How do you stop a small dog from pulling on a leash?

While the tactics for stopping a dog from pulling remain mostly the same regardless of size, teaching a small breed requires a few adjustments.

Traditional methods outlined in our pulling guide like the Be a Tree technique, where you stop moving the moment the leash goes tight, still work incredibly well for small dogs because they cannot physically overpower you to force forward motion. 

However, some common equipment recommendations can be less effective for smaller breeds:

What works better: Dual-point steering using a double ended dog leash attached to both the front and back of your dog's harness is highly effective. It allows you to naturally pivot a small dog's body toward you to break their forward momentum without putting any pressure on their neck.

What works worse: Head halters can often be too bulky for a small dog.

To stop a small dog from pulling, combine the Be a Tree or the Stop and Change Direction method/s with a lightweight double ended leash connected to a front and back of their harness. Reward them at your hip or whenever the leash is completely slack.

Shop Small Dog Leashes at Coda.

Shop Double Ended Dog Leashes at Coda.

For more expert tips and answers, visit our complete Dog Leash FAQs.

Once you've mastered the walk, find out exactly how old your dog is in human years using our Dog Age Calculator.