PROPER LEASHWORK TECHNIQUES
Providing in-home dog training and behavior modification services
to the entire North Florida area - Zoom and phone consults anywhere

By Jon Wedemeyer
April 21, 2023

One of the most common leash-work problems - pulling.

Learning proper leash-work techniques is one of the most important skills you can develop for training your dog. The main thing to understand is that the leash is actually a direct connection between you and your dog's brain, and when used properly it can work wonders. Let's take a look at one of the most problematic leash-work issues we see.

PULLING
As you can see in the photo above, this Jack Russel is literally dragging its person along on their walk. This is probably the most common leash-work issue people face with their dogs. But there is hope!

The first thing to understand is, why your dog is pulling you along on the walk. The answer is simple - it wants to get there faster than you are walking. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell (an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 times more than humans) and due to this, they can smell things far ahead of them and want to get there NOW to investigate.

This powerful sense of smell and urge to get there now is one of the main reasons you get a dog that pulls hard constantly on the leash. Another reason is simply a lack of proper leashwork training and the dog simply doesn't know any other way to walk on their leash - it just pulls you along. Finally, a third cause could be a mix of an overstimulated, hyperactive dog, who goes full-steam zoomies all the time (note the JRT in the photo above).

The first thing you need to look at with a pulling dog is YOUR leash-handling skills. This starts with the actual leash itself. If you use a retractable leash, throw it away and get a 1-inch nylon lead. There are two reasons for this. The first is that many dogs and there walkers every year are seriously injured while using a retractable. It's estimated over 400,000 dogs and people have sustained injuries walking their dog between 2001-2020. The second reason is that you can't communicate with your dog down a retractable. I use the lead to "talk"' to the dog and give it direction.

As you can see in the photo above, the dog is all the way at the end of the leash, pulling. The dog is way ahead of and is walking its person, the person is simply holding the dog back (in the dogs mind). The first thing you do to address this is shorten the leash and get your dog right up next to you on a very short leash.

I like to have my hand on the leash about 6-8 inches above the dog's neck. That's where I will tie a knot in the leash as my marker but also to use as a grip with my index finger pointing down the lead. Next, I use my index finger to "talk" to my dog by gently tapping if he starts pulling, as a reminder. Lots of newer leashes actually come with a handle at about the 6-8 inch mark for you to hold onto (in case you wondered what it was for).

Leash-pulling is a really annoying problem, but it is very treatable. One of the best methods is very simple and is also very tedious, but it does work. Whenever your dog pulls on the leash - STOP. Look at your dog and hold your hand up in a traffic-cop signal and say "EH-EH". Wait about 3-4 seconds and continue, whenever it pulls, stop. The dog eventually learns that when it pulls, it no longer gets to walk.

Finally, you can use treats to teach. Hold a treat in front of your dog's face with your left hand and walk slowly and calmly, controlling the pace with him slightly behind you on your right. This puts you in charge of the walk instead of your dog and gives your dog a reason to stay next to you and comply. Give him a treat every 20 steps or so as long as he stays next to you and not pulling ahead. After your pup has learned to walk nicely you can phase out the treats - but not altogether 🙂

Hope this primer on leash work helps you and your pup, and we are always available to help!

ZOOM AND PHONE DOG TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION SESSIONS - ANYWHERE!
We offer in home ZOOM and PHONE consults anywhere in the world - M-F, 11Am to 5pm. Weekend consults can be arranged when needed.

Jon Wedemeyer – Is the founder of, and has operated North Florida K9 Behavior Center in Gainesville, FL., since 2015. Between his practice and his shelter work has worked over 2,000 canine behavior cases. He received his Diploma in Canine Psychology and Behavior from The International School for Canine Psychology and Behavior ISCP and recently completed a Master Class in Canine Aggression and a Certification Class in Canine Separation Anxiety.

CALL TODAY IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR PET! - 352-256-6960