Q: I love walking my dog, but he pulls a lot on the lead. How can I teach him to walk with me rather than towing me along?

A: Lead pulling is a common problem, but with consistency and patience, you can teach your dog to walk with you rather than pulling you. Start by using a front-clip harness, which discourages pulling, and reinforce walking alongside you by rewarding correct behaviour with treats and praise.

If your dog pulls while walking, stop immediately and only continue when they relax the tension on the leash and then reward them when they walk nicely by your side again.

Short training sessions in low-distraction areas will help your dog understand what you are asking, and over time, you can build up to longer walks or walks in busier areas.