How to Stop a Dog Pulling on the Leash

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A dog that drags you from lamp post to lamp post is not being stubborn. Pulling works: the dog gets to the next smell faster. To stop it, you need to make pulling stop working and make walking near you pay off. This page covers the training methods behavior experts recommend, the tools that make it easier while you train, and the tools to avoid.

The short answer: reward your dog often for walking beside you on a loose leash, and stop moving every time the leash goes tight. Wait for slack, then reward and walk on. Be consistent, every single time. If your dog is big or strong, a front-clip harness or a head halter gives you more control while you train, but neither one teaches your dog on its own. Skip leash jerks, choke chains and prong collars.

How we wrote this: the methods below come from the UC Davis veterinary behavior service, Best Friends Animal Society and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), linked where they are used. If your dog lunges, growls or seems frightened on walks, that is more than a leash manners problem: UC Davis says dogs with fear, anxiety or aggression should see a veterinary behaviorist before leash training starts.

Why dogs pull

The UC Davis handout says the most common cause is simply a lack of training, and that breeds bred to pull, such as sled, working and tracking dogs, can be harder to train. AVSAB puts it from the dog’s side: pulling moves the dog forward to new smells, people and dogs, so every step at the end of a tight leash is a small reward. Best Friends adds that some dogs pull because they are reacting to something around them, while others have just never learned to walk on a loose leash.

Before you start

• Burn some energy first. Best Friends suggests a play session in the yard before training, because a tired dog focuses and learns more easily. UC Davis agrees, adding that training should not replace exercise.
• Check the collar or harness fit. Best Friends says a collar should be snug enough that your dog cannot pull out of it, with room for one or two fingers underneath. For harnesses, see how to measure a dog for a harness.
• Use a plain leash. Best Friends uses a 4 to 6 foot leash for this training.
• Start somewhere boring. Both Best Friends and UC Davis start indoors or in a quiet yard, then slowly add distractions.

How to stop your dog pulling: 4 methods

These can be combined. Most trainers use the first one all the time and add the others as needed.

1. Reward the loose leash

UC Davis starts with catching your dog doing it right: walk on leash in a quiet area, and give a treat when your dog has walked next to you for 2 steps. Then slowly increase the distance and the distractions. Best Friends says to reward your dog whenever it walks next to you or on a loose leash near you; praise, petting and attention count as rewards too. The more you reward, the more your dog will want to stay close.

2. Stop when the leash goes tight (“red light, green light”)

When your dog pulls, stop and stand still. UC Davis calls this the “tree method”: become an immovable object. As soon as the leash goes slack, praise your dog, give a quick treat and walk on (Best Friends).

Consistency is the whole trick. Best Friends points out that if you stop four times out of five, your dog learns that pulling still works sometimes, and keeps trying. Expect slow walks at first.

3. Turn and walk the other way

If your dog keeps pulling after you stop, turn and walk in the opposite direction. Your dog ends up behind you, and as it turns to follow you can reward it with praise and a treat (Best Friends). UC Davis says to reward as soon as you feel slack, and warns this can mean walks of only a few feet at the start, so be patient. Best Friends is clear: never yank the leash when you change direction.

4. Keep your dog guessing (“crazy walking”)

Best Friends also suggests lots of random changes of direction, so your dog gets used to watching you and moving with you instead of choosing the route.

Tools that help while you train

UC Davis says tools are just tools: dogs still need training to walk well on a leash. A tool that reduces pulling makes walks safer and calmer while you practice.

Front-clip harness

On a no-pull harness the leash clips to a ring on the chest. Best Friends says that when the dog pulls, its shoulders turn and forward momentum stops. Most dogs accept a harness easily, and Best Friends notes a harness may be the better choice for small dogs, dogs with past neck injuries and short-muzzled dogs. AVSAB also names front-attach harnesses as ideal for flat-faced dogs.

Options from our catalog include the PetSafe Easy Walk, the 2 Hounds Freedom (front and back rings), the rabbitgoo Classic and the non-tightening Blue-9 Balance. We compare them in our best dog harness for pulling guide.

Head halter

A head halter has a strap behind the ears and a loop around the muzzle, with the leash clipped under the chin. AVSAB says research has shown head halters reduce pulling while risking less damage to the neck and spine than chain collars. Best Friends says dogs can eat, drink, pant and bark in one, and that halters suit larger, stronger dogs. The PetSafe Gentle Leader is one example.

A head halter needs care:

• Most dogs paw at it at first. Best Friends suggests getting your dog moving and offering small treats to distract it from the halter, and UC Davis notes your dog may need time to get used to wearing one.
• Never jerk the leash on a head halter, because that can cause neck injuries (Best Friends).
• Fit it as the instructions say: the neck strap high, just behind the ears, and the nose loop tight enough that it cannot slide off.
• UC Davis notes people may mistake a head halter for a muzzle.

Whatever you use, do not leave a head halter or harness on your dog unsupervised, because your dog could catch it on something or chew it (Best Friends).

What to avoid

• Leash corrections. Best Friends says not to jerk or pop the leash or forcefully pull your dog the other way.
• Choke chains and prong collars. Best Friends says these can physically harm dogs, make pulling worse and make problems like lunging at other dogs worse. UC Davis notes both are difficult to use correctly and can cause neck injury if used improperly, and that a prong collar works by causing pain. It does not recommend punishment because it damages the bond with your dog.
• Retractable leashes while you train. Our view, not a quote from the sources above: if the leash gives your dog more line every time it pulls, pulling keeps paying off.

When to get help

If your dog lunges, barks or growls at other dogs or people, or seems scared on walks, talk to your vet and a veterinary behaviorist or a trainer who uses humane, reward-based methods. UC Davis says fear, anxiety and aggression need to be addressed separately before leash training. Sudden changes, like a dog that stops wanting to walk or seems sore, are a reason to see your vet.

For collars, leashes and harness fitting, see our leash, harness and carrier buying guide.

FAQ

How long does it take to stop a dog pulling?

It depends on the dog and how long the habit has lasted. Best Friends says a dog with a strong pulling habit may take a while to stop pulling even when you stand still. UC Davis says training can be a long process that needs consistency and perseverance.

Do no-pull harnesses actually work?

They reduce pulling for many dogs, but they are a tool, not training. Best Friends says a front-clip harness turns the dog’s shoulders and stops forward momentum when it pulls; UC Davis lists the downside that some dogs still pull. Pair the harness with the methods above.

Is a head halter or a harness better for pulling?

Best Friends says head halters suit larger, stronger dogs, while a harness may be better for small dogs, dogs with neck injuries and short-muzzled dogs. Most dogs accept a harness easily, while a head halter needs a slow introduction.

Should I use a prong or choke collar to stop pulling?

No. Best Friends advises avoiding them because they can hurt dogs and make pulling and reactivity worse, and UC Davis warns they can cause neck injury if used improperly.

Is it OK to let my dog sniff on walks?

Yes. The AKC says sniffing is rewarding and naturally calming for dogs and should be encouraged when teaching leash walking. You can use a chance to sniff as a reward for walking nicely on a loose leash.