Why Do Dogs Pull on The Lead?

Pulling on the Lead: Understanding Why Dogs Do It

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Pulling on the lead is one of the most common behaviour “problems” reported by dog owners, and for good reason. Not only is loose lead training one of the hardest skills to teach, but it’s also one of the easiest to accidentally reinforce.

In this article, I’ll explore the reasons why dogs pull on the lead and how we can work together to make walks more enjoyable for both of us.

Understanding Your Dog's Nature

It Doesn't Come Naturally to a Dog

Dogs aren’t designed to walk in a straight line. Instead, they’re built to move from smell to smell, at their own pace and in no particular pattern. Given these factors, it’s no surprise that many dogs—and their owners—struggle with lead walking.

Take Working Cocker Spaniels, for example. These dogs are bred to search an area efficiently, often zigzagging with their noses to the ground in a behaviour called quartering. This instinct can make lead training quite challenging, even with the best treats or squirty cheese.

The Power of Pavlov

Have you ever noticed how your dog gets excited when you reach for their food bowl? This excitement comes from a learning process called classical conditioning, or more commonly known as “Pavlov’s Dog.” In simple terms, your dog has learned to associate the appearance of their bowl with delicious food. Just the sight or sound of it can make them salivate in anticipation.

Classical conditioning is a powerful way for dogs to learn. Unfortunately, it can also be tough to unlearn. This type of conditioning can be both positive and negative, depending on the situation and what we want from our dogs.

When I work with an owner and their dog, one of the first things I do is observe how the dog reacts to their walking equipment. If the dog gets excited at the sight of their harness or lead, it’s a sign they associate it with going for a walk. This excitement can lead to them pulling you out the door.

If your dog gets excited before you’ve even stepped outside, they’ve likely learned what’s coming next. This anticipation can lead to them dragging you out of the house.

Unrealistic Human Expectations

As dog owners, we often have unrealistic expectations about our furry friends. We expect them to know how to walk to heel for an hour, ignore all the enticing smells around them, and not be distracted by other dogs.

These expectations are not only unreasonable but also unfair. We’re asking our dogs to stop acting like dogs and behave like robots. When they inevitably get something wrong, we can become frustrated with them.

Imagine this scenario:

• Someone shouts at you when you try to enter your favourite shop.

• Someone drags you by your neck when you want to visit the local bakery.

• Someone gently hits you when you try to greet your friends.

• Someone gets annoyed when you want to stop and take in the view.

  
  

How would you feel about that person? Grateful for stopping you from doing what comes naturally? Or frustrated and anxious because you can’t be yourself?

Learning to use your dog’s distractions to your advantage is a crucial part of loose-lead training.

The Scent Appeal

Dogs experience the world through their noses, while we humans rely on our eyes. While we might be distracted by the sight of freshly baked goods, our dogs are captivated by the scents around them.

The power of a dog’s nose is often underestimated. A human has around 6 million olfactory receptors, while a dog has about 300 million! This means they can smell things long before we even notice them.

To put it into perspective, in her book Inside of a Dog, Alexandra Horowitz writes:

“We might notice if our coffee’s been sweetened with a teaspoon of sugar; a dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water: two Olympic-sized pools full.”

So, if your dog gets distracted by every lamp-post, bush, and post box, it’s not because they’re being disobedient. They’re simply doing what comes naturally—investigating interesting scents.

To learn more about a dog’s incredible sense of smell, check out this TED-Ed Video.

Pulling Works

Dogs are efficient learners, which means they’ll do what works for them. If pulling gets them to the park faster, to their favourite sniffing spot, or to their best mate’s house, they’ll continue to pull. It’s that simple.

That’s why much training advice focuses on what to do when your dog pulls. The idea is that by not letting your dog get what they want after pulling, they’ll learn that pulling doesn’t work. But let’s be honest—how often have you been told to turn around the moment your dog pulls, only to find yourself being dragged in the opposite direction?

Common advice for when a dog pulls includes:

• Stopping and waiting for the lead to go loose before moving again.

• Turning around and walking in the opposite direction.

• Dragging them back to your side.

• Using aversive training tools like shock collars or prong collars, which punish the dog for pulling.

  
  

These techniques aim to teach your dog what not to do. In other words, “You pulled me, so no reward for you.”

While it’s important to prevent further pulling, we also need to teach our dogs how they can successfully access the things they enjoy. When a dog learns that a specific behaviour leads to something they want or need, they’ll repeat that behaviour.

Loose Lead Training Takes Time

Lead walking often takes longer to master than most other skills we teach our dogs. It requires lots of repetition and practice in various locations before the training sticks.

Not dedicating enough time to lead training is, in my experience, the most common reason for training to “fail.” I totally understand why this happens. Most of us get dogs so we can take them on walks and explore the world together. Spending hours a week stopping, turning, and shouting can make it hard to stick to any training plan.

Having a clear plan with simple, achievable steps for you and your dog is key to better lead walking.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding why dogs pull on the lead can help us become better trainers and companions. By recognising their natural behaviours, managing our expectations, and employing effective training techniques, we can transform stressful walks into joyful experiences. Remember, patience and consistency are essential. Let’s work together to create a positive environment for our furry friends, so we can enjoy our walks together.

If you're looking for more guidance, feel free to reach out. I'm here to help you and your dog thrive together!