatedly.
• When he comes back to you, praise and treat.

Step 2: Your dog learns to stay close to you while walking.

• With your dog standing calmly next to you, say his name and, “Let’s go.”
• Praise and treat after the first step, as long as your dog doesn’t dash forward.
• Keep walking and praise/treat every other step.
• Gradually increase the number of steps in between rewards.
• If your dog starts pulling, stop and wait until there is some slack in the leash again. Then take a step with him and reward him quickly for walking near you.
• Keep him guessing. Sometimes reward after 1 step, sometimes after 5, then again after 2, then after 7.

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If your dog isn't interested in taking treats, read our article on how you can increase your dogs motivation for toy and food rewards.

Need us to show you how?

It could also be that your dog is afraid of something in the environment or is in pain. If this is the case, then read our article about Fearful and Shy Dogs.

Alternatively, check out these videos on how some of the industries best train their dogs to walk nicely on lead.