Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes

Why does my dog pull so much? The honest answer is uncomfortable: because it has worked so far. Every time pulling got your dog to the bush, the other dog or the interesting corner, it taught the same lesson: pulling takes me where I want to go.

This is not dominance, defiance or a character flaw. It is logic. That is exactly why it can change, but first you need to recognise the five mistakes that reinforce pulling a little more every day.

Mistake 1: The lead becomes a habit rather than a connection

Most of us hold the lead like a shopping bag. It stays tight because the dog is ahead, and eventually we stop noticing the tension. So does the dog. A tight lead becomes normal. The first step is therefore attention rather than a trick: feel when the lead is loose and say something kind at that exact moment. Not when your dog pulls, but when they do not. Many dogs never receive that information.

Mistake 2: Jerking the lead

Lead jerks have a long history and a short-lived effect. The dog learns that being near their person sometimes hurts. That makes them faster rather than more attentive. They want to escape the jerk by moving forwards. On a collar, a jerk can also put strain on the larynx and the cervical spine. Use a harness rather than a collar, and let the lead convey information rather than punishment.

Mistake 3: Rewarding pulling without realising

Your dog pulls towards the meadow. You go along, because you wanted to go there anyway. Your dog pulls towards the other dog. You let him go over, because otherwise he gets so worked up. Both are a reward for pulling. A rule that helps many teams: if the lead is tight, you don't move on. You stop, without a word, and wait until the lead goes slack. Then you carry on. It is boring, takes forever in the first week and is the reason many people give up. Many teams notice a clear difference after a few weeks of practice. How quickly it happens varies from dog to dog.

Mistake 4: Too little mental activity before the walk

A dog that has spent two hours on the sofa before stepping outside is a firework in fur. Expecting loose-lead walking from that dog is unfair. Five minutes of scent work before the walk, hiding treats in the living room, a Kong or a short search game, settles the mind. The first hundred metres often become calmer as a result, and they frequently set the tone for the rest of the walk.

Mistake 5: The same route and pace every time

Dogs often pull because they know what is coming. The route to the field is always the same, so off they go. Change direction. Stop unexpectedly. Take three steps back when your dog pushes ahead. This makes you interesting. A dog that does not know what their person will do next looks at you more often. And in the moments when they look at you, they usually pull less.

A practice plan for the first weeks

The three weeks are a framework for practice, not a target your dog has to reach by a deadline. Stay with one step for as long as you both need it.

1. Week 1: Just observe and reward. Every loose lead gets a word of praise, plus a treat every few metres. Pulling: stop, wait, continue. Walks can be shorter.
2. Week 2: Changes of direction. As soon as your dog pushes ahead, turn around and go kindly in the other direction. When they come beside you, praise and continue in the original direction.
3. Week 3: The difficult spots. Now practise where things have mostly been difficult so far: other dogs, the corner with the cats, the route to the car. Plenty of distance, plenty of rewards and short sessions.

When to seek help

If your dog does more than pull, barking, growling or lunging whenever another dog appears, this is lead aggression or frustration rather than a simple walking problem. Training can help, but this article is not enough. Find a training school that works without punishment and listens to you rather than selling you a collar.

If you are just starting with an adolescent dog and would rather prevent pulling than undo it later, find a step-by-step approach to loose-lead walking in Welpenerziehung & Junghundtraining (book in German).

An honest final word

There is no dog that walks perfectly on the lead after three days. With calm, regular practice, most dogs get better week by week. Some need longer, and if there is no progress despite practice, a reward-based dog trainer can help. That is not failure but the quicker route. Your back, your shoulder and your dog will thank you for it.

That upward glance on a loose lead is difficult to capture, which makes it a lovely portrait subject. Acrylic glass brings out the eyes most clearly, and you see the preview before printing.

Loose-lead walking begins in puppyhood. If you are just starting, the free Puppy Starter Pack includes three exercises a week for the first month.

Further reading

• Puppy training: the 5 rules: why cues fail before they get through
• Teaching your dog to stay alone: the other skill to practise early
• Why a quarter of all Labradors are always hungry: a breed whose daily routine particularly often gets out of balance

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