Why does my dog pull so much? The honest answer is uncomfortable: because it has worked so far. Every time he pulled and got where he wanted, to the bush, to the other dog, to the exciting corner, he learned: pulling gets me where I want to go.
That is not dominance, not stubbornness, not a character flaw. It is logic. And that is exactly why it can be changed. But only once you know the five mistakes that build pulling in a little more firmly every day.
Mistake 1: The lead becomes a habit, not a connection
Most of us hold the lead like a shopping bag. Tight, because the dog is out in front, and at some point you stop noticing the tension. So does the dog. A tight lead is normal for him. The first step is therefore not a trick but attention: feel when the lead is loose, and say something friendly at exactly that moment. Not when he pulls, but when he does not pull. Many dogs never get this information.
Mistake 2: The jerk
Jerking the lead has a long tradition and a short effect. The dog learns: when I am close to my human, it sometimes hurts. That does not make him more attentive, just faster. He wants to get away from the jerk, forwards. With collars there is also the risk of damage to the larynx and the cervical spine. So: harness instead of collar, and the lead stays information, not punishment.
Mistake 3: Pulling gets rewarded without you noticing
Your dog pulls towards the meadow. You go along, because you wanted to go there anyway. Your dog pulls towards another dog. You let him go, because otherwise he gets so worked up. Both are a reward for pulling. The only rule that really helps: if the lead pulls tight, you do not move on. You stop, without a word, and wait until the lead goes loose. Then you carry on. It is boring, takes forever in the first week and is the reason most people give up. Those who stick with it have a different dog after three weeks.
Mistake 4: Too little brain work before the walk
A dog who has spent two hours on the sofa and then steps out the door is a firework with fur. Expecting a loose lead from a dog like that is unfair. Five minutes of nose work before the walk, hiding treats in the living room, a Kong, a short search game, calm the mind. The first hundred metres get more relaxed, and they are the decisive ones.
Mistake 5: Always the same route, always the same pace
Dogs often pull because they know what is coming. The way to the meadow is always the same, so off we go. Change direction. Stop unexpectedly. Take three steps back when he pushes forward. That makes you interesting. A dog who does not know what his human will do next pays attention. And a dog who pays attention does not pull.
The plan for the next three weeks
- Week 1: Just observe and reward. Every loose lead gets a word and a treat every few metres. Pulling: stop, wait, carry on. Walks are allowed to be shorter.
- Week 2: Changes of direction. As soon as he pushes forward, you turn around and walk off in the other direction, in a friendly way. If he comes up beside you: praise, then continue in the original direction.
- Week 3: The tricky spots. Now you practise where it has always escalated so far. Other dogs, the corner with the cats, the way to the car. Lots of distance, lots of rewards, short sessions.
When you should get help
If your dog does not just pull on the lead but barks, growls or lunges into the lead as soon as another dog appears, that is not a lead problem but lead aggression or frustration. It can be trained, but not with this article. Find a dog school that works without punishment and listens to you instead of selling you a collar.
If you are just starting out with a young dog and would rather prevent pulling than train it away, you will find how to build lead manners from the very beginning in Welpenerziehung & Junghundtraining (Puppy Training & Young Dog Training, German edition).
An honest ending
There is no dog who walks perfectly on the lead after three days. But there is a difference between week one and week four, and it is bigger than most people expect. It is not down to the dog. It is down to whether you are ready to be consistently boring for three weeks. Your back, your shoulder and your dog will thank you.
The upward glance on a loose lead is hard to capture and exactly why it makes a good subject. On acrylic glass the eyes come out most clearly, and you see the preview before anything is printed.
Keep reading
- Puppy training: the 5 rules: why commands fail before they arrive
- Teaching your dog to stay home alone: the other topic that needs early practice
- Why a quarter of all Labradors are hungry all the time: a breed where everyday life tips over particularly often
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