Puppy Pulling on the Leash: What's Normal

Puppy pulling on the leash is normal. Dogs naturally walk faster than people, and young dogs find self-control hard, so a puppy leaning into the leash like a tiny sled dog is doing what puppies do. The good news is that it is much easier to teach loose-leash walking early, with short and happy lessons.

When should I start leash training a puppy?

Start when you bring your puppy home, even before full vaccination, indoors and in the yard. AKC says training can start before then. For outdoor walks before full vaccination, follow your vet’s advice.

How do I teach a puppy to walk on a leash?

Keep it light and positive. Try these four building blocks:

1. Teach a marker word. A happy “yes!” followed straight away by a treat.
2. Reward eye contact and check-ins. Say your puppy’s name once and pay for every glance.
3. Play the leash-end lookback. When the leash is about to go tight, say the name and reward the return to you.
4. Pair “Let’s go” with walking. Then add one step at a time.

Short, light sessions work best. We suggest 2 to 5 minutes, as our own range rather than a studied number.

What should I do and not do with a pulling puppy?

Do	Don’t
Give sniffy walks several times a week	Drag a puppy who stops
Resize the harness as your puppy grows	Use a retractable leash
Use a fixed, lightweight leash of about 5 to 6 feet	Scold or yank when the leash tightens
Reward calm, loose-leash moments	Expect a perfect walk from a very young dog

If your puppy stops and won’t move, wait, call happily and reward. Dragging adds stress and doesn’t teach your puppy what to do instead.

What does a first week at home look like?

Keep it simple and indoors. In the hallway or living room, play the marker game and the name check-in game for a minute or two, a few times a day. Keep about 10 soft, pea-sized treats in the same place so your hand is always ready. Stop while your puppy is still keen. If your puppy loses interest, whines or can’t focus, make the room quieter or go back a step. These are the same foundation games we describe in Seven Foundation Games to Play at Home, just kept very short.

How should a puppy’s gear fit?

Puppies grow fast, so recheck the fit often. You should be able to slide two fingers under the collar or straps, the shoulders should move freely, and nothing should rub, twist or pinch. AKC says a harness is generally better for puppies. We don’t name one best design, because experts differ, so ask a reward-based trainer, your vet or the shop to check a well-fitted harness or flat collar on your puppy.

Check any harness for rips and fraying as well.

What about sniffy walks?

AKC recommends “sniffy” walks several times a week for puppies, where your puppy chooses the direction. It may reduce pulling and meets your puppy’s need to explore. Keep these walks relaxed and separate from training walks. We cover the idea in The Decompression Sniff Walk.

What should I expect?

A young puppy will not walk perfectly. Aim for tiny wins: a glance back, a few loose steps, a happy return. If you want to understand the loop behind the pulling, read why dogs pull on the leash. When your puppy becomes a teenager and everything seems to fall apart, see Teenage Dog Pulling. The full plan is in the Stop Leash Pulling guide.