Leash Pulling (the stop-and-redirect fix)

Let's talk about the dog who pulls on the leash. The first rule: if the dog is pulling, you are not walking the dog. The dog is walking you.

Step one: stop dead the second the leash goes tight. Do not pull back, do not yank, do not say heel. Just stop, like a tree.

Step two: wait. The dog will eventually look back at you. The second the leash goes slack, mark it with yes and move forward.

Step three: change directions every time the dog passes you. Be a tree, then be a leader. Be the leader, be the alpha of the walk, not the follower.

Step four: most dogs figure this out in three sessions. The ones who don't are usually being walked by family members who let them pull on the way home from school. Match the dog to the family, and match the family to the protocol.

Now here's Steve's notes.