Where you practise
A quiet path is easier than a busy sidewalk.
Leash walking check
Why Does My Dog Pull on the Leash? Free 4-Question Assessment
Answer four questions to choose a safer and easier way to practise.
About 2 minutes
Developed with the behavior experts at
Review tool
Look at your dog's leash walking.
Question 1 of 4
Why dogs pull
Pulling often works because it moves the walk forward.
Excitement, fear, smells, pace and uncomfortable equipment can also contribute.
Whether your dog can respond
Looking back or taking food shows that your dog can still learn.
Comfort and safety
Equipment fit, pain, balance and escape risk come before training.
Loose-leash practice
Make a loose leash worth choosing.
Teach your dog where to walk instead of punishing them for pulling.
- 1
Start somewhere quiet
Begin indoors, in a yard or on a quiet block.
- 2
Reward a loose leash
Use food, sniffing or forward movement as rewards.
- 3
Keep practice short
Stop before your dog becomes too distracted to respond.
Common questions
Leash walking questions.
Is my dog trying to dominate me?
No. Pulling usually reaches places, smells or dogs, or reflects fear or excitement.
Should my dog heel for the whole walk?
No. Safe walks can include sniffing and exploring while the leash stays loose.
Do prong or shock collars teach loose-leash walking?
No. Painful or frightening tools do not teach your dog where to walk.
Sources.
Reviewed
- RSPCA: Train your dog to walk nicely on the leadExplains rewarding a loose leash, stopping on tension and adding difficulty gradually.
- AVSAB: Humane dog training position statementExplains why rewards should replace leash jerks and painful equipment.
- AAHA canine life stage guidelines: BehaviorExplains behavior screening, welfare and professional referral.
- CATCH Canine Trainers Academy: Our PhilosophyForce-free, positive-reinforcement methods based on modern learning principles.
This tool considers your dog's body, ability to turn back, comfort and walking safety. It does not select equipment for your dog.