How to Stop a Dog From Pulling on the Leash

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Shell & KatyUpdated 16 September 2026 · 7 Min Read

Shell & Katy are two style-savvy dog mums celebrating the best in pet-friendly living. A pet photographer and dog lifestyle writer, together they share trending pet products, recipes, inspiration and expert tips with discerning dog lovers around the world.

Many people think Ziggy was named after Bowie's flashy alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust. Sadly the truth is far less rock-and-roll! Ziggy was a zig-zagger from the get-go, and our walks involved him darting from one side of the path to the other, with a level of enthusiasm our shoulder joints weren't prepared for. Thankfully Ziggy grew out of his zig-zagging phase, but his tendency to pull on his leash? Not so much. As walking on a leash should be something we enjoy doing together, we decided to correct his pulling for good.

By following these 7 simple tips by professional dog trainer Steffi Trott, owner and founder of SpiritDog Training, we've seen a big improvement in Ziggy's walking and pulling on the leash (now, if someone could just tell Ziggy the neighborhood cats are not out to get him...!) If your dog is a puller and you'd like to make your walks together a fun and stress-free experience, read Steffi's 7 easy-to-follow tips below to learn how to stop a dog from pulling on the leash for good.

Why Dogs Pull on the Leash

Pulling Gets Them Where They Want to Go

Dogs walk faster than we do, the world is full of fascinating smells, and a dog who has waited at home all day has energy to burn. Every time pulling gets them closer to that lamppost, the behavior is rewarded, so it happens again.

Stress, Fear or Leash Reactivity

Some dogs only pull when they spot another dog or hear a loud noise. That pulling usually comes from fear or frustration, and our guide to training a reactive dog explains how to handle it.

Training a Dog Not to Pull on the Leash: 7 Trainer Tips

To stop a dog pulling on the leash, stop walking or change direction the moment the leash goes tight, and reward your dog with a treat and praise whenever the leash stays loose by your side. Use a standard 6-foot leash instead of a retractable one, burn off some energy before training, and practice in short, frequent sessions. Consistency matters more than anything else.

1. Use the Right Leash for a Dog That Pulls

Teaching your dog to walk well on leash starts with using the right leash. Do not use retractable leashes for dogs that pull, because they teach your dog that by pulling, he gets to go where he wants! You should also not use an extra short leash. Some pet stores sell leashes as short as 3 feet. This length makes it impossible for the dog to not pull. The best leash for leash walking practice is a standard 6 foot leash.

2. Don't Practice Leash Walking With a Wound-Up Dog

In order to do well during your walks, your dog should not be too wound up. If he has been waiting in his crate for you to come home all day, he needs some time to run and romp before going on a walk. Whenever possible, give your pup some other form of exercise first, such as playing fetch in the yard, letting him run around with a doggy friend, playing a game of tug, or trying one of these fun ways to mentally stimulate your dog.

3. Grab Some Treats to Reward Loose Leash Walking

Dogs learn best by being rewarded for what they are doing right (rather than being reprimanded for doing things wrong). If you are struggling with your dog's leash manners, you should always leave the house with treats, and a good dog treat pouch keeps them right where you need them.

You can give some to your dog as soon as you step outside the door, so he will know that you have something great to offer in exchange for good manners! The more often you reward your dog for standing by your side, the better. You can even do this inside your house. Just 5 minutes spent giving your dog treats for being next to you in your living room will go a long way towards building value for this behavior.

4. Turn Around When Your Dog Pulls

If your dog is pulling while walking, the best thing you can do is to turn around. A dog who pulls does so because he wants to keep on going and going and going. And the best way to interrupt and correct this behavior is to not allow him to keep on going when he tugs on the leash.

In the beginning, this might mean that you are turning around essentially the entire time. Perhaps you do not actually make it further than 30 feet in each direction before having to turn again! That is completely normal. Be consistent. The better you react to pulling with turning, the faster your dog will understand that pulling does not work anymore.

5. Practice Leash Training Often

Leash pulling is a very ingrained behavior for many dogs. If your pup has pulled on the leash for weeks, months or even years, do not expect this to be changed in a single training session. You need to make up for all the times your dog rehearsed the bad behavior by providing many training sessions of practicing good leash manners. The more often you can train, the faster your dog will become better. The length of training does not matter as much as the frequency. It is much more effective to train 2 to 3 times a day for 10 minutes each time than to train once a week for 2 hours.

6. Work With One Dog at a Time

If you have several dogs, do not try to teach them to walk well on a leash all at once. This is going to fail! It is impossible to train two, three or even four dogs well at the same time. When you are working with a pup, he needs your full attention in order to give his best. You can either train several dogs one after the other, or you can ask a family member or friend to work with one dog as you are training the other. Once your pups can walk well individually, you can take them on walks together again.

7. Watch Out for Leash Reactivity and Other Behavioral Issues

Sometimes leash walking is confused with other behavioral problems such as reactivity or anxiety. If your dog only pulls the leash in specific circumstances (such as when he sees other dogs that he lunges at, or when he hears sounds that freak him out), chances are leash walking training alone will not help with this.

Dogs can pull on leash when they are stressed, scared, aggressive or anxious. These issues can develop into difficult problems rapidly. If you observe that your dog is pulling on leash and getting very worked up, you should consult a professional dog trainer to prevent further progression of these issues.

Stopping a Puppy From Pulling on a Leash

Puppies aren't born knowing how to walk on a leash, which makes early training the easiest win of all. Start indoors, letting your puppy wear their harness for short stints with plenty of treats, then clip on the leash and reward every few steps near you. Keep sessions to a few minutes, and if your puppy pulls, stand still until the leash goes slack. Some puppies have the opposite problem and plant their paws, and these tips for a dog that won't walk on a leash can help there.

Best Gear for a Dog That Pulls on the Leash

Front-Clip No-Pull Harnesses

A front-clip harness attaches the leash at the chest, so when your dog pulls, it gently turns them back toward you without putting pressure on the neck. It's a smart choice for most dogs in training, and our roundup of no pull dog harnesses has great picks for every size. For fit and style help, our dog harness buying guide walks you through it.

Tools to Skip: Prong Collars, Choke Chains and Leash Jerks

Prong collars, choke chains and leash corrections work through pain, and they can injure a dog's neck and make reactivity worse. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement on humane dog training recommends reward-based methods only and advises against aversive tools in any context.

About SpiritDog Training

Steffi Trott is the owner and founder of SpiritDog Training. Originally training dogs in person, she later added online training to her business. Steffi strives to provide game-based, positive training solutions for owners and their dogs, including helping dog parents every day to fix their dogs' poor leash manners and make walks a joy for everyone. When she is not training other owners' dogs, she competes in dog agility or hikes in the New Mexico and Colorado wilderness with her own 4 dogs.