When I first brought my dog home, I had a very clear picture in my head. Calm walks around the neighborhood. A relaxed leash. Both of us enjoying the time together.
What I actually got was a dog that treated every walk like a sled race, pulling so hard it stopped being enjoyable altogether.
If you’ve ever felt stressed, frustrated, or even tempted to skip walks because your dog pulls nonstop, you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common questions dog owners ask, and for good reason. Walking shouldn’t feel like a workout you didn’t sign up for.
After learning from professional trainers at McCann Dogs and applying these techniques consistently, leash pulling finally stopped being a daily battle for me.
Below, I’m breaking down the same five tips that made the biggest difference, explained clearly and practically so you can start using them right away.
Why Dogs Pull on the Leash in the First Place
Before fixing the behavior, it helps to understand it. Dogs don’t pull because they’re stubborn or trying to dominate you.
Most of the time, they pull because they’ve learned that pulling works.
It gets them where they want to go faster, whether that’s another dog, a smell, or just forward motion.
Over time, constant tension on the leash becomes normal to them.
If your dog is always walking with pressure on their collar, pulling feels natural and expected.
Tip 1: Make Sure Your Dog’s Collar Is Properly Fitted
One of the biggest mistakes I was making early on was using a poorly fitted collar.
If your dog is choking themselves on walks, that’s not something to ignore.
It usually means the collar is sitting too low on the neck or is too loose.
When a collar sits low, closer to the shoulders, your dog actually has more power to pull.
They can lean into it and use their full body weight against you.
That’s exactly what you don’t want.
What worked best for me was switching to a flat metal buckle collar and fitting it high on the neck.
You should be able to fit two fingers underneath it, no more.
It should feel secure without being tight or uncomfortable.
If you have a growing puppy, this fit should be checked daily.
A properly fitted collar gives you better control and clearer communication.
Your dog feels information sooner and more accurately, which matters a lot during training.
Why Harnesses Can Make Pulling Worse
I used to think a harness was the solution because it stopped the choking.
What I didn’t realize was that it didn’t address the pulling at all.
In fact, for many dogs, harnesses make pulling easier because they allow the dog to lean forward with even more strength.
Harnesses have their place, but if your goal is to stop pulling, they often work against you rather than helping.
Tip 2: Keep Slack in the Leash at All Times
This tip changed everything for me.
If your dog is always walking with a tight leash, they get used to that constant pressure.
Over time, they stop responding to it. Pulling becomes their default state.
The goal is a loose leash. The clip should point toward the ground, and there should be visible slack between you and your dog.
When the leash is loose, your dog actually has the freedom to make a choice to stay close to you.
Tension isn’t always bad, though. When used correctly, it can be a helpful cue.
A slight bit of tension can signal your dog to move toward you.
Once they respond, the slack returns. That release is what teaches them they’re doing the right thing.
Tip 3: Teach Your Dog to Move With You, Not Against You
When I started paying attention to how my dog responded to leash pressure, I noticed something interesting.
With a loose leash, even small movements from me encouraged my dog to stay by my side.
If they felt a little tension and immediately moved closer, I rewarded that behavior with calm praise and continued walking.
Over time, they learned that staying near me was the easiest and most comfortable option.
At that point, the leash almost felt unnecessary. The dog wasn’t staying close because they had to, but because they chose to.
On the other hand, when the leash stayed tight all the time, my dog never really had a choice.
That constant restriction made them less engaged and more frustrated.
Tip 4: Use the Gentle Leader for Strong Pullers
Some dogs are simply more powerful.
If your dog is strong enough that a flat buckle collar doesn’t give you enough control, a Gentle Leader can be a great next step.
What I like about the Gentle Leader is that it works through head control rather than force.
It guides the direction of the head, which naturally influences the rest of the body.
It uses pressure, not pain, and that makes a big difference.
Another benefit is how easy it is to transition away from it.
When your dog is walking well, you can remove the nose loop and clip the leash to the built-in ring so it functions like a regular collar.
If pulling starts again, you can easily switch back.
The key thing to remember is that no piece of equipment fixes pulling on its own.
Timing, consistency, and clear communication still matter. Tools only help when they’re used correctly.
Tip 5: Never Let Your Dog Pull Toward What They Want
This was the hardest habit for me to break, but also the most important.
If your dog pulls toward something they want and reaches it, they’ve just been rewarded for pulling.
That applies to other dogs, people, toys, or even a favorite smell.
Instead, when your dog starts pulling toward a distraction, slide your hand down the leash, calmly turn them away, and put slack back into the leash once they follow.
You’re not yanking or correcting harshly. You’re simply saying, “Pulling doesn’t get you there.”
Distraction training should be gradual. When my dog was younger, I avoided high-level distractions altogether.
As they improved and stayed more focused on me, I slowly introduced challenges from a distance and worked closer over time.
The Most Important Rule: Be Consistent
If there’s one takeaway that matters more than anything else, it’s consistency.
You can’t allow pulling sometimes and correct it other times.
That sends mixed signals and makes the rules unclear for your dog.
Consistency is what builds understanding and trust.
Once I committed to applying these rules on every walk, things changed quickly.
Walks became calmer, more enjoyable, and something I actually looked forward to again.
Final Thoughts
Loose leash walking isn’t about overpowering your dog or relying on equipment alone.
It’s about clear communication, good timing, and giving your dog the opportunity to make the right choices.
If you apply these tips patiently and consistently, walking your dog can become the peaceful experience you imagined from the start.
And once that happens, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to walk them more often, not less. Happy training.