My dog pulls very hard on leash. How can I walk him off-leash safely?

Damon is still a puppy so I do not recommend not leaving him off of a leash. You can always get Damon a gentle leader to help with the pulling of the leash. Here is a gentle leader you can get from PetSmart https://www.petsmart.com/dog/collars-harnesses-and-leashes/collars/petsafe-gentle-leader-training-dog-collar-5010512.html?utm_id=500%7Cpg115630%7C4580359283606212&utm_term=5010512&utm_campaign=PLA-BPA%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA&lsft=utm_source%3Agoogle%2Cutm_term%3A5010512%2Cutm_medium%3Acpc%2Cutm_content%3AGSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA%20%7C%20Petsafe%2Cutm_campaign%3AGSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_content=GSC%20-%20High%20-%20Online%20Pricing%20Initiative%20-%20Hardgoods%20-%20PLA%20%7C%20Petsafe I never recommend having a dog off leash unless in a fenced in area. The reason for this is because if they see an animal or someone they can run off and either scare someone, get hurt or always can get hit by a car. I would talk to a trainer to get help with training Damon to not pull on a leash if the gentle leader does not help. Thank you for using PetCoach.

I would recommend consulting with a trainer to use your commands so he follows your guidance so you're not relying on your strength to hold him. You could also work on using a gentle leader or a no pull harness/gentle walker which requires less strength to hold your dog. Your concerns are very valid and I would be concerned as well about him getting hit by car or injured by another dog this behavior continues.

I would not recommend taking a dog off leash when in a public area, ever, to be honest. You never know when a strange dog will run up, Noble could get distracted and run into a street, find and eat something that he shouldn't, etc. He will be much safer and healthier in the long-run staying on a leash. Teaching him a strong "heel" and requiring him to walk next to you are also good behavior things to work on.

Yes, this does sound very scary. I would look for a collar that he cannot get out of like a pinch collar or a harness that is properly fitted. This could be a liability to you if your dog is running into another person's yard and being aggressive. I would also consider talking to a behavioral specialist to help train him so he doesn't do this. You could also talk to your vet about starting him on a anti-anxiety or calming medicine like trazadone that you can give before your walks. Finally, you can be safer by either not walking him if you have a backyard or try to walk him when no one else is around. I hope this helps!

I highly recommend you buy a Gentle Leader or Halti Collar to walk him. These are both head collars and when your dog pulls, lunges or jumps it will move his head back towards you which prevents him from pulling you. It will take a little bit of time for him to adjust to walking with this type of collar but it will give you a lot more control. I use one with my own dog and walking is so much nicer!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Toffee may not know his boundaries well, and assumes he can run everywhere once he's outside. I recommend training him on a leash to show him where his boundaries are. For example, walk him on a leash around the perimeter of your property, and never beyond. You can make him sit at the edge of your property, and give him a treat. Do this at multiple points around your property. Since he has run off before, he may not learn the true edge of his property. The safest thing to do is to take him out on a leash and not let him run freely. He is otherwise at risk of getting lost, or even hit by a vehicle. I hope this is helpful.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would recommend using a Gentle Leader collar to help control him better. When he stops and you tug on the leash, it will pull his entire head to the side you are pulling making it uncomfortable for him to the point that he should respond to your command. Be persistent with this technique and don't give in to him stopping in the road. Dogs test us and will continue to push boundaries to find out what they can get away with. It is your job to make him understand who is in charge. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.