Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My puppy stops walking and pulls on leash. How do I train her?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Female | 3 months and 3 days old | 390 lbs

My puppy won't walk when going for a walk and just stares at people and stops to look back at tje same people, but sometimes she "drags" the leach and I usually stop so let ger calm down because it's what i learned to do, but she won't calm down. What should i do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 25th, 2018

Correcting the Behavior To train a dog to walk by his or her owner’s side with a loose leash, some methods are listed below. You should remember that, for all training, you should reward the dog when he is doing something you want, instead of just telling him what you don’t want. Training can be a long process; these methods require consistency and perseverance. Training sessions should begin after your dog has had sufficient exercise and not as a substitution for exercise. Be sure not to give up!!! 1. Rewardyourdogwhenheisnotpulling Start with your dog in a quiet area. Walk your dog on leash. When your dog is walking next to you for 2 steps, give a treat. Gradually increase the amount of walking and distractions. The idea is to catch your dog doing something right and reward that behavior☺ 2. The“TreeMethod” When your dog pulls, become an immoveable object. Once your dog stops pulling and the leash is relaxed, call the dog to your side and praise or give a treat. This reinforces the positive behavior of maintaining a loose leash. 3. WalkingtheOtherWay In order to reinforce a dog’s natural tendency to follow, once your dog pulls out in front, you should turn quickly and walk the other way. Reward once you feel slack on the collar. This can cause a walk to go no more than a few feet at the beginning, so be patient. The pull back should only be strong enough to get your dog’s attention. Excessive force, especially when using choke chains, may cause neck trauma. For more information, please contact your veterinarian or a trainer who uses humane training methods.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

  • Image profile

    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hello, leash training is an important part of training in puppies and can impact the rest of their life. Here are some tips on how to manage leash training. Hope thus helps and best of luck. There are many reasons why a dog may pull on his or her leash, but the most common cause is from lack of proper training. An owner may encounter difficulties in training certain breeds such as sled, working, or tracking dogs that were bred to pull. Dogs that exhibit fear, anxiety or aggression will need to see a veterinary behaviorist for assessment; these issues need to be addressed separately prior to training. Is positive or negative reinforcement for me? At UC Davis we teach a combination of positive and negative reinforcement as the best tools for learning. • What is positive reinforcement? Adding something that is likely to make the dog repeat the behavior. Rewarding a wanted behavior, such as walking nicely by your side, with praise, petting, or treats would be an example. • What is negative reinforcement? Taking away a negative stimulus when a correct behavior is performed. An example may be something as simple as relief of pressure on the neck when a dog stops pulling. • What is positive punishment? Positive punishment is adding a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of an action from happening. We don’t recommend positive punishment because it breaks the human animal bond. Controlling the Behavior Here is a short list of tools that you can use to control leash pulling. Each tool has its advantages and disadvantages. And tools are just that, tools. Dogs also require some form of training to walk well on-leash. Tool Head collars (i.e. Gentle Leader ®, Halti ®) Controls head using pressure points May be mistaken for a muzzle Dog may need to gradually get used to wearing it Front attachment harnesses (i.e. Easy Walk Harness ®) Front chest leash attachment decreases pulling Some dogs still pull Flat collar Easy to use Dog can still pull Choke/training collar None, unless dog is highly trained to use it Difficult to use correctly Can cause neck injury if used improperly Dog can still pull Prong/pinch collar Potentially easy to use Difficult to use correctly Can cause neck injury if used improperly Works by instilling pain when pulling Must fit correctly to use properly Dog can still pull

    Vote icon

    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My male dog's penis is stuck out and his scrotum has a painful rash.
Is your 11-year-old male dog experiencing a painful penis or rash? A certified vet explains potential paraphimosis urgency and why immediate care is vital.
Updated on September 23, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?
Is your dog's dry skin a concern? A certified vet offers expert advice on finding the best fish-based dog food alternatives to Science Diet for essential oils.
Updated on February 04, 2026
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Dog licking paws, fur loss, and jaw wound: Could it be allergies?
Is your Shih-Tzu crossbreed biting his feet, losing fur, or has a wound? A trusted vet explains these classic allergy signs and advises on treatments like Apoquel or medicated shampoo.
Updated on September 23, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Is there a chart for dog food protein biological value and digestibility?
Dog food protein's biological value & digestibility: A vet explains why data is complex. Learn to judge quality by company reputation and your dog's health.
Updated on September 23, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Why does my puppy have bloody, mucousy stools despite diet changes?
Your 4-month-old puppy suffers from ongoing loose stools with mucus and blood. An expert veterinarian explores potential intestinal parasites and advises further fecal testing. Find answers here!
Updated on September 23, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog rubs belly & scratches face, no fleas. Could it be allergies?
Does your dog rub her belly and scratch her face without fleas? A certified vet discusses possible causes like allergies, infection, or mites. Get expert guidance now!
Updated on September 23, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored