How do I stop my dog pulling on the lead and walk to heel?

CaPP, not the most catchy acronym, but I wear a Cap most of the time so we’ll go with that.

Consistency & Patience-Perseverance

This is the basis of all dog training but is especially true for lead and heel training.
When you take your dog for a walk there are many distractions and smells to sniff, so your dog is not really listening to you.
You are out for a nice walk, often with a friend and don’t want to be constantly checking and training your dog.

This means that you might not always correct your dog whilst talking to your friend, not maintaining Consistency.

You lose Patience with constantly needing to correct your dog ‘they never listen anyway’

In time you stop even trying what’s the point of Persevering it doesn’t seem to be making any difference…

What, train my dog to pull on the lead!
That’s exactly what I want to stop!

Every time you allow your dog to pull on the lead you are training it that this is acceptable.
This can continue to the point, especially when you stop being Consistent, lose Patience and don’t persevere that it becomes the ‘norm’ for your dog to be pulling on the lead, you have successfully trained your dog to do this.

You may think that your dog is being ‘naughty’ or doing ‘wrong’, that your dog is behaving like this deliberately.
In fact your dog sees this simply as what we do on a walk, it isn’t doing anything wrong, in fact chastising your dog at this point could be confusing for your dog.
You need to show your dog what is correct when walking on a lead or off a lead to heel.

The first thing to do is to NEVER allow your dog to pull on the lead.
This is where you need to be Consistent, NEVER, allow you dog to pull.

Pulling on the lead is when the lead becomes taut, even slightly taut.

As soon as this occurs STOP, gently pull your dog back to your heel along side you and once they are there say, Heel firmly.
Wait until your dog remains at heel and then start walking again.

Continue this process, this is where you need to be Patient and Persevere even if this behaviour continues.

When there are big distractions, other dogs, cyclists, joggers, whatever triggers your dog, you need to take the distraction away and help your dog focus.
Turn in the opposite direction whilst saying ‘this way’, put them to heel and say heel, keep walking for a short time, then repeat ‘this way and change direction to continue back to your original direction.

Praise when they are good, so if they remain at heel say good boy/girl.