How to Train Your Small Dog to Not Pull on His Leash

Start by walking your small dog off leash around your fenced-in yard. Give him the freedom to roam and learn of spaces where he can be off leash. Stay close to him at first and talk with him so he knows you are nearby keeping him safe.

After a few moments walking together, walk away from him when he’s not paying attention to you. Once you are away from him, call him with enthusiasm. When he comes to you, give him a treat.

Walk more with your small dog and carry on a conversation. Anytime you say his name or get his attention somehow, give him a treat.

Keep practicing walking away from your small dog, calling him back, and rewarding him with a treat when you have his attention again.

Leash your small dog and leave your backyard. You don't want your dog associating the safety of being off-leash in the confinement of your backyard with your expectations of the leash walking outside of your backyard. Keep the energy light and pay attention to when your small dog pulls on his leash.

Anytime your small dog pulls on the leash, stop walking. Eventually, the leash will tighten and your small dog will have to stop as well. When he stops, say his name and get his attention.

Just as you did in the backyard, call him back to you. When he arrives at your side and you have his attention, give him a reward.

Continue to practice on-leash walks. Your expectation should be anytime he pulls, you stop walking, he recognizes that you have stopped, you call him back to your side reward him for giving you his attention. Over time, if he gets too far away, you should be able to say his name to get his attention before he even pulls the leash. Be sure to reward him every time you have his full attention.

When your small dog is walking with you and not pulling on the leash more often than not, get his attention often and give him a treat. Rewarding for positive behaviors will be something he remembers each time he is on the leash.

Put your small dog in a harness so he does not damage his neck or throat while pulling on the leash. Attach a leash to his harness and be prepared for a walk.

If your dog is excited, you want to calm him down before walking because he will tug the leash if he's overly excited. Stand still and wait for him to calm down. If he is already calm, just stand and make him wait until you are ready to start walking.

Once your little guy has calmed down, give him a command such as 'let's go' or 'walk' and begin your walk together.

Anytime your little guy gets excited on the walk and pulls ahead of you, tug gently on the leash and stop, stand still, and wait for him to come back to you. If you need to call your dog to have him come back to you, feel free to call him by name. But be sure you are stopping and standing still until he is calm.

When your little guy has settled down and come back to your side, give him a reward for paying attention and calming down.

Give your command to walk again and begin your walk together. Practice this several times and your little dog will begin to get used to walking with you rather than pulling on the leash while you walk.

This takes practice and lots of rewards. Your dog is going to want to move, not be stopped all the time. Continue to stop each time he pulls the leash, call him back, reward him for coming back, and start with the 'walk' command again. Eventually, your small dog should be able to walk on a loose leash without pulling you along.

If your little dog has been pulling and you need to change his habits, start on your next walk. Walk together and anytime your little guy tugs the leash, stop what you're doing and stand still. Patiently wait for him to notice you've stopped.

Your dog will eventually stop because he will run out of leash. Small dogs are not strong enough to pull you over, so he will have nowhere to go once he realizes you have stopped.

When he stops for you, walk to him or call him to you and, give him a treat. Carry on with your walk when you're ready.

Repeat these steps while on your walk with your small dog. This will teach him every time he pulls, you stop and he doesn't get to go any further. By treating him when he comes back to you or when he stops, you are rewarding him for being obedient and stopping and listening to you.

Continue to practice redirecting your small dog while walking on a leash together. If your small dog is unresponsive when you stop and doesn't have any interest in coming back to you, turn your back toward him and gently tug on the leash. Do not tug on a leash if your little dog is not in a harness. This is a gentle tug, just enough to feel his leash. Once you have his attention, carry on.