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How to stop your dog pulling on the lead

Barney the Doberman wearing the Dog A La Mode orange vegan dog collar and orange reversible dog puffer jacket being walked by his owner wearing the orange vegan dog lead outdoors

We all know dogs are naturally active and energetic animals, who love to explore the curious world around them. During our dog walks however, it can be quite frustrating when our fluffy bundles of joy are constantly pulling on their lead during the walks. 

Not only are dogs pulling on the lead uncomfortable for us as owners, but it can also be dangerous for our dogs as well. When doggos pull on their leads, it can cause them neck injuries, respiratory problems, and even injury to their trachea. In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to stop your dog from pulling on a lead.

1. Choose the Right Type of Lead

The type of dog lead you choose to use can have a significant impact on your dog’s behaviour. If possible, try to avoid retractable leads as they usually give your dog too much freedom to pull; this can be particularly dangerous if your dog suddenly lunges forward. 

Instead, use a traditional lead that is often between 1.5 to 3.5 metres long. This distance will give you more control over your dog’s movements, making it more stress-free and easier to train your cute doggos.

Here at Dog A La Mode, we offer some vegan hands-free and double-ended dog leads, giving you more control of your dogs to prevent them from pulling the lead as much, but also allowing you to give the dogs more freedom.

2. Train Your Dog to Walk on a Loose Lead

It can take some time to teach your doggos how to walk on a loose lead but trust us, it’s definitely worth the effort. Here is a great way to teach your dog how to walk on a loose lead.

  1. Firstly hold the lead in your left hand and a handful of treats in your right hand (or vice versa depending on your preference).
  2. Then start walking with your dog, and as soon as they start pulling, stop walking and wait for them to come back to you. 
  3. When they return to your side, give them a treat and continue walking with your dog.
  4. Repeat this process until your dog learns to walk calmly by your side.

3. Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to train a dog. As mentioned above, when your dog walks smoothly by your side, reward them with their favourite treats. 

Other rewards can be enthusiastically praising the doggos, petting them, playing with them and giving them their favourite dog toys.

These rewards will help them associate good behaviour with positive outcomes. It’s always best to start by training your dog in a quiet, distraction-free environment before moving to busier areas.

4. Use a No-Pull Harness

A no pull harness or anti-pull harness is specially designed to restrict a dog’s natural movement to make it easier to train them into walking without them pulling on the lead and trying to run ahead of you.

The no-pull harness is ideal for dogs that are particularly strong or are persistent pullers. It works by gently redirecting your dog’s attention back to you when they start to pull. 

This type of harness has a front-clip attachment, which can help prevent your dog from pulling on their dog leash..

5. Stay Consistent

As with most dog training, it’s all about consistency. Consistency is key when it comes to training your dog to walk calmly on a lead. 

If possible, set aside time every day for training your furry ones. It’s important to make sure everyone in the family is using the same training techniques. 

Please be patient and keep practicing. It might even take a few weeks or sometimes months for your dog to learn but be patient and keep at it.

In summary, pulling on the lead is a very common problem among dogs so don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good thing is it’s also one that can be easily fixed with patience, consistency and persistence. 

By choosing the right lead, training your dog to walk on a loose lead, using positive reinforcement, using a no-pull harness, and staying consistent, you can help your dog become a well-behaved and enjoyable companion on all your amazing walks together.

For some special discount codes of all our dog items, checkout out our Dog À La Mode coupon codes.

If you’re looking for a fashionable but practical dog lead to walk your doggos, Dog À La Mode have hands-free and double ended vegan dog leads in 2 beautiful colours:

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