The short answer
Your dog isn’t being stubborn. Pulling works. Every time the lead goes tight and the dog still gets where it wants to go, it learns to do it again.
You’re not alone. In the PDSA’s 2020 PAW report, pulling on the lead was the dog behaviour owners most wanted to change (24%), ahead of fireworks fear (22%), as cited in a 2022 Veterinary Record review.
I’m James Gonzo, and strong, difficult dogs are my speciality (about me). Here’s a calm plan you can start tonight, the kit that helps and what to avoid. Kit helps, training fixes it.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, The Dog Geezer may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend kit I’d use with my own dog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why does my dog pull on the lead?
- It works. Dogs Trust says one step forward while your dog pulls tells them it pays. Blue Cross puts it as “the harder I pull, the quicker I get to the fun part”.
- We’re slow. Blue Cross says a dog’s natural pace is usually twice as fast as the average human’s. Walking beside us is hard work, so it deserves a reward.
- Excitement, smells and other dogs. Walkies is the best bit of their day (Dogs Trust).
- Worry. Some dogs pull to get away from things that worry them, and others pull towards them (Dogs Trust).
They don’t grow out of it. Dogs Trust says older dogs often walk slower, but that’s normally down to medical problems, not learning. The same 2022 review cites a study where 79% of owners of 9-month-old dogs reported pulling and only 5% of them saw it as a problem. So start early.
Why is it worth fixing?
- Your safety. The review says that, excluding bites, being pulled over by a dog on the lead is the leading cause of non-fatal dog-related injuries seen at UK A&E departments.
- Your dog’s neck. In a lab test on a model of a dog’s neck, every collar tested created pressure above the level that damages human tissue. A model isn’t a real dog, so treat that as a warning, not proof. Another study found higher pressure inside dogs’ eyes when force went through a collar rather than a harness. If your dog coughs or gags when pulling, see your vet.
The kit that helps, and what to avoid
Affiliate links below, as mentioned at the top.
A front-clip harness
A front-clip harness attaches at the chest, so pulling turns your dog round instead of giving them something to lean into. Vet Help Direct says many experts now recommend a well-fitting harness that doesn’t restrict the front legs and has the lead attachment at the front, and that back-clip styles tend to encourage pulling. PDSA recommends a harness for dogs that pull.
My pick is the Ruffwear Front Range (check today’s price). Fit it so it doesn’t rub behind the front legs, and introduce it with treats first. Dogs Trust says to introduce all kit gradually and positively.
Be realistic, though. Dogs Trust says to be wary of “no pull” products sold as quick fixes. A harness makes pulling harder work, but it won’t teach loose lead walking on its own. Truelove also make harnesses and walking kit, and my full kit list is on my recommended page. For a closer look at the options, see my guide to the best harness for dogs that pull.
A fixed lead, not an extending one
Dogs Trust recommends a flat, fixed-length clip lead. Flexi and bungee leads give extra length when your dog pulls, which confuses lead training. A double-ended lead clipped to the front and back of the harness gives extra support with a strong dog (Dogs Trust).
A treat pouch and a long line
Dogs Trust says treat pouches help you deliver treats fast. A treat pouch and clicker on your hip beats digging in a coat pocket. For free time, a 10m long line lets them sniff and stretch in a safe, open space.
Headcollars, and what to steer clear of
A headcollar can help with very strong or reactive dogs, but only if you introduce it slowly and clip the lead to the harness as well. Blue Cross says it should never be a long-term fix, and Vet Help Direct says some behaviourists and trainers no longer recommend them.
Steer clear of choke chains, prong collars and shock collars. Vets and the big UK charities advise against them, and I don’t use them.
My step-by-step plan to stop the pulling
- Take the edge off first. Play in the garden beforehand for a less wound-up dog (PDSA, Blue Cross).
- Keep the lead-on calm. Ask for a sit before you clip on. If your dog goes wild, put the lead down, walk away and try again in a moment (Blue Cross).
- Start indoors or in the garden. Reward your dog for standing by your side, then for a step or two with you. Practise without the lead at first (Dogs Trust).
- Be a tree. The second the lead tightens, stop. Stay quiet and don’t jerk it or tell them off. When it goes slack or they look back, reward and walk on (Dogs Trust, PDSA).
- Turn round if they don’t come back. A couple of steps the other way gets their focus (Dogs Trust).
- Pay well at first. Use small, tasty treats, such as cooked chicken or cheese (Blue Cross), and cut main meals a little on training days (PDSA). If your dog has a health condition or special diet, talk to your vet about treats.
- Build up slowly. Quiet street, then the park, then busier times. If it falls apart, go back a stage (Dogs Trust).
- Let them sniff. PDSA says to let your dog sniff and explore. Use the long line in a safe, open space.
- Fade the treats slowly. Swap them for praise bit by bit, never all at once (PDSA).
- Everyone walks the same way. Be consistent on every walk (Dogs Trust, PDSA). If one person lets them pull, the dog learns it still works.
How long does it take?
There’s no fixed answer. Expect walks to take longer while your dog learns (Dogs Trust). PDSA calls it a very long process. Short, regular sessions beat one long one (RSPCA). I won’t promise a timeframe.
When it’s still going wrong
- Pulls hardest as soon as you leave the house. That’s often excitement (Dogs Trust). Play first, and reward calm at the door.
- Lunges at other dogs, bikes or people. That’s often worry or frustration, not just lead manners, and Dogs Trust says a tight lead can make it worse. Keep your distance and reward calm. Reactive dogs are my speciality, so see dog training in Heywood. A well-fitted basket muzzle can help some dogs once they’ve been trained to wear it (Dogs Trust). Train it slowly, like the Baskerville Ultra.
- A strong dog nearly pulling you over. Use the front-clip harness and double-ended lead, practise somewhere quiet first, and get hands-on help before busy paths.
- Darker evening walks. Once the clocks go back in autumn (GOV.UK), a lot of evening walks will be in the dark. In my view, keep the lead short and fixed, carry a light and pick well-lit routes. If fireworks worry your dog, my fireworks anxiety post may help.
- A sudden change, or stiff, sore or refusing to walk. See your vet first. Pain can change how a dog walks and behaves (Dogs Trust, PDSA).
Where to practise round Heywood and Bury
Start on quiet streets at quiet times, then try a local park when it’s off-peak, then busier places. Dogs Trust suggests quiet places and times, and secure dog fields if you can. When the business opens, my dog walking in Heywood and dog walking in Bury pages cover walks, and adventure days (from February 2027) are for active dogs who need more than a lap of the block.
FAQ
Why does my dog pull on the lead?
Because it works. Dogs Trust says the main reason is that they’ve learned pulling means they move forward faster. Dogs also walk faster than we do, excitement and smells pull them on, and some dogs pull through worry instead.
Will a no-pull harness stop my dog pulling?
A front-clip harness makes pulling harder work and safer for you, but it won’t teach your dog to walk nicely by itself. That takes training. Dogs Trust says equipment should support your training and isn’t a solution on its own, so use the harness while you work through the plan above.
Will my dog grow out of pulling?
Usually not. Dogs Trust says older dogs often walk slower, but that’s normally because of medical problems, not because they’ve learned not to pull. A dog that has practised pulling for years has a very well-established habit, so the sooner you start teaching loose lead walking, the better.
Are extending leads bad for dogs that pull?
For training, yes. Dogs Trust says flexi and bungee leads give extra length when your dog pulls, which confuses lead training. Vet Help Direct also lists tangles, brake failures and injuries to owners. Use a fixed lead for walks and a long line for free time in a safe, open space. My guide to dog recall training with a long line shows how to build a reliable come-back.
My dog only pulls towards other dogs. What do I do?
That’s often worry or frustration rather than plain lead pulling, and a tight lead can make it worse (Dogs Trust). Keep your distance, reward calm and don’t tell your dog off. This is where one-to-one help makes a difference, so get in touch if you’re in my area.
The Dog Geezer
Need a hand?
If you’re in Heywood, Rochdale, Middleton or Bury and you’d rather someone showed you, I’m opening The Dog Geezer in January 2027. I watch your dog with you, work out what’s going on, then show you where it’s going wrong. Training enquiries go on a waiting list, and the first chat is free. Join the training waiting list or call 07305 634229. No promises on results.
Cheers, James