Does your dog turn every walk into a tug of war? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how to stop leash pulling using the same positive reinforcement training methods I teach my clients every day. You’ll learn the simple steps to create calm, enjoyable walks through consistent loose leash walking practice.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stop leash pulling without using harsh corrections, this episode is for you. We’ll talk about why dogs pull, what they’re really communicating, and how positive reinforcement training helps your dog learn faster while keeping walks stress-free. You’ll also hear how I approach loose leash walking with both new puppies and adult dogs who have never learned how to walk politely.
Some of the things I cover in this episode are:
• The real reason your dog pulls and how to change it through positive reinforcement training
• Step-by-step guidance on loose leash walking that fits into your daily routine
• Clear answers to the most common questions about how to stop leash pulling
• Tools and treats that make loose leash walking easier and more fun
• Why consistency and kindness matter most in positive reinforcement training
By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to stop leash pulling the kind, effective way and feel confident using positive reinforcement training to turn every walk into a calm, connected experience through loose leash walking.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Staci Lemke:
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:00] Staci Lemke: Does your dog pull like crazy on the leash when you’re walking him? Do you dread walking your dog because the constant pulling hurts your arms and shoulders? Do you wish you could just take a long, relaxing stroll around the neighborhood with your dog? If this sounds like you, then you’re gonna wanna stay tuned because in this episode I’m going to share with you the secrets to loose leash walking.
[00:00:22] Staci Lemke: Welcome to the Well-Mannered Mut Podcast. I’m Stacey Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of Manners for Mutts dog training. With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you, build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends.
[00:00:42] Staci Lemke: From private lessons to online courses, I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding. I believe in training that is kind. Fun and scientifically proven positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond.
[00:01:02] Staci Lemke: Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving. You are in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. Leash walking is one of the skills I get asked about all the time, and it’s an important skill to have.
[00:01:24] Staci Lemke: Let’s face it, if your dog is a nightmare to walk, then you’re not gonna walk him. However, if your dog can walk calmly next to you, then a whole new world of possibilities opens up for the both of you. So first let me just explain what I mean when I say loose leash walking. I know a lot of you think that leash walking means your dog is walking in a heel position next to your left leg.
[00:01:47] Staci Lemke: But healing and loose leash walking are two different things. Healing is strict. It’s more formal. Your dog has to stay next to your left leg, not in front or behind you. They have to keep pace with you at whatever speed you go stopping when you stop. For competition healing, the dog has to be looking up at you as you walk, and that’s not how the average pet parent walks their dog.
[00:02:12] Staci Lemke: Loose leash walking is much more casual. It means just maintain slack in the leash. So when I teach loose leash walking to my students, I tell them, I don’t care which side your dog walks on. I don’t care if your dog wants to sniff pee poop, do doggy things. The dog can be in front of you or behind you. My only criteria is that there’s slack in the leash.
[00:02:36] Staci Lemke: As long as the leash is loose, the walk continues. I also tell my clients that leash walking is a mechanical skill for you. The walker. It involves leash handling, treat delivery, and paying attention to your dog and where you’re walking all at the same time. So it can feel very awkward at first, and that’s okay.
[00:02:56] Staci Lemke: It’s just like learning any new skill. As you practice, it gets easier and eventually it becomes muscle memory. So before we get into the nuts and bolts of loose leash walking, I want you to understand why dogs pull, and I see it all the time, dogs dragging their owners around and the dogs are choking and gagging and struggling to breathe.
[00:03:15] Staci Lemke: And when you see that, you’re probably thinking, why do they pull like that? It can’t be comfortable. Wouldn’t it be easier to just slow down and be able to breathe and not have to choke and gag? Of course it would, but dogs don’t think that way. Dogs pull because it gets ’em to all the good stuff. The sites, the smells, other dogs, squirrels, birds, whatever interests them.
[00:03:38] Staci Lemke: Dogs pull because they have learned if they pull, we will follow. For dogs, the pulling has become part of the walk. The harder they pull, the more good things they get access to. Alright. If you’re starting with a puppy or even an older dog that’s never been on a leash before, then you’ll want to first introduce the equipment.
[00:03:57] Staci Lemke: Collar, harness and leash. I prefer a harness. If your dog or puppy is afraid of the harness, and many dogs are because they don’t like things being slipped over their heads and object to all the body manipulation that goes along with putting the harness on. So if this is your dog, then you want to desensitize into the harness by teaching them to put their head through the neck loop.
[00:04:19] Staci Lemke: Once they’re okay with putting the harness on, you can begin to teach the actual walking part. With puppies, I’ll often just start by allowing them to drag a light leash around so they get used to the feel of it. Okay, now that we’re all on the same page as to what loose leash walking is and why dogs pull, here are my six tips to help you If your dog pulls on leash.
[00:04:40] Staci Lemke: Tip number one, teach your dog to default focus on you. Default means without you having to ask for it, so there’s no cue. Your dog will automatically look at you. Like any other new behavior, you wanna start teaching your dog in an area with low distractions like inside your house. For many dogs, and especially if you’re just starting with a young puppy, the leash itself can be a distraction.
[00:05:05] Staci Lemke: So a good way to start is without a leash and just teach your dog that focusing on you pays off. Start by rewarding your dog Anytime they’re near you, then only reward them for looking at you, giving you eye contact. You are teaching them that staying with you, looking at you is a wonderful thing. Tip number two, use a front clip, no pull harness.
[00:05:31] Staci Lemke: I like these kinds of harnesses because they have a clip on the chest as well as on the back. You can clip the leash to the chest and when the dog pulls, it takes a little bit of their leverage away and turns the dog around facing you. My favorite harness is the Blue nine Balance Harness. I’ve mentioned this harness before in a previous episode, but I’ll link it here as well.
[00:05:52] Staci Lemke: Realize that no piece of equipment is going to train your dog for you, but this harness can make teaching loose leash walking easier on you. Tip number three, use high value food and reward your dog for checking in, meaning that your dog looks at you when you’re walking. This is especially true when you move your training from inside to outside.
[00:06:14] Staci Lemke: When you go out in the world, you are competing with everything. The smells, grass, birds, dead worms, everything. So now is not the time to cheap out on the treats. You have to have something that your dog absolutely goes crazy for. Something like real chicken or some other kind of meat. Tip number four. Do not walk your dog on an extendable leash.
[00:06:40] Staci Lemke: An extendable leash is one of those leashes that has the big plastic handle, and when your dog pulls, the leash extends out. It’s designed to give the dog more freedom, but when you’re trying to teach your dog not to pull, this is the worst kind of leash to use because it reinforces your dog for pulling.
[00:06:57] Staci Lemke: So every time your dog pulls, they get rewarded with more leash. If you wanna give your dog more freedom. Then use a long line. That way you can let the dog wander and explore, but you can still keep slack in the line. And I actually really like teaching loose leash walking on a long line, as long as I have a large enough area where I’m not going to interfere with other people or dogs.
[00:07:21] Staci Lemke: I find that dogs make fewer errors because they have more room to move around. Tip number five, don’t follow your dog when he pulls on the leash. If your dog pulls and you follow them, you are rewarding the pulling. The dog learns that if they pull, you’ll let them go wherever they want, and if they pull really hard, they get to do more stuff.
[00:07:46] Staci Lemke: We want the dog to learn that they can have all the things. They just can’t drag us up to them. They only get to continue moving forward when there is slack in the leash. Tip number six, walk your dog on a regular basis. The more you walk your dog, the less interesting the world becomes to them. If your dog only gets walked occasionally, then when they do go out, it’s going to be like going to Disneyland for them.
[00:08:13] Staci Lemke: They’re gonna be super excited trying to run from this thing to that thing. Trying to take in as much as they can. Walks shouldn’t be a special occasion. They should be an everyday thing. I don’t have a yard, so my dogs go out four times a day. Two good long walks and two shorter potty trips. You don’t have to go out that often, but your dog should get one or two nice walks a day.
[00:08:36] Staci Lemke: I’d say at least 20 to 30 minutes each, but that’s gonna depend on your dog’s energy level and what other activities you do with them. Oh, and here’s another thing I’m gonna throw in an extra bonus tip for you. Your dog is occasionally going to pull. It’s gonna happen because nobody, not you, not me, not your dog is a hundred percent reliable.
[00:08:58] Staci Lemke: This really applies to anything you teach your dog. Don’t expect perfection, it’s unattainable. You have to set realistic expectations. I am fine if my dog can do 90% of the walk without pulling. So there you have it. My top tips to help you if your dog pulls on leash
[00:09:21] Staci Lemke: is your cute and cuddly puppy suddenly misbehaving that same puppy that wanted nothing more than to be with you 24 7 now. Doesn’t even seem to know that you exist. Your dog is not a puppy anymore. He’s now an adolescent. If you’re missing out on the true joy of sharing your life with a dog because of your puppy’s new naughty behaviors, then check out my online course Surviving Your Dog’s Adolescence.
[00:09:47] Staci Lemke: This course will help you understand the changes your dog is going through, and will give you a simple step-by-step training strategy. You’ll get all the tools you need to eliminate unwanted behaviors and create the well-mannered dog of your dreams. Simply go to manners for mutts.com. Slash adolescence to sign up today.
[00:10:12] Staci Lemke: Welcome to Trainer’s Choice. This is where I share with you my favorite toys, treats, and activities for you and your dogs to enjoy. Halloween is my favorite time of the year. I love the decorations, the costumes, and the trick or treaters, but Halloween can be a frightening time for our dogs. Dogs don’t understand the scary decorations, people dressing up, and why so many visitors are suddenly knocking on the door.
[00:10:40] Staci Lemke: So in this episode of Trainer’s Choice, I’m gonna change it up a little bit and I’m gonna give you some tips to help you prepare your dog for Halloween. Let’s first talk about the costumes. People dressed in strange looking attire can be really scary to your dog. Your dog doesn’t know that real people are under that scary exterior.
[00:11:01] Staci Lemke: If you want your dog to feel safe around odd looking costumes, then start desensitizing your dog to them. Now start with something simple like a hat, a wig, or a fake beard. Show your dog the item before you put it on. Let ’em sniff. Let him check it out. Feed him a few treats, put it on in front of your dog.
[00:11:22] Staci Lemke: Once again, let them check it out. Feed them a few treats. Once they’re comfortable, you can begin to move around wearing the item. Pair each step with tasty treats and only move to the next step once your dog is comfortable. Once your dog is comfortable with seeing you in a costume, try playing a game with a favorite toy.
[00:11:42] Staci Lemke: Now what about costumes for your dog? First, realize that most dogs don’t really wanna dress up. So if you want your dog to wear a costume, then start getting them used to it slowly. First, just show your dog the costume. You can lay it on the floor and sprinkle some treats around and onto the costume.
[00:12:03] Staci Lemke: Once your dog is comfortable with that, you can pick up the costume and let your dog check it out. Then gradually touch ’em with the costume or lay it over them all the while pairing the costume with Tasty Treats and a happy voice, only put the costume on your dog once they are totally comfortable with it, and never force your dog to wear a costume if they aren’t comfortable.
[00:12:27] Staci Lemke: Your dog should have a say in whether they wear a costume or not. If your dog hates it, don’t do it. Next. Decorations, they can be very scary. For our dogs, they’re big. They make strange noises and even move round in weird ways. Again, you can desensitize your dog to Halloween decorations by allowing your dog to see them at a distance where your dog feels safe.
[00:12:52] Staci Lemke: Pair the sight of the decorations with tasty treats, or a game with a favorite toy. Only move closer when your dog is comfortable. You can also desensitize your dog to scary Halloween noises in a similar way. Play the sounds at a very low volume while doing something your dog enjoys. When you’re decorating your own house, let your dog see you.
[00:13:13] Staci Lemke: Bring out the decorations, let them check it out. Let them watch you hang things up and move things around. And again, you’re gonna pair everything with tasty treats and fun toys. Halloween also brings trick or treaters, and that means lots of door knocking. The best way to prevent problems at the door is to set up a safe place for your dog to go when trick or treaters arrive, this keeps your dog from jumping on the kids or running out the door.
[00:13:41] Staci Lemke: This should be a place away from the door that your dog can relax in. It can be another room, it can be a walk-in closet. It can be a bathroom. Practice getting your dog comfortable in their safe space ahead of time. If you don’t already have a place like this for them, have a frozen stuffed food toy ready to go.
[00:14:01] Staci Lemke: You can play soft music, white noise, or run a box fan to help drown out the noise. So I hope these tips will help you and your dog get through the festivities of Halloween. I’ve also prepared for you a free downloadable ebook. You can get a copy of these tips and more in my ebook. Prepare Your Dog for Halloween.
[00:14:25] Staci Lemke: The link for the download will be in the show notes.
[00:14:32] Staci Lemke: So let’s review what you learned in today’s podcast. I told you my idea of loose leash walking and how it differs from formal healing. I explained to you why dogs pull on the leash. I gave you six. Well, actually seven tips for loose leash walking and here they are. Teach your dog to focus on you as a default behavior.
[00:14:54] Staci Lemke: Use a front clip, no pull harness. Use high value food rewards and reward your dog every time they check in with you on a walk. Don’t walk your dog on an extendable leash. Don’t follow your dog when they pull. Stop moving or slow way down. Walk your dog on a regular basis, preferably every day. Set realistic expectations, don’t expect perfection.
[00:15:23] Staci Lemke: Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mutt. If you’ve got questions about today’s episode or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about, let’s connect. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at Manners for Mutts. Also, be sure to visit manners for mutts.com for links.
[00:15:43] Staci Lemke: Resources and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend. Talk to you next time.