When dog owners come to me for help on how to stop leash pulling, I feel for them, especially when I hear the frustration in their voices.

It's understandable why having a dog pulling the leash can be such a pain! If all you want is to enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk with your dog, the constant struggle for control can be exhausting.

And most of the time, the leash pulling happens at the start of the walk, making you wonder, "Is going out for a walk even worth it?"

Why do dogs do this? Why is there even a power struggle? And should you persist?

In this blog, I will talk about my biggest theory of why dogs pull the leash at the start of every walk… and what you can do to change it.

Read on to learn more.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the Instincts: Dogs pull on the leash due to instincts derived from their wolf ancestors, seeing walks as a time for hunting and leading. They will naturally take the Alpha role if they don't sense a leader, hence the pulling.


• Be the Alpha Leader: To stop leash pulling, you must establish yourself as the leader in all aspects of your dog's life, not just during walks. This means setting boundaries, giving consistent consequences for pulling, and showing calm, assertive energy.


• Prepare and React Appropriately: How you start the walk sets the tone. Go out first, decide when to walk, and be ready with calm responses to pulling, like pauses or changing direction. Letting your dog lead or not giving consequences encourages pulling.

Stop Leash Pulling: Understanding Why Dogs Pull the Leash Right Before You Start Your Walk

You walk to the door; your is already pulling on the leash.

You step outside down the stairs, and your dog pulls and pulls as if telling you to "Hurry up!"

Your time outdoors is all about having to regain control of the leash.

If you've experienced the things I mentioned above, you get how challenging it is to have a dog who wants to take charge of the walk from start to finish.

But why do dogs pull the leash at the start of every walk?

Let me answer that using dog psychology.

You see, our dogs have the DNA of a wolf — 99.98%, to be exact. Why is this significant? Because how your dog acts can be connected to how wolves act in the wild.

For the wolves, everything is about survival. When they head outdoors, a walk is not just a walk; it's all about hunting for food.

The most interesting thing about wolves is they don't push through with their walk until the Alpha — the pack leader — steps in to lead the way, signals "Let's go!" and goes on to make all the big decisions.

Even though our dogs have become more domesticated than their ancestors, they still think like wolves.

Someone has to lead, someone has to decide, someone has to be followed, someone has to call the BIG shots.

FACT: If your dog doesn't feel like an Alpha is in charge, they will take over.

Why?

Because dogs, by nature, will always look for the leader. If that isn't filled, they immediately have to assume the role.

It’s hardwired into the DNA.

And leaders lead…thus, your dog is out front and there is endless leash pulling, especially at the start of every walk.

Have you ever observed your dog becoming more in tune whenever the walk happens? They're gearing up to make the big decisions!

So… what can you do?

To Stop Leash Pulling, You Have to Know That Control Matters to Dogs

Control is a powerful concept in dog psychology!

Why? Because your dog knows control is essential for survival. The Alpha is their protector! The Alpha tells them how to survive the wild and find food.

Your dog pulling the leash shows they have taken the role of the Alpha. Their pulling sends the message, "I'm making the big decisions now. I will tell you what to do!"

So when your dog pulls the lead, they aren't deliberately disobeying you or getting on your nerves.

They pull the lead because they feel they're the pack leader, and they need to make every crucial decision to make the walk successful because that's what pack leaders do.

5 Things You Can Do To Stop The Dog From Pulling the Leash

The biggest solution to stop leash pulling is to actually show your dog they can pass on the hat of leadership to you.

Here are some ways you can do it.

#1: Be the Leader in Everything

Just as the Alpha wolf leads the pack, you need to establish yourself as the leader of your pack.

I want to be very clear: to stop leash pulling, you need to be the leader of EVERYTHING, and not just of walking outdoors.

Some dog owners assume they only need to show their authority and leadership during the walk, and what happens before or after the walk doesn't matter.

I 100% encourage you to take charge of everything, from the walk to the feeding to giving affection and attention.

Becoming the leader in your dog's eyes requires an all-round approach, and that's why I made my online dog training program, The Dog Calming Code™️.

This dog training program is dedicated to helping you become an all-round leader in your dog's eyes by guiding you on how to feed dogs, give attention, respond to calls for danger, and how walks should be done.

So when you need to go outdoors, your dog already knows who to listen to!

#2: Set Boundaries and Consequences

When it comes to walking, I recommend these simple options if you're looking for a way to incorporate discipline during your time outdoors.

Consequence #1: The Pause

Do the pause if your dog starts pulling the leash. This consequence is your way of saying "Hey, we won't continue walking if you keep on pulling."

Wait 2-5 minutes and see if your dog stops the pulling the lead.

Consequence #2: The 180

If pulling, aggression, or rowdiness doesn't stop after a couple of pauses, turn the other way around and abandon the walk. I know this could be heartbreaking, especially when your dog has been looking forward to time outdoors. However, doing the 180 can help your dog understand that ultimately, YOU are the decision maker, the one in charge, and they should be listening to you.

Your dog will eventually get it, and will follow habits you expect them to do.

#3: Know What to Do Before Stepping Out of the House

This one is crucial because how you walk out of the house predicts how your walk will go.

Even if you've already showed you're the leader, one power move from your dog can change the dynamics.

What do I mean by this?

I mentioned earlier that dogs are all about control. Your dog is smart and will subtly challenge your leadership before the walk.

Some dogs will attempt to jump through the door before you do as if to say "Ha! I lead now!"

Sometimes, dogs will attempt to take control by tugging at you, or handing you the leash to tell you "Hey, it's time for my walk!"

In both circumstances, if you give in to your dog, you WILL lose control.

So before stepping out of the house, here are three things I want you to remember:

Tip #1: You Go First

You need to be the CEO of the walk every. single. time.

This concept means if your dog attempts to go in front of you, you calmly lead them back to your side to walk WITH you.

Don't let your dog have any semblance of control.

Tip #2: You Decide When To Go for a Walk

I talk more about this in my blog about the Doggy Dan Rule #5: How to Walk Your Dogs.

The main principle: the go signal comes from you and not from your dog.

Sure, your dog will attempt to convince you to bring them outside whenever they want. This could be tempting, especially when they can't hide their eagerness. But stay strong, furmom and furdad.

Ignore the request for a few minutes then call your dog. Doing this establishes that you — not them — decide when the walk should happen.

Tip #3: You Decide If A Walk Should Actually Happen

Keep an eye on your dog's behavior to see if you should push through with the walk.

Some factors that indicate you should not push through include:

• a high energy that doesn't go down


• extreme aggression that could harm others


• a rowdy behavior that doesn't respond to commands


• persistent leash pulling even after you reprimand them

If you see these factors in your dog