Loose Leash Walking is a Conversation, Not a Battle

I meet a lot of clients who tell me the same thing: “My dog is great in the house, but the moment we put on the leash… it’s game over.”
Suddenly they’re in a tug-of-war down the street, arm stretched, dog pulling, both of them frustrated.

And I get it. I’ve been there myself.

But here’s the good news: Loose leash walking is a teachable skill—and when we approach it as a conversation instead of a battle, it changes everything.

Why Dogs Pull

First, let’s give our dogs some credit. The human world is full of smells, sights, and distractions. Most of us walk at a boring, slow pace compared to what our dogs naturally enjoy.

And unfortunately, a lot of us start the leash-walking relationship by defaulting to pulling back. The dog pulls → the human pulls → tension builds → both get frustrated.

Punishment-based tools (prong collars, leash pops) may suppress pulling, but they don’t teach the dog how we want them to walk—and they often erode trust.

Teaching Loose Leash Walking as a Game

The first step in building a better walk is reframing the goal: we’re not trying to "correct" pulling, we’re teaching engagement.

Loose leash walking works best when it’s taught like a game:

✅ Click and treat for moments of engagement
✅ Reinforce check-ins and proximity
✅ Keep the walk dynamic—stop, turn, change pace
✅ Reward frequently at first, then fade out strategically

When I started this approach with Roo—my brilliant, joyful Labrador who shaped so much of my training—it was like a light bulb came on for both of us. The leash stopped being a tether and became a shared signal: Hey, let’s walk together.

With Bags, my current adventure buddy, I’ve found that alternating between focused walking and structured sniff breaks keeps our walks joyful for both of us. I use “go sniff” as a clear cue to let her know it’s time to explore, rather than having her pull toward every interesting spot. This helps keep the walk calm and connected while still honoring her natural curiosity.

Summer Walks = Great Training Opportunities

Warm weather brings new smells, more activity, and new challenges (and distractions!) on walks. This makes it a perfect time to practice engagement games:

• Click for eye contact in distracting environments

• Reinforce calmly walking past other dogs or people

• Practice short bursts of focused walking between free-sniffing breaks

Adjusting Expectations

It’s also important to recognize that loose leash walking isn’t one static behavior—it’s dynamic.

In highly exciting environments (busy summer events, crowded parks), your dog may need more support and more frequent reinforcement. In calmer places, they may cruise along beautifully with minimal input.

That’s okay. Part of the conversation is learning to read when your dog needs a little more guidance.

Final Thought

Loose leash walking isn’t about controlling your dog—it’s about communicating with them.

When you shift from “stop pulling” to “let’s walk together,” everything changes. The leash becomes a connection, not a battleground.

Give it a try—and enjoy your summer walks. You might just find that your dog starts to listen on the leash… and that you start listening more, too.

Want help building better walks?
I love teaching these skills in private coaching. Reach out if you’d like to schedule a session.