🐕‍🦺 How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Pulling on Lead?

Hazel Johnson Author

Oct 08, 2025 |

Does your dog drag you down the street? Here’s how to stop lead pulling gently and build calmer, happier walks based on trust and connection.

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🐕‍🦺 How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Pulling on Lead?

(A kind, science-backed approach that really works)

If you’ve ever come home from a walk feeling like your shoulder might pop out of its socket, you’re not the only one! Believe me, I’ve been there! Lead pulling is one of the most common frustrations dog owners face, and it can turn what should be a peaceful stroll into a daily battle of wills.

The good news is that you don’t need brute strength or fancy anti-pull harnesses (the equipment isn't the problem). 

You just need to understand what’s driving the pulling and teach your dog a calmer way to walk alongside you.

I’ve even got a short demo video showing exactly how I teach this using my Proximity Zone method, and you might be surprised to find that loose-lead walking starts even before you pop the lead on! 

You’ll find the video HERE on my website. But first, let’s look at what’s really happening when your dog pulls.

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🐾 Why Does My Dog Keep Pulling on the Lead?

Dogs don’t pull because they’re naughty or trying to be “in charge.” They pull because walking on a lead doesn’t come naturally.

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• The world is exciting, full of smells, movement, and things to explore.
• Their stride is faster than ours, so they naturally move ahead quicker than we do.
• Dogs can be excited or anxious outdoors, and pulling helps them get to or away from things faster.

When we respond by pulling back, tension builds on both ends of the lead.  Over time, the walk becomes a cycle of pressure, frustration, and stress for both of you.

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🐶 Do Dogs Grow Out of Lead Pulling?

Sadly, no, it's unlikely your dog will just grow out of lead pulling. Just like any habit, the more your dog practices pulling, the stronger that habit becomes. Puppies often start off bouncy and curious, and if we accidentally allow pulling to “work,” it becomes ingrained.

The great news is that calm walking can be taught at any age. It’s never too late to rebuild new habits through gentle, reward-based training.

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🌳 How Do You Tell if a Dog Is Enjoying a Walk?

A relaxed walk is about emotional state, not just speed. Signs your dog is genuinely enjoying themselves include:

• Loose, wiggly body language
• Sniffing calmly rather than scanning frantically
• Ears moving freely, tail relaxed
• Checking in with you now and then

If your dog is panting, lunging, or constantly straining on the end of the lead, or alternatively if you have to drag them along, they’re likely over-aroused or overly anxious.

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⚡ How to Stop Leash Pulling Instantly (and Why “Instantly” Is a Myth)

Do an online search for “stop pulling instantly” and you’ll find plenty of quick-fix promises. The truth is that there’s no instant cure, but there can be vast improvements once you start changing how you walk.

Try this on your next outing:

1. Choose your locations carefully. Set your dog up for a calm walk by avoiding their triggers – whether it’s a cat sitting on a wall up ahead, a barky dog at number 23, or a female on heat across the road.
2. Notice tension early. Mix your walks up so you’re not walking in a straight line all the time. The moment the lead tightens, simply change direction (you can always turn back again afterwards).
3. Reward calm proximity. When your dog’s beside you and the lead is slack, calmly praise or feed a treat so you’re dog knows they’re doing the right thing.
4. Keep sessions short. A calm walk along one street is worth more than a chaotic walk along ten streets.

You’ll soon start to see a difference.

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The Best Lead and Harness to Stop My Dog from Pulling?

I always recommend a well-fitted dual-clip harness used with a double-ended lead, which gives you gentle steering without applying pressure on your dog’s neck.

Avoid retractable leads (they give you very little steering ability when your dog is pulling), and choke or prong collars or slip-chains (they increase stress and can cause damage to the neck and throat, and they don’t build the positive relationship you’re looking for).

The goal isn’t control - it’s communication and teamwork.

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✨ How to Teach Your Dog to Walk Beside You (Walk to Heel)

The Proximity Zone is your dog’s “sweet spot”, that comfortable distance beside you where they feel relaxed.

Instead of forcing your dog into position, you teach them that being near you feels rewarding, safe, and calm.

Start in a quiet area, move slowly, and reinforce every moment of a loose lead.

Want to see it in action? Watch my demo video here ➜ PROXIMITY ZONE VIDEO

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🐕 How to Stop a 6-Month-Old Puppy (or a Large Dog) from Pulling

Prevention is key, whatever the age or size of your dog, but how you go about it will look a little different. Here’s how to set both puppies and big dogs up for success:

• For puppies:
  Start small. Reward them any time they choose to be near you, whether you’re in the garden, on a quiet path, or just pottering around the house.
• Let them sniff, explore, and take in the world at their own pace. Every time they pause calmly by your side, mark it and reward. 

Those early “good choices” are the building blocks of calm walks later on. (The Proximity Zone game is the perfect way to start.)

For strong or large dogs:
The same principles apply, but you’ll want a little extra backup. 

• A sturdy dual-clip harness helps you guide them firmly but kindly, without tension on their neck. 
• Keep distance from triggers whenever you can - it’s much easier to prevent a pull than to fix one mid-lunge. 
• And don’t forget the power of connection: short focus games, like quick check-ins, remind your dog that being with you is the best place to be.

One of my favourites is a little “check-in” game with my dog, Jack. I see how softly I can say his name and still have him turn to look at me. He gets rewarded, of course, and it reminds him that tuning in to me is always worth it.

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⚠️ Common Mistakes People Make on Walks

• Repeating “heel” constantly (your dog doesn’t know what this means, unless you teach them)
• Allowing long stretches of tension (allows rehearsal of lead pulling)
• Yanking back on the lead (creates opposition reflex)
• Ignoring calm behaviour instead of rewarding it (doesn’t teach your dog that what they’re doing is the right thing)
• Walking the dog in an environment it doesn’t have the skills to cope with (e.g, in a busy town)

Small tweaks make a huge difference. It’s about changing the conversation between you and your dog.

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🌈 Real-Life Progress: What Calm, Connected Walks Look Like

When it clicks, you’ll notice your dog walking more slowly, checking in with you, and sighing instead of straining. You’ll feel your own body relax, too.

That’s the beauty of relationship-based walking. It’s not just about the lead, it’s about trust.

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🐾 Next Steps

If you’d love to enjoy peaceful, shoulder-friendly walks, start by watching my short Proximity Zone demo video here:

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Or grab my free Stop Pulling On Lead Guide, where I guide you through four easy steps to make every walk calmer and more connected.

You’ve got this — one calm step at a time. 💛

Categories: : calmer walks, dog walks, loose lead walking