I have a 3 month female Doberman.  She is starting to pull while walking, while manageable now, when she is larger it will not be the case.  What is the proper technique of breaking her of this habit on walks?  I am not looking for her to heel at this point, I am just trying to stop her from pulling on the leash.  I am using a leather leash with a regular collar.

There are several ways. most of these disappear when you do leash pressure. it is stressful for a dog and she is much too young. you can try using a harness to avoid having her get used to pulling by the neck and whenever she pulls just stop. don't move until she gives you a slack leash. if the problem gets worst,put a prong collar. but leave that for the last resort because she is much too young. but don't let her get used that pulling by the neck addressing pressure gets here good stuff. make her pulling something very undesirable and that only gets you to either turn around or stop.  no matter the reason,the moment the leash relaxes, keep your walk. Do not praise her unless she is obeying a command suck as Heel or Slow. She will reward herself by being allowed to move forward.

Hope this helps. 

Hello Steven,

Sry Laura but I can't agree with you at all on anything. This would be the reverse way of bringing the pulling down. When you use a harness then its even more comfortable for her to pull. Using a prong collar - what the hell!? If you want your dog to escape from you because you are hurting her then go ahead. I would start with positive reinforcement and teaching her that walking near you produces a praise. When she goes away from you and starts to pull just stop, wait until she comes to you and then mark and give her a treat or toy. You can add a cue to that later and use it when needed. You can allso use a room with a door that she runs to when going outside. You just wont move ahead until she returns to you. I use a cliker to mark. Offcourse you can allways praise your dog when she is not pulling. Allso see what her body language is telling you? Then you can allso add a cue for her to go away - a cue that frees her from the walking with you command. If its too confusing then excuse me because I'm for Estonia and dont have much practice in dog english.

I tend to agree with Siim. I am not finding pulling a huge deal yet due to my pup being so young.  She hops, lurches forward, etc. Occasionally, she produces a beautiful walk, and I praise her immensely.  She walks mostly just with me, but I do take an older tolerant female with us once a day. She walks correctly and the puppy stays right with her. 

I guess what I am trying to say is not to stress over the puppy pulling. Try using treats and different directions to get her attention off of whatever she is trying to get to. Stop and interact with her, so she is seeing that walking with you is fun. When she is older you can resort to the prong or some other device should you need to.

Hey, Steven.

I will share what I have done with my dog and hope it gives you some ideas. She was a 6-7 month-old-stray when I took her, and she had no idea what the leash or collar were, so I had to start from the beginning.

First I just put the collar and leash on her and let her drag around day and night. It only took her one day to get used to them. Then I started teaching her to walk on leash (I live in a flat and I have to walk her daily to eliminate and exercise). She resisted and wouldn't move, so I would make a few steps,  put a treat on the floor next to my foot and slightly tighten the leash. She would then approach and get the biscuit. I repeated this until she started walking next to me. Then she started pulling since she didn't know how to heel or walk on loose leash, so I tried a few things.

First, I always had treats with me and would reward her whenever she walked close to me on a loose leash. 

Second, when we walked, I would make a huge step and then stop and hold the leash firmly. She'd rush forward and correct herself, then she'd stop and I's reward. I did this in silence, no commands or warnings. She soon learnt that we only walk one step at a time. After a while, I would increase the number of steps before stopping. Then I also added the automatic sit, and a verbal cue, so now when I say "stop", she sits next to me.

Third, I would call her name and change direction every time the leash got tight and go to the opposite direction, so she had to follow. I'd offer a reward and praise as soon she caught up with me. 

Fourth, I would walk between parked cars which meant changing direction often, every time calling her name so that she knows she needs to pay attention. 

I have also used a prong collar since I'm not the only one who walks her, and she isn't so disciplined and obedient with others. So I conditioned her to wearing the prong collar and worked on leash pressure, and now she can walks without pulling 99% of the time.

I am sorry if this message was too long, but I hope I could help at least a little. Good luck and all the best.

Nebojsa, Serbia

One thing to do is use a "British slip leash" sold at most pet stores and also by leerburg. put the leash up high toward the ears and hold the leash short and above her head. when leashes fall low down on the collarbone it instinctually causes the dog to pull but holding the leash just above their head and high just under the ears will keep her posture in a position that she looks at you and should not pull. You kind of need to stop once she walks too fast to give her the idea that you won't walk if she walks too fast. Later,... much later you will learn leash walking in obedience training where you learn "leash pressure" given in the proper way will solve this problem. 

Hi Steven,

Try and keep your puppies engagement with treats and obedience work.

If she is pulling because of a particular distraction then you need to increase your distance from said distraction until you have regained her focus.

I would not assert any forms of corrections on such a young puppy for pulling on leash. - You want to create a bond not destroy it :)