Leash-Pulling Prevention: Tips for Discouraging Your Dog’s Tugging Habit

My dog Remy pulls on the leash like so many others!

It will always be work in progress. I spend a lot of time working on “heel”, and walking with a loose leash. I wanted to share some tips with you on how to stop a dog from pulling.

Here are some tips that worked for me and my strong puller.

If your dog pulls at the lead, you should know that it is a common problem. This is normal dog behavior.

How to stop your dog pulling on the leash

We have to be patient, consistent and persistent to teach our children not to pull. So, don’t give up!

1. Find a collar to make your dog’s extreme pulling less severe

You know that people have strong opinions and emotions about training tools. You have to ignore it all and focus on what you find effective.

I don’t care what training collar you choose. You need to feel comfortable with the collar and it should allow you to control your dog safely without harming him.

Options for training collars to reduce a dog’s tendency to pull on a leash:

• Gentle leader or Head collar
• No-pull harness (leash clips on the front of the dogs)
• Herm Sprenger prong neck collar
• Martingale Collar (for less extreme Pullers)

2. Use one collar for training, and another for “fun walks”

Dogs can recognize specific “gear”, depending on the situation. I use a training harness and collar for “fun” walks.

I have a 63 pound weimaraner that pulls really hard when he gets the chance. While we are working on Training, I use either a gentle leader or prong-collar.

He also wears an EasyWalk harness with no-pull on walks that are “fun”, where we don’t work on training. When I just want to go out for an hour, get some exercise or hike a trail.

It gives me a little control, but I let him sniff it and go ahead when he is wearing it.

I recommend using a 6-foot leash instead of a retractable one for your walks. I prefer a simple 6ft leather leash, because it is easier to hold than nylon and lasts for years.

3. Motivate your employees with high-motivational treats

Hot dogs, cheese, or jerky are all good treats to train your dog not to pull when you’re out.

Indoors, there are fewer distractions and dogs will be less picky.

I mix it all together in a a href=”http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C1X5KMV?maas=maas_adg_73708075F26D84E1DDBD0F7A4CAE8259_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas”>treat pouch/a> and add some dry dog food. I put it all in a pouch, and then add some dry dogfood.

I use approximately 1/2 cup goodies for each 20-minute walk. You may need to reduce your dog’s food if you choose this route.

3. You can wear a treat pouch on your waist

Carry at least a ton of sweets in your pocket.

You’ll need to take along about a half cup worth of small treats when you begin training walks. This probably won’t fit into your pockets.

A treat pouch fits around your waist (yep, like a fanny pack!) So you can easily access treats. I give Remy treats-treats-treats when he walks with me.

The pouch is large enough to fit my entire hand, so I have easy access to treats at all times.

I give Remy treats when he looks at me and walks at my side. I use treats to lure Remy back when he pulls, or tries to get ahead. I stop, wait for him to come back or lure him.

4. Exercise heeling inside quite a bit

It was this that helped Remy. It was the third day that it clicked. We spent five minutes in the living area every day.

At first, I used a lead and popped treats in his mouth if he was at my side or made eye contact. I walked up and down the wall to limit his options. I then lured him to where I wanted him (my left).

I would have him sit down, and give him a treat. Take a step, make him sit down, and then give him a treat. Next, two steps. He picked it up really quickly.

It was the indoor practice that made all the difference. Remy finally seemed to “get” what we were trying to achieve.

You can practice in any room, including the basement, garage, or even the backyard. On weekday mornings, I prefer to practice in open parking lots such as those at churches.

5. Practice heeling while walking

The outdoors is where the challenge lies.

She told me to stop walking Remy if he was going to pull. She told me to do boring walks around the yard, or up and down your driveway at quiet times.

She’s right.

If you want your dog to stop pulling, you must take away his opportunities to do so. It’s a good idea to practice indoors until your dog gets the hang out. Start with “boring” areas outside before moving on to more exciting areas.

In the real world I will need to be able walk my weimaraner to exercise and for potty breaks. I do not have a fence around my yard. So a leash will be his only way to go outside.

I’m not perfect.

He pulls when I need to take my dog outside for a potty break. Our training is set back. Sometimes I want to be “normal”, and just check out of training, but he pulls. This is really bad. It sets back our training.

It’s why I use a special collar for training walks, and a different harness on our “checked-out” walks. I always try to maintain consistency.

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6. During walks, take a 5 minute break.

It is important to note that.

When you take your dog for a walk, ask him to stay at the heel for about 5 minutes. Then, use your release words – “Free!” and “Break!” to allow him to play, sniff, or move ahead for 30 seconds.

This is due to a number of reasons:

• Dogs are unable to pay attention for long periods of time
• This reminds you to take a break and have fun with !
• Heel is very difficult to them
• It is helpful if the children understand that “heel means “heel till I release you.”

Try rotating between heeling for five minutes and a quick break.

Stop your dog pulling with these tips

• Walk in zig-zags or figure-8s. Turn your body around.
• Working on obstacles or random obedience.
• Take it up a notch, jog, or run.
• Sign up for an obedience course.
• Try out different kinds of treats
• Try out different collars for training (prong collar, gentle leader, no-pull harness, etc.)

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Additional useful articles

• 13 Tips for Teaching Heel
• Training your dog to walk on a loose leash when they need exercise
• How to teach loose leash walking by Dr. Patricia McConnell

Click here to see all our training tips

Lindsay Stordahl founded That Mutt. She writes about training dogs, exercising them and feeding a raw diet.