Leash-Pulling Isn’t Just Annoying — It Can Be Dangerous

Leash-pulling is undoubtedly one of the most common (not to mention stressful) problems pet parents face. I hear about it all the time from dog guardians who reach out to Cosmic Home & Pet for help. 

But it’s important to understand that pulling isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can actually be dangerous in a few different ways. 

Below, I’ll explain some of these hidden hazards, lay out some of the reasons dogs pull on their leash, and share some tips for instilling good leash-walking manners. 

Why Do Dogs Pull on the Leash in the First Place?

Before you can stop leash-pulling, it helps to understand why your dog is pulling on the leash in the first place. 

For starters, it’s important to acknowledge that dogs don’t pull because they’re stubborn or “bad.” They pull for one very simple reason: It works. Pulling gets them where they want to go faster, and most pet parents unintentionally reinforce the behavior without even realizing it.

However, there are a few underlying motivations that play a part too:

• Excitement: For many dogs, pulling is driven by simple excitement. The sights, sounds, and smells of the outside world are thrilling — especially if your pup has been bored all day, just waiting for their walk. That excitement can bubble over the moment you step outside, making it hard for your dog to slow down and walk calmly.
• Poor Impulse Control: In other cases, leash-tugging stems from a lack of impulse control. Some dogs simply haven’t developed the ability to pause, check in, or respond calmly when they feel the urge to move forward. They rush ahead because it feels good, and because, in many cases, it’s worked for them before.
• Anxiety or Under-Socialization: For some dogs, pulling is fueled by stress or fear. They may feel overwhelmed by their environment or specific triggers like situations involving traffic, unfamiliar dogs, or crowded sidewalks. In these cases, pulling becomes a way to create distance from something that feels scary.
• Habit: In many cases, dogs pull because that’s what they’ve always done. If a dog has spent months (or years) moving forward every time the leash tightens, it becomes an ingrained behavior. Without clear boundaries or consistent training, pulling just becomes their default approach to walks.

Ready for some good news? 

No matter what’s behind the pulling, your dog can learn new leash habits with consistent guidance and the right approach.

Six Reasons Leash-Pulling Is Dangerous (Plus a Bonus Concern)

Regardless of the reason your dog pulls on the leash, it’s important to address it. Pulling isn’t just frustrating; it can be dangerous for you both. A few of the most common (and often overlooked) dangers that come with letting this behavior go unchecked include:

1. Injury to Your Dog: Constant pressure from pulling can strain your dog’s neck, throat, or spine. This is especially true for brachycephalic breeds and dogs who wear flat collars. Over time, this can lead to soft tissue damage, coughing, or even tracheal collapse in some breeds.
2. Injury to the Human: If your dog suddenly lunges or pulls hard, it can cause you to fall, sprain your wrists, suffer a dislocated shoulder, or sustain any number of other injuries. If you think walking a dog who pulls on a leash was difficult before, wait until you have to do it while using crutches or wearing a cast.   
3. Escape Risk: Dogs that pull can often wriggle out of poorly fitted gear or even snap their leash (this unfortunately happens more often than you’d think). Ultimately, this can cause your dog to be hit by a car, engage in a confrontation with a dangerous animal, or simply run away and become lost. 
4. Reinforced Reactivity: If your dog pulls every time they see another dog, person, or trigger, it can unintentionally reinforce their reactive behavior. This kind of constant reinforcement can make them more excitable over time.
5. Loss of Control in Emergencies: A pulling dog is harder to manage in unpredictable situations. For example, if they hear a sudden loud noise or see a loose dog rushing up to you both, it will be much harder to control your pet than it would if they were keeping the leash loose.  
6. Worsened Anxiety: For anxious or under-socialized dogs, being allowed to pull toward (or away from) triggers can actually increase the amount of stress they’re feeling. In some situations, this can serve as an impediment to your long-term confidence-building efforts.

There’s one other big problem that leash-tugging causes. It may not technically be dangerous, but it’s important nonetheless: It can strain the bond between you and your dog. Constant leash tension erodes the communication and connection between you both. 

Instead of walking with you, your dog learns to tune you out, which weakens trust over time.

How to Stop Your Dog from Pulling on the Leash

Now that you understand some of the reasons why your dog pulls, you can start doing things to change the pattern. Here are four simple ways to begin building better leash habits:

• Reward your dog anytime the leash goes slack. Whenever your dog walks calmly beside you or checks in, mark it with a “yes!” or “good pup!” and offer them a treat. Always reinforce the behaviors you do want to see, and you’ll start seeing these behaviors more often.
• Stop walking when the leash goes tight. On the other hand, you’ll want to stop rewarding undesirable behaviors, such as leash pulling. So, when your dog pulls, stop moving forward — completely. Only continue once there’s slack in the leash again.
• Practice exercises to boost your dog’s attention span. Build your dog’s focus by helping them develop strong name recognition and encouraging frequent “check-ins” during walks. You can also play short training games at home and on walks to help keep your dog more attentive while you’re out and about.
• Get professional help. Some dogs need professional guidance to stop pulling on the leash. This is especially true of dogs who pull because of reactivity or anxiety, those who are strong or large, and those who’ve been pulling on the leash for years.  

Structured pack walks are often helpful for dogs with minor leash-pulling habits, but other dogs will benefit more from private, one-on-one sessions. 

Put an End to Leash-Pulling NOW!

Hopefully, you now understand why leash-pulling isn’t something you have to just put up with. It’s a legitimate safety issue that you’ll want to address. 

If you’re tired of being dragged around the block three times a day or struggling to walk your dog down our sometimes-cramped Seattle streets, head over to the Cosmic Home & Pet contact page. Tell me a little about your dog’s leash pulling habits, and I’ll help you determine the best plan for your specific pet. 

Your pooch may be a perfect fit for my structured pack walks or they may benefit more from individualized private training sessions. In either case, we’ll start working on the problem together to instill good leash-walking manners.