My Dog Pulls on the Lead — How Do I Fix It?

We all know how annoying it is to go out for a walk with our dog and have them start constantly tugging on the lead — not only can this hurt us, but they can also hurt themselves. If our dog pulls on the lead, it could be down to several factors, from fear of noises or other dogs, to anxiety or excess excitement.

Knowing the reason behind the pulling matters so we can fix it, so we're going to explain everything very simply, so that within a few weeks, you can correct this behaviour and walk your dog happily.

Dogs Who Pull a Lot on Walks

Even if you've tried everything and think your dog is a lost cause, let us guide you and follow our advice. You'll see how, within a few weeks, walking your dog will become an entirely rewarding experience, with no more lead pulling.

The first thing we need to do is watch our dog to work out why they pull so much on the lead — some dogs do it out of fear, others out of excitement or anxiety. Identifying the problem is very simple with this advice:

• Lead pulling from fear: If your dog pulls on the lead when they see other dogs or people, when they hear noises from cars or building works, or when they see a strange object along your usual route, your dog is pulling on the lead out of fear. You'll also notice they tuck their tail between their legs, a hugely telling sign in canine language pointing to fear.
• Lead pulling from anxiety or stress: If your dog starts pulling on the lead as soon as you leave the house and keeps pulling constantly throughout the whole walk, your dog has anxiety or stress, and what we need to do is calm them down to eliminate that anxiety.

We're going to explain in depth the steps to follow to fix this kind of problem — remember you'll need to practise this advice daily, consistently, for it to take effect. Usually within two or three weeks we'll be able to see results.

Pulling When They See Another Dog

One of the most common cases of lead pulling is when a dog spots another dog they don't get on with, or conversely, one they get on so well with that they want to rush straight over to say hello, tugging on the lead accordingly.

Whether they get on well or badly, what we need to do is move to one side of the path and tell our dog to sit. We need to stay next to them, calmly, until the other dog either comes over or passes by.

Obviously, if they don't get on with the other dog, we should ask the other dog's owner, even if they pass along the path, not to let their dog come near ours. On the other hand, if they get on well, once the other dog reaches us, we can let them sniff and greet each other, essential for a dog's socialisation.

We'll do this exercise as many times as needed, every day. This way our dog will gradually calm down and stop pulling on the lead when they see another dog.

Pulling From Fear of Noises or People

The first thing we need to know is dogs are able to sense our mood — if we're nervous, our dog will pick up on it and think "why is my human nervous?" They'll link it to a possible danger, and as a result, our dog will get nervous too. So staying calm at all times is essential.

If our dog pulls on the lead out of fear, what we need to do is help them overcome that fear. Let's imagine they're afraid of car noise — if we walk them along a very busy street, they'll have a genuinely hard time.

Even so, if we walk along quieter streets, they'll be calmer. What we need to do is look for streets with less car noise (but where some cars still pass), play with our dog and distract them (even with food) so they get used to hearing noises. Gradually, over the following days, we'll walk along increasingly busy streets while still distracting them with games or food.

The trick is getting their mind off the noise and onto something else. This way they can get used to the noise and overcome their fear. With this, the lead pulling will stop. You can even, while playing with them at home, play a video or MP3 with traffic noise, keeping it quiet at first and gradually raising the volume over the following days.

Lead Pulling and Choking

If your dog isn't afraid of other dogs or noises but won't stop pulling on the lead, even to the point of choking from the force they use, what your dog has is anxiety or stress. It's possible your dog needs to go out more often to relieve themselves, or needs exercise to burn off all their excess energy.

Dogs with separation stress often develop anxiety as a regular behaviour, so that when they go outside, they're constantly anxious and pulling on the lead. Something as uncomfortable for your dog as it is for you.

The best approach in these cases is to increase the number of daily walks, exercise with your dog so they burn off their excess energy, and above all, treat the anxiety with relaxation techniques.

• Don't excite your dog before going out for a walk with cheering or games — let them be entirely calm before leaving, and once you go out, do it calmly and with no fuss (no "let's go for a walk!!" or similar).
• Stay calm at all times — if you're nervous, in a rush, or feeling anxious yourself, your dog will get nervous too, and as a result, will pull a lot on the lead.
• Stop when needed — if your dog is excessively excited and it's not because they're urinating or need to defecate… that is, it's not because you only take them out once a day (something you should never do), try to calm them down. Get them to sit, lie down, and stay still with them for a while until they relax.

How Do I Correct Them if They Pull on the Lead?

The first thing is identifying the root of the problem by following the steps above — once you've identified the problem and fixed it, the dog should stop pulling on the lead, but if not, here's some advice to put into practice.

When your dog pulls on the lead, change direction — if you're walking along the pavement or a path and they give you a tug, automatically change direction and start walking the other way. The dog will move back to the front and tug again — you should change direction as many times as needed.

You can also practise the stop technique — when your dog pulls on the lead, stop dead and tell them to come to your side and sit. Wait a minute and carry on the walk — stop and tell them to sit next to you as many times as they tug.

Play the zigzag game so they stay focused on you — if you zigzag between trees, lampposts or benches, your dog will pay more attention to you to avoid getting tangled, which will also stop them tugging.

Special Collars for Preventing Tugging

There are special collars and harnesses for dogs who pull a lot — they're not the solution, since we need to work with the dog to fix this behaviour, but they're highly recommended, since the tugging is much gentler and won't hurt our arm or shoulder as much.

There are special collars that hold part of the dog's muzzle, so when the dog pulls on the lead, the collar itself makes them lower their muzzle and slow down. This isn't a collar that hurts the dog — it's not a choke collar or anything similar, it's simply a collar that helps make their tugging less intense.

On another note, there are harnesses attached at the front, in front of their chest, which fold in a little when the dog tugs, putting pressure on the dog's shoulder and front legs. This kind of harness also causes no harm or pain to the dog, and greatly softens the intensity of the tugging.