How To Stop Puppy Pulling On Lead – Why do dogs pull on the lead?
How To Stop Puppy Pulling On Lead? If your Puppy pulls ahead, simply stop. Lure him back to your side with a treat and when he does it right, feed and praise him again. This technique is very simple and uncomplicated for your puppy….
A dog that’s excited, or who is not used to walking on a leash, can have trouble knowing not to pull when you take him outside for a walk. So, how to stop puppy pulling on lead? While training a dog not to pull on his leash is a bit of a long process, with the right training it can be simple and quite effective.
- Getting started – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
- Leash Training a Puppy – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
- How do you start training a puppy with lead?
- Is a collar or harness better for a puppy?
- How do I train my dog to walk beside me?
- What age should you start leash training a puppy?
- Can I use a slip lead on a puppy?
- Should I keep my puppy on a leash at all times?
- What size collar should I get my puppy?
- How do you train a puppy with a collar?
- Puppy Training Collar – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
- Dog Slip Choke Collar Training

How To Stop Puppy Pulling On Lead? When he pulls, say ‘stop’ in a loud, clear, calm voice.
Getting started – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
First things first, you need to let your dog know who the boss is. You do not have to be mean or hurtful, but you simply need to let him or her know that you are the leader of the pack. So, how to stop puppy pulling on lead? When you begin this process, use a sturdy leash and a standard collar. Retractable leashes are simply not recommended for most dogs, but especially not a dog that is having pulling problems.
The key to teaching your dog not to pull on the leash is to show him or her that staying at your side is the preferred behavior. You can begin teaching this by putting your dog into a sit-stay while you walk out the door, requiring the dog to wait inside until you have walked out. You should also have your dog walking on your left side at all times. If your dog strays from your left side, stop, guide him or her back to the left position and then offer praise and a treat.
Correcting behavior when walking
If your dog has not yet been trained not to pull, he or she will inevitably wander ahead of you. Even if the leash has not been pulled taut, if your dog strays ahead of you it is time to make a behavior correction. So, how to stop puppy pulling on lead? Dog training does not have to be negative in any way, but rather should focus around cues, praise and treats. When your dog walks too far ahead, simply stop walking.
Your dog should stop along with you when you pause in your walking. Guide him or her back to your left side again, and then offer praise and a treat once your dog is in the right position again. Your dog will eventually learn through praise and treats and the gentle cues that you are offering, that the correct way to walk on a leash is on your left side without straying too far ahead. It really is this simple.
Correcting general pulling behavior
If you put your dog in a sit-stay on his or her leash, and you still have problems pulling, or if your dog gets excited and tries to pull away easily, some correction is needed. So, how to stop puppy pulling on lead? The best way to get your dog’s attention is to pat him on the back or side gently, or simply to give a gentle tap. Once your dog is paying attention to you again, guide him back to your left side again and offer praise. If your dog is behaving in an overly excited manner, sometimes all you need to do is get his attention back on you to correct the behavior.
Using other training aids – Stop puppy pulling on lead
Numerous training aids have been developed to make this method of training easier for dog owners. Halti and Gentle Leader products have made it simpler for some dogs to walk on a leash, but they are only a temporary solution at best. While they do correct the behavior, once the training aid is removed, the training is effectively lost and the dog will more than likely revert to old habits. It is much more effective simply to do the training one self, rather than to rely on training aids as a permanent solution.
Leash Training a Puppy – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
Leash training a puppy is NOT an easy task. Many dog owners DO NOT know the proper way of leash train their dogs.
In general, dog leash is usually used together with a dog collar. During Puppy Training, the Collar and leash is NOT supposed to be pulled by a dog in front of humans. But, many dog owners allow their dogs to pull on leash, which is not what the leash is designed for.
When a dog is pulling on the leash, she puts tension on her neck and on your hand which is NOT healthy. The dog may injure himself.
If he’s in front of you while walking, he’s the alpha dog or the pack leader (Signs of Dog dominance behavior). So, how to stop puppy pulling on lead? The right way to walk with a dog on a leash is when he’s heeling with you. Heeling means your dog is walking beside you. When you stop walking, the dog has to stop, when you run, he has to run. You should take the pack leader role and he must listen to you.
“What are the Benefits of Heeling?”
I understand that some dog owners do not want to control every movement of their loving dog. But you have to understand that dogs are different from humans. The major mistake of most dog owners is treating dogs like humans by giving a lot of affection.
In any unfortunate event, you could cause your dog her life. Example: A dog does not listen to the human’s command and he’s running towards a busy road. I believe that you do not want this to happen.
Leash training a puppy has the follow benefits:
- You will lead the dog while working, instead of letting him lead you.
- Your dog will NOT pull the collar which could injure his neck and also your hand.
- Your dog will ignore any interesting things beside him and only concentrate on his walk.
- Your dog will NOT simply jump on people because he knows that you DO NOT allow that. And you will be able to stop the dog from jumping anytime you want.
- Your dog will NOT show any interest in other dogs on the street as he knows that you DO NOT allow that.
“On Leash to Off Leash Training a Puppy”
Many dog owners really like to give more freedom to their dogs. The best is their dogs can walk with them off leash. Well, this is possible.
But first of all, please learn the off leash rules in your area. I understand that some areas have strict laws for dog owners by restricting the dog owners to put their dog on a leash when walking outside. If your area allows you to walk with your dog off leash, you will need to train him.
The process to train a dog off leash is as below:
- Start with a 6 feet leather leash with your dog.
- When you are walking your dog outside in the park, learn to put the leash loose on the ground and let the dog pull on the leash on her own – walking free.
- Test some obedience command like “Come” to see if he still listens to you. If your dog starts to run on his own, you are still able to step on the leash to halt his behavior. You allow your dogs to be within 20-30 feet and still listen to your command.
- Depending on how obedient your dog is, you can slowly change with a shorter leather leash (eg: 3 feet), let him walk within 20-30 feet around you.
- Slowly cut or change to a shorter leather leash over time until your dog listens to you without leash.
“Understand Dog Leash Training”
There are a few things that you will have to understand during leash training a puppy. You MUST learn to associate dog leash as a positive thing for him. You MUST NOT associate dog leash as a punishment for him.
If your dog always runs away once he is off leash, one thing I am sure is that your dog associate’s dog leash as a punishment. So, she thinks that you’re removing the leash means that you no longer punish him and he can then run free.
There are many ways you can correct this unwanted behavior.
Firstly, every time you put on a leash, he MUST come to you and not chase him around to put the leash on him. After you put him on leash, you will have to understand his state of mind. If he’s nervous? Fearful? Or if he’s comfortable and acts just the same like he normally does when not on a leash.
If he acts fearful, he associates the leash as a punishment. In order to train this, every time you put him on leash, give him a treat, so that he will associate leash as a positive reinforcement.
“Snap and Release Strategy”
Snap and release strategy on leash training a puppy is a good way to train the dog to listen to you. This is usually used with training collars such as choke or prong collar. Non-training collar is less effective.
Step-by-Step of using Snap and Release Strategy:
- Put a selected collar on your dog. (Training collar is recommended).
- Attach a leash on the collar.
- You can do any outdoor activity with your dog. Eg: Take a walk around your neighborhood. The dog MUST heel (walk beside) with you.
- When your dog shows undesired behavior like looking at a neighbor’s house, or looking at other dogs, just “Snap” her out from that state of mind by pulling the leash suddenly and releasing it again. I am sure that your dog will pay attention to you, and you just need to keep walking.
- This can be applicable for any other undesired activities or situations like stopping the dog barking at the postman or visitors.
“Conclusion of Leash Training a Puppy”
If you want to buy a leash for your dog, make sure that you are applying the right techniques on how to leash train your dog. This is to avoid any unwanted injury on your dog and also possibly on yourself.
Remember that leash training a puppy takes time. Consistency and patience will pay in the long run.
People Also Ask…… More about “How To Stop Puppy Pulling On Lead”
How do you start training a puppy with lead?
- Best to get your Pup used to the idea of wearing a collar….
- During your Practice walks with your pup you can attach a lead to his collar….
- Playtime and the Lead should always be associated ….
- Spend time with your puppy outside….
- Always have treats ready…
- Practice in a quiet area….
- Make use of commands.
Is a collar or harness better for a puppy?
You might have to decide between a harness and a collar, where the dog collar sometimes makes it far easier to manage and control your pup, even for pups where leash manners is still not Totally perfected. On the other hand the Harness has its own advantages, too: Especially for puppies that still haven’t learned yet to walk on a leash, in these cases it’s a very good training tool.
How do I train my dog to walk beside me?
The moment your pup gets alongside you, you can announce it with a “Yes”, or use your clicker, and most importantly also reward him. Practice this over and over, then you can stop the calling part, now leave him to willingly respond and walk alongside you. Continue to announce the correct behaviour with a “Yes” and also a reward every time he comes into position.
What age should you start leash training a puppy?
It might sound unrealistic, but pups can already begin the leash learning skills from as young as four to five weeks old. That’s kind of impressive don’t you think? Your puppy is like a little sponge, so you want to start the training as soon as he’s paw-sible, they normally absorb more than you might think.
Can I use a slip lead on a puppy?
Never, no not on your pup. Although you might be using it on an adult dog, we would not recommend using a slip lead on your puppy, at least not until he’s Training to Heel.
Should I keep my puppy on a leash at all times?
A leash is an excellent training tool, but especially with a puppy, will require your supervision most of the time! If you leave your pup unsupervised he could tangle himself and the leash around something, which could hurt or choke him.
What size collar should I get my puppy?
The below Collar Size Chart will assist you to determine the correct Collar Size.
AVERAGE COLLAR SIZE | RECOMMENDED COLLAR WIDTH | AVERAGE WEIGHT (pounds) |
XS (7″ – 11″) | 5/8″ | 13 – 18 |
SM (10″ – 14″) | 5/8″ or 1″ | 14 – 45 |
MD (13″ – 18″) | 1″ or 1.5″ | 45 – 65 |
LG (15″ – 20″) | 1″ or 1.5″ | 60 – 95 |
How do you train a puppy with a collar?
- Firstly you want your Pup to Accept the Harness or Collar.
- Start by letting your Pup smell the Harness or Collar, then reward him with a treat.
- Now put it on for short periods….
- Rinse and Repeat, try to lengthen the period you leave it on his back / neck about 15 seconds.
- Next you want to fasten his harness / collar and give him a treat…
- Finally you want to leave the harness or collar on him.
Puppy Training Collar – How to stop puppy pulling on lead?
Generally, there are 2 categories of collars:
Puppy training collars
Examples of puppy training collars are choke collar (slip collar), prong collar, head halters, shock collar, bark control collar and more.
Non-training collars
Examples of non-training collars are buckle collars (flat collars), flea collars, Elizabethan collar, break-away collars and stud collars.
“Guidance on How to Use a Dog Collar”
When you put a collar on your dog, make sure that it is not too tight. There must be some space between the collar and her neck, you should be able to insert your index and medium fingers between the collar and her neck. It also cannot be too loose either until the dog can bite it.
Dog collar position is important as well. There’s basically 2 positions that a dog collar fits on your dog. Position A: the collar is all the way to the neck of the dog. Position B: the collar slide down the dog’s neck.
Position A is a power position where you will have a very good control over the dog.
Position B is where the dog gains more freedom where the neck joins the shoulder blades which is the strongest body part of a dog.
I normally use puppy training collar on position A to make the obedience training more effective and non-training collars on position B to give my dog relax himself.
Important things to remember during when a dog wears his collar:- Collar can NOT be too loose till the dog can bite it. There is some space between the collar and her neck, you should be able to insert your index and medium fingers between the collar and her neck.
“How to Use a Dog Choke Collar (Slip Collar)”
Choke collar is one of the good Dog training collars. It is made of chain, nylon or leather. I prefer chain type because it creates a sound in the Snap and Release strategy.
Snap and Release strategy is part of dog leash training. When a dog does something not desired by you, you just snap the leash and release the tension on the leash. Collision of the metal on the chain choke collar will create a sound that makes the dog pay attention to you.
The design of chain choke collar is 2 rings and the chain. When there is a tension on the collar, either the dog pulls the collar using his neck or the owner pulls the collar using hand or leash, the collar will be tightening. This makes the dog understand that he needs to slow down his forward motion.
Choke collars can be helpful with larger dogs or dogs with aggressive tendencies; again they should not be used on small or fragile necked breeds.
Dog Slip Choke Collar Training
Some dogs DO NOT care about the tension on their neck and keep on pulling. This is NOT supposed to happen if you know how to train the dog properly. The reason the dog keeps on pulling on the collar is because he thinks that he is the pack leader and he wants to lead you on the walk. Remember this: The Dog MUST NOT pull the leash on its own will. It is up to the owner when to give the dog to pull or not to pull.
Another way of correcting the pulling behavior is to adjust the state of mind of the dog. When the dog is pulling you, most of the time he is in an excited state of mind. You will have to “snap” her from that excited state of mind to a calm state of mind. How to do it? You pull the collar with your hand or leash and then release. When the dog is looking at you, meaning that she is submissive to you.
“How to Use a Dog Prong Collar (Pinch Collar)”
A Prong collar is another Dog training collar that has almost the same functions like a choke collar. In addition to that, a prong collar has a few chain metals that act like the teeth of a dog’s mother or the teeth of a pack leader. When there is tension on the collar, it will pinch the neck of the dog which will give him the impression of a dog’s bite.
Some people think that the prong collar is cruel and inhumane. But actually in the dog kingdom, when a pack leader tries to control his pack, he will use teeth to nail down his opponent by biting on the opponent’s neck. Not Recommended.
“How to Use a Dog Head Halter Collar”
The head halter was initially used only on horses. Now, the dog owners have adapted this as a puppy training collar with the reason to gain more control. Just like horses, when you pull the head halter collar, the tension will around the nose. During a walk, the dog has no control to look at other places and is only able to look and walk forward. The owners need less strength to use this puppy training collar compared with other collars.
“Electronic Dog Collar”
It is also called a shock collar, e-collars, or remote training collar. Electronic dog collar is a puppy training collar that is NOT for beginners as it needs skill and experience. If you really want to use this collar, you need guidance from a professional specialized on that type of e-collar. There are many types of electronic dog collars as well. Some electronic collars include vibration which is used to create a neutral stimulus for dogs. Mishandling of the collar will create an undesired result on your dog.
This collar is a form of negative re-information dog training method. A shock is applied at the moment the dog shows an undesired behavior. Some countries and animal welfare groups ban the use of shock collars. Not Recommended.
“Dog Bark Control Collar”
Dog Bark Control Collar is one type of electronic dog collar. How to stop dog barking? Dog bark control collar is one of the solutions, it is used to control the barking behavior of dogs. The moment a dog barks, the owner will activate the collar by delivering unpleasant stimuli to the dog. The types of punishment can be spray of water, vibration, ultrasonic sound etc. The dog will associate his barking behavior with the punishment and will not repeat it again. Again, this collar needs guidance from a professional to properly use it. Not Recommended.
“Buckle Collar”
Buckle collar is also called a flat collar. It is a very common non-training collar for most dog owners. It is made of nylon webbing or leather. It has a buckle which is easy for the dog owner to fasten and unfasten the collar from her dog. There is a ring attached on the collar which is used to attach with leash.
“Elizabethan Collar”
Elizabethan collar is a special non-training collar designed purposely for injured dogs. It has a big cone shape which is as long as or longer than the dog’s nose. It is used to prevent the dog from biting or licking at its body while waiting for the wounds to heal.
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