Walking your puppy should be a joyous experience, a time for bonding and exploration. However, for many puppy parents, it quickly turns into a frustrating tug-of-war. The common challenge of “How To Stop Puppies From Pulling On Leash” is a frequent concern, transforming pleasant strolls into stressful struggles. Nobody enjoys being dragged down the street, and with a larger or energetic puppy, this pulling can even lead to injuries for both of you. Beyond the physical discomfort, leash pulling can make walks less enjoyable and even unsafe for your furry companion, potentially leading to encounters with other dogs or unexpected hazards. Learning the best way to leash train a puppy is essential for a harmonious relationship and safe outdoor adventures.
While leash pulling is a widespread issue among dogs of all ages, it’s particularly common with puppies still learning the ropes of the world. The good news is that with consistent effort, simple techniques, and a shift in your own walking habits, you can teach your puppy appropriate leash behavior. Instead of your puppy walking you, you’ll soon be enjoying cooperative, loose-leash walks together. Here are 10 expert tips to guide you.
1. Always Reward Good Leash Behavior
It’s easy to overlook good behavior, but never take your puppy’s polite leash walking for granted. Puppies, like all dogs, are more likely to repeat behaviors that are rewarded. A reward could be anything your puppy values: a tasty treat, enthusiastic praise, a gentle pet, or even the chance to stop and sniff something interesting. If you only focus on correcting what your puppy does wrong and fail to acknowledge their good efforts, they may resort to less desirable behaviors to get your attention or what they want.
Whenever your puppy walks with a loose leash, be sure to reinforce that behavior immediately. Carry high-value treats on walks and be ready with positive verbal affirmations or physical affection. Don’t be shy about rewarding them, especially in the early stages of training. Let your puppy know you appreciate their calm and cooperative attitude. Initially, reward heavily and frequently. As your puppy’s skills improve and their loose-leash walking becomes more consistent, you can gradually reduce the frequency of food rewards, substituting them with “life rewards” like a brief sniff of a tree trunk or a quick, calm greeting with another dog.
2. Never Let Your Puppy Walk When They Are Pulling
The primary reason your puppy pulls is to get where they want to go faster. If you allow them to continue moving forward while they are pulling, you are inadvertently rewarding the very behavior you’re trying to stop. This teaches them that pulling is effective in achieving their goal, which will only make the leash pulling worse over time. Therefore, the cardinal rule is simple: never walk when your puppy is pulling on the leash.
The moment your puppy starts to pull, stop immediately. Plant your feet firmly and become a “tree.” Do not move again until the tension on the leash loosens. Your puppy will eventually turn back to you, look up, or simply relax the leash as they wonder why you’ve stopped. This teaches them directly that pulling stops forward momentum, while a loose leash allows the walk to continue. This technique is fundamental for how to stop a puppy from pulling on lead.
Two Basenji dogs meeting in an outdoor field, one on a leash, demonstrating social interaction.
3. Wait for a Loose Leash Before You Walk
Once you’ve stopped because your puppy pulled, how do you know when it’s okay to start walking again? The key is to wait for a completely slack leash. The leash should hang in a gentle J-shape, indicating no tension. Crucially, your puppy should also turn their attention back to you. In the beginning, this might take a minute or two, and your puppy might try various tactics to get you moving. Be patient and wait.
Eventually, your puppy will look back or walk towards you to see what’s happening. At this precise moment, offer praise and a treat right by your side, then immediately resume walking. You might find yourself stopping and starting every few steps initially, but your puppy will quickly learn the connection: pulling makes the walk halt, while a relaxed leash allows it to proceed. This consistent approach is vital to teaching effective loose-leash walking.
4. Incorporate Life Rewards on Your Walk
Walks should be much more than just a potty break; they are enriching experiences that provide physical exercise and mental stimulation for your puppy. When you’re actively training your puppy not to pull, it can sometimes feel like these enriching elements are put on hold. To enhance your training and make walks more enjoyable for your puppy, integrate “life rewards” for good behavior. Life rewards are everyday things your puppy naturally enjoys, such as the chance to sniff a bush, investigate a patch of grass, or calmly greet a friendly stranger.
For instance, if your puppy walks politely for a short distance (say, 10 feet) without pulling, release them with a verbal cue like “Go sniff!” and allow them a few minutes of exploration. These bonus rewards will strongly reinforce the idea that good leash manners lead to greater freedom and enjoyment, proving to your puppy that walking politely truly pays off. This strategy reinforces the lessons on [how to get dog not to pull on lead](https://dogcarestory.com/how to get dog not to pull on lead/).
5. Walk at a Good Pace
Often, human walking paces are far too slow for an energetic puppy. Even smaller breeds can get their little legs moving much faster than a leisurely human stroll. This discrepancy in desired speed is a significant reason why puppies pull—they want to get going and explore! To help your puppy feel more engaged and less inclined to pull, choose a walking pace that is comfortable and brisk for both of you.
While you can certainly teach your puppy to match your specific speed, adopting a quicker, more purposeful pace during training can make it easier for them to learn not to pull on the leash. A faster pace can keep them more focused and less likely to fall behind or surge ahead, making the overall training process more effective and enjoyable for both of you.
A Beagle puppy pulling on its leash to sniff the ground during an outdoor walk, illustrating common pulling behavior.
6. Be Consistent With Your No-Pulling Rule
Consistency is paramount in all puppy training, and it’s especially critical when teaching them not to pull on the leash. It can be incredibly tempting to let your puppy pull sometimes—perhaps you’re in a hurry to get to work, or it’s freezing outside and you just want them to do their business quickly. However, every time you allow your puppy to pull, even “just this once,” you undermine all the progress you’ve made, essentially setting your training back to square one.
Your puppy needs to understand that the “no-pulling” rule applies in every situation, without exception. Until you can consistently achieve loose-leash walking for more than a few feet, it’s best to let your puppy relieve themselves in the yard or directly at the curb. Reserve your actual walks for dedicated training sessions where you have ample time and patience to reinforce the loose-leash rule, ensuring every step reinforces the desired behavior.
7. Keep Training Sessions Short and Fun
Working with a determined puppy who loves to pull can be frustrating. In the initial stages, you might find that you don’t make it much further than the end of your driveway before needing to stop and restart. Instead of pushing your puppy until both of you are feeling cranky and demotivated by a lack of perceived progress, it’s far more effective to keep training sessions short, frequent, and upbeat.
Puppies, in particular, have very short attention spans, and asking for too much too soon will likely lead to frustration and diminish positive results. Remember, your ultimate goal isn’t to cover a certain distance; it’s to achieve a loose leash, even if that means only walking calmly to the house next door and back. End sessions on a high note and make them feel like a game to keep your puppy engaged and eager for the next lesson.
8. Be Interesting and Engaging on Walks
For your puppy, the world is a magnificent place, teeming with new sights, captivating sounds, and an irresistible symphony of smells. All these elements constantly compete for your puppy’s attention, making it incredibly tempting for them to drag you towards the next exciting discovery. If you’re distracted by your phone, lost in thought, or otherwise ignoring your puppy, there’s little incentive for them to pay attention to you.
However, if you make yourself interesting and worth watching, your puppy will be far more likely to follow your lead. Talk to your puppy, offer sudden changes in direction, take quick training breaks for a “sit” or “stay,” or even initiate a brief game. By being unpredictable and engaging, you teach your puppy to stay tuned into you, always waiting to see what exciting thing you might do next, which helps maintain their focus and reduce pulling.
A calm Cavalier King Charles Spaniel walking on a leash outdoors, demonstrating polite leash manners.
9. Stay Calm
Walks can bring you and your puppy face-to-face with a myriad of emotional situations, whether it’s the excitement of seeing a favorite neighbor or the apprehension caused by an approaching, barking dog. Regardless of whether a situation is thrilling or frightening for your puppy (and you), it’s crucial that you maintain control over your own emotions. Puppies are remarkably adept at reading human emotions, and your mood can easily transmit down the leash.
Your anxiety or excitement can ramp up your puppy’s own emotional state, intensifying their fears or over-excitement, making them more prone to pulling. To help your puppy remain calm and focused, you must stay calm yourself. Project a relaxed demeanor, showing your puppy that there’s nothing to be overly excited or worried about. A relaxed puppy is far more likely to listen to your cues and behave appropriately. This is also key for the best way to stop your dog pulling on the lead.
10. Engage Your Puppy In Distracting Situations
When faced with enticing distractions like other dogs, squirrels, or even unfamiliar people, it’s very easy for your puppy to forget all their leash manners and revert to pulling. Similarly, if your puppy finds something suspicious or alarming—perhaps a stranger makes them nervous—they might pull intensely either to approach or to flee in the opposite direction. In these moments, all the loose-leash training can momentarily go out the window.
To help your puppy navigate these challenging situations, proactively redirect their focus to you. Before they even fully register the distraction, calmly offer them a series of treats or engage them in a simple, familiar game. Ask for a “sit,” a “hand target,” or practice their “watch me” cue to make eye contact. These simple exercises are easy for your puppy to perform and will keep them mentally engaged with you as the distraction passes. By being proactive and grabbing your puppy’s attention before they’re overwhelmed, you can help them maintain their focus and good behavior.
Consistent training and patience are key to teaching your puppy polite leash manners. By implementing these tips, you’ll transform challenging walks into enjoyable adventures for both you and your furry companion. For more personalized guidance and expert advice on puppy training questions, explore the resources available on Dog Care Story.
