Why Does My Dog Pull on the Lead? (And How to Stop It)
- Brad Pattison
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Why does my dog pull on the lead?
Most dogs pull on the lead because it works for them.
Pulling gets them:
Where they want to go faster
Closer to smells, dogs, and people
More stimulation than walking next to you
It’s not stubbornness, dominance, or “bad behaviour” — it’s a training gap.
Common reasons dogs pull on walks
1. Walks are too slow, Outside is full of smells, movement, and distractions. If your dog hasn’t been taught how to stay calm, pulling is the default.
2. They were never taught lead skills properly Many dogs are walked on harnesses every day but never trained how to walk on a loose lead. Harnesses are designed to encourage a dog to pull. There is no truth to "anti-pull harness"
3. Tension creates more pulling When the lead goes tight, dogs naturally push against it — it’s a reflex. Testing who is in control.
4. Inconsistent rules Sometimes pulling is allowed, sometimes it’s not. Dogs don’t understand “sometimes”.
How to stop your dog pulling on the lead
Start with these steps:
Praise calm walking with touch not food. Your dog needs to learn that staying close = good things.
Change the speed of the walk. Fast, slow walks with obstacles introduced decrease pulling. Calm slow pace = failure due to lack of stimuli.
Practice in high-distraction areas first. Training starts any where and all the time, home or streets, cafe's — and parks.
Be consistent every walk. If pulling works even once, your dog will keep trying.
When pulling doesn’t improve
If your dog:
Pulls harder over time
Becomes reactive on walks
Ignores you completely outside
…it’s a sign that professional help will save you time and stress.
Need real-world help?
If lead pulling is making walks frustrating or embarrassing, working with a professional dog trainer can make a huge difference.
At Hustle Up Dog Training, we specialize in practical, real-life training that fits around busy owners. We offer 1-to-1 dog training in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster to help you enjoy walks again.
Author of PUPPY Book and TV Host of Puppy SOS
Hustle Up Dog Training and Board and Train
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