What’s the Best Way to Leash Train a Pulling Dog?
From my own experience, I’ve learned that leash training isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Every dog is different, and real progress takes time, patience, and consistency. When my dog starts pulling, I stop right away and take a couple of steps back, or I’ll turn and walk in the opposite direction to reset her focus. I’ve also seen how powerful praise can be, even just a few seconds of calm, loose-leash walking deserves encouragement.
Along the way, I realized that while harnesses help manage the physical side of pulling, they don’t always address what’s going on in my dog’s mind. That’s where the Halo Collar made a difference for us. Instead of acting as a restraint, it works as a communication tool. The customizable feedback feels like a gentle, invisible tap on the shoulder, breaking her fixation on distractions and guiding her attention back to me. Most importantly, I stay firm about never letting her reach something she wants by pulling, because I learned that doing so only reinforces the behavior. With consistency and clearer communication, our walks have become calmer and far more enjoyable.
