Puppy pulls on the lead

I have a four-month-old Labrador bitch puppy from an excellent working kennels with a great pedigree. It lives in the house with us, was easy to housetrain and is coming on well in other respects as well. Our concern is that when we take her out for walks she will pull on the lead. We are using a leather collar and short lead — should we switch to a check or slip lead to get her to walk by our side?

Teaching your dog to walk by your side at heel is not about making it walk in a particular position but rather more about improving its attentiveness towards you. It should want to follow you rather than pull in front; therefore you need to make yourself the centre of attraction. Too many people use corrective leads rather than rewarding the correct actions. She should be wearing the collar around the house and garden so that putting it on does not become a cue for walks and pulling.

Now to begin the “heelwork” lessons, but using a different approach. Sit your puppy down at your side with the lead hanging loose. Take a step forward with your right foot, but do not allow the dog to move; reward it with treats for sitting still, and step back. With repetition over a few lessons it will focus on you as it waits for that treat. Now shape the first step by letting your dog move to your side with a “heel” command and sit again for a treat. First one step, then two and so on until it is following but focused on you (and, of course, the treat). Build this trust in small stages, and in the meantime do not walk your dog for exercise on the lead. Change its day-to-day management until slacklead heelwork has become natural during training. PR

Your dog should want to follow you rather than pull in front