Understanding why dogs pull on the leash in the first place and how we could unintentionally be encouraging it might help us manage the behavior. Because pulling on a leash is typical dog behavior, dogs do it. Is it wanted? No, but to them, it comes naturally. Pulling allows them to travel at their own pace and to where they wish to go. Your dog pulls on the leash because it is effective, not because they are attempting to be dominant. In other words, if you trail your dog while you’re out on a walk and they’re tugging, that just encourages them to pull harder. It will be challenging to break your dog’s leash-pulling tendency if it has always been present. A dog’s instinct is to resist constraint because they are used to going forward while tugging, which has reinforced the action itself. However, if you’re consistent, you can break that behavior and eventually put a stop to all that dragging by teaching your dog that walking alongside you is far more satisfying.

Back Clip Harness

One of the most popular styles of a dog harness is the basic or back-clip harness, which is liked by the majority of pet owners for its availability, robustness, and simplicity of usage. The clip or D-ring that the leash hooks onto on this kind of harness is situated on the canine’s back. Even if the dog tends to tug during a stroll, this rear attachment keeps the leash away from their trachea and windpipe, making for a more relaxing encounter. A significant benefit of the back-clip harness is that the leash is less likely to become caught in your dog’s feet while you’re walking him, reducing the possibility that his legs will become tangled in it. In comparison to other forms of harnesses, they are very simple to put on and dogs usually become used to them more quickly. Back-clip harnesses do provide you more control over your pet than a collar, but they won’t stop them from pushing or lunging forward. Additionally, because this style of harness does not offer directional correction, it cannot be used to guide your dog while you are walking. Most breeds are suitable for the traditional or back-clip harness, and many will do so well. As one of the most well-liked individualized pet goods, they come in a wide range of styles and hues. 

Front Clip Harnesses

Front-clip harnesses, as the name suggests, fasten the leash to the dog’s chest in the middle. They are favored by expert dog trainers because they provide a higher degree of control over the animal without inflicting any discomfort on it. Particularly, the attachment’s placement pulls the animal backwards, away from the person holding the leash, preventing them from physically wandering off. The layout also enables directional correction, enabling the leash’s owner to guide the dog while out for a walk. Some drawbacks, a dog may all too easily become tangled in their own leash due to the location of the leash attachment. Dogs dislike them as well, and it might be challenging to put one on your pet. Furthermore, despite the fact that the harness’s design inhibits tugging, it cannot stop large dogs with major behavioral problems from doing so on its own. For larger dog breeds who still need extra direction when out for a walk, the front-clip harness is a great training aid. To avoid gait issues and long-term harm, owners should make sure that they are suited to their pets properly.

Dual Clip Harness

A dual-clip harness is a very adaptable choice for controlling your pet no matter the circumstance because they include leash attachments on the dog’s back and front. Depending on how much control they wish to have over the dog, owners or handlers can link the leash to either the front clip, the back clip, or both with a dual-clip harness. From then, it is simple to direct the dog on a stroll using the rear clip, only using the front clip as necessary.