One of the most common reasons why running with your dog can get frustrating is pulling. The best way to overcome this frustrating dog running problem is to teach your dog not to pull.

There are many different training methods and techniques out there and each dog trainer and dog owner will recommend different things. Here is how I taught Keeda not to pull on the leash during our walks and running sessions:

As soon as we started going for walks on leash when Keed a was a puppy, she was not allowed to put any strain on the leash. If she began to pull, I stopped in my tracks and waited for the leash to slacken. Sometimes I turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.

She “got” it soon enough, but just because a dog understands what it’s meant to be doing doesn’t mean it will do it. Keeda kept pulling, to the point of it becoming an extremely frustrating ordeal for both of us. We could barely walk together, much less run.

This is where different training methods suggest that you deal with the problem differently. and there is a lot of controversy in the dog world around the various methods.

Personally, I’m in favor of applying some physical force in dog training. Of course this depends not only on your own preference, but also on your dog’s breed and nature. Keeda is a hardy dog – she has Australian Cattle Dog and Kelpie in her, both of which can be headstrong, independent, and stubborn and need a strong hand in training.

So the way I dealt with this training issue is by lightly smacking Keeda on the side with the soft end of the leash when she pulled to get her attention and get her back in line by my side. For us, this worked instantly. Keeda slowed down to walk by my side, the leash slack in my hand. As soon as the leash was slack and she was in proper position, I gave her lots of verbal praise. Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day and it took us a couple more walks to perfect our walking and running sessions. After the first couple of weeks, I haven’t had to apply any more physical force to get her attention when walking on a leash. Our walks became more relaxed and pleasant for both of us and the transition to running was seamless.

One of the most important factors in training your dog not to pull is consistency – don’t punish your dog for something one minute and let it slide the next. Applying some physical force during training may not be your thing, but it’s just as important to stay consistent with whatever other training method you use. And remember – there is a difference between using force to get your dog’s attention and causing undue pain to your dog. You should know the difference between a corrective slap on the wrist and a punch in the face in human terms, nobody has any excuse to abuse their dog or any other animal, no matter what training method they use. If you aren’t sure, stick to clicker training, which can also work for many dogs.

When your dog stops pulling on your daily walks, you can start running. Dogs can get more excited when going for a run, so the first few times you run with your dog may still be quite a frustrating ordeal, but through consistent training you and your dog will catch on soon enough and I will no longer have people coming here via “frustration with running with  dog” search terms.