Let me just tell how to train your dog if he is pulling the leash when you are walking him.  You are in good company.  This problem is quiet common and can be corrected by a few adjustments.  Just keep in mind that to create tension in the leash it need to be pulled from both sides, so both you and your dog need to adjust your behavior.

Lets start by taking a step back to try to understand why your dog is pulling the leash and how to train your dog not to do so.  Dogs are not so far away from us humans, and act based on pain or pleasure and in this case the dog associates some sort of reward by pulling in the leash.

When I go out to play with my dog we go to park near by to play and meet other dogs.  When she was a puppy and she understood where we where going she puled the leash like crazy, and it the beginning I let her do so without any big corrections.  And five minutes later we where there, and to her it was simply a reward and this is the reason why your dog is pulling as well.  When you meet an other dog on your walk it pulls and gets to greet the other dog, when you are going to the car it pulls and gets there etc.  It associates the pulling with reward even how simple it sound.

To undo this, to some very frustrating dog behavior there are a few simple but powerful steps to make.  When your dog create any sort of tension in the leash just stop for a few seconds.  If the dog turns to you give it praise for the attention it gives you.  If the tension is still there take a few steps back or in an other direction.  But the key here is to reward your dog every time the tension is gone, with it’s favorite toy or food of your choice.  Repeat this behavior until the dog don’t pull as much any longer, then start to reward him when he stops pulling and are back at your side looking at you giving you it’s attention. 

This should not take to long time before your dog is walking in leash with you in a way that you will enjoy This is the most effective way on how to train your dog to stop pulling the leash.  So lets summarize this simple lesson: -  Both you and your dog need to change behavior to make this work. -  Be consistent in your action and do this step every time your dog creates tension in the leash. -  Reward your dog every time your behave the way you like it to do.

PS!  There are some dogs we “alpha dog” that likes to be in control and these dogs tends to walk in front of the “pack”.  If this is the type of dog you have just do the exact same steps,  I have done it several times on dogs like this. Have a good dog-walk Cheers Tom

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