If your dog turns every walk into a tug-of-war, you are not alone. Leash pulling is one of the most common issues dog owners face, and it can make daily outings feel more like a chore than a pleasure. The good news is that Emmy-winning trainer Brandon McMillan has spent years refining a simple, consistent approach to fix it. Here are his five proven techniques to help you take back the lead and actually enjoy your walks again.
Who Is Brandon McMillan?
Brandon McMillan is one of America's most respected dog trainers, best known as the host of CBS's hit show Lucky Dog, where he rescued shelter dogs and transformed them into well-behaved companions in just seven days. He is also the author of Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days and an instructor on MasterClass, where he teaches his signature training system to dog owners around the world.
What sets Brandon apart is his no-nonsense, results-driven approach. He believes that any dog, regardless of breed or background, can learn to behave when their owner communicates clearly and consistently. His method is built on a foundation of trust, clear commands, and short, focused training sessions. He teaches what he calls "The 7 Common Commands" - SIT, STAY, DOWN, COME, OFF, HEEL, and NO - as the building blocks for every well-behaved dog. And for a dog that pulls, it all starts well before you ever reach the front door.
Brandon McMillan explains leash training fundamentals for dogs of all ages and breeds.
Why Dogs Pull on the Lead
Before diving into the fixes, it helps to understand why pulling happens in the first place. Dogs pull because, from their perspective, it works. They want to get to the park, greet another dog, or investigate that interesting smell - and surging forward on the lead has always gotten them there faster. They are not being stubborn or dominant. They are simply doing what has been rewarded, even if that reward was just arriving at the destination a few seconds sooner.
Brandon McMillan's approach addresses this at the root. Rather than fighting the dog, you change what pulling actually produces. Once a dog discovers that a tight lead means zero forward progress, the behaviour starts to dissolve on its own.
Tip 1: Build Impulse Control Before You Walk
Most people try to fix leash pulling while they are already out on a walk. Brandon McMillan says the real work starts at home, well before you clip on the lead. The foundation of calm walking is impulse control - your dog's ability to pause, think, and look to you for direction rather than reacting to the world around them. Without this base, no technique will stick for long.
Start by practising SIT and STAY indoors, away from distractions. When your dog can hold a sit-stay for 30 seconds in your lounge room, work up to asking for calm behaviour at the front door itself. Many dogs are already buzzing with excitement before the walk has even begun. Requiring them to sit calmly and wait for your release signal before moving through the door sets the tone for everything that follows.
Brandon also teaches a focus exercise, where you hold a treat near your eyes and reward your dog for making direct eye contact with you. A dog that checks in with your face regularly on a walk is a dog that is tuned in to your pace and direction - and that dog pulls a lot less.
"In my experience, dogs learn much better in multiple short sessions than in a single long one. If you sense your dog is reaching his limit, wrap up the session on a high note."
Brandon McMillan, Lucky Dog LessonsQuick Tips for Impulse Control
- Practise sit-stay for 30-second holds before heading outside each day
- Require a calm sit before you open the front door - no forward movement until you release
- Use the focus exercise daily: hold a treat near your eyes and reward eye contact
- Keep training sessions to 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day - short and consistent wins
Tip 2: Choose the Right Lead for the Job
The lead itself matters more than most people realise. Brandon McMillan recommends a flat, fixed-length lead for training - long enough to give your dog a little freedom, short enough to maintain clear communication. Retractable leads are one of the biggest culprits behind persistent pullers, because they physically reward the behaviour. The dog pulls forward, the lead extends, the dog gets further ahead. From a training perspective, that is the opposite of what you want.
For households with two dogs, the challenge multiplies. Dogs feed off each other's excitement, and tangled leads add frustration and confusion on both sides. A purpose-built double dog lead keeps both dogs walking at your sides with independent control - which means you can reward one without the other being pulled off course. The right gear removes a major source of stress and lets you focus entirely on training, not on untangling chaos.
"Trust is the cornerstone of every training relationship. A dog who trusts you will look to you for direction - and a dog looking to you for direction is a dog who is not pulling ahead."
Brandon McMillanTip 3: Use the Stop-and-Wait Method
This is one of Brandon McMillan's most practical techniques for loose-lead walking, and it works because it goes straight to the source of the problem. Your dog pulls because pulling gets results. The stop-and-wait method removes that result entirely.
Here is how it works. Every single time your dog pulls the lead tight, you stop. You stand still. You say nothing. You simply wait. The moment the lead goes slack - even slightly - you mark it with a calm "yes" and start walking again. You are teaching your dog that a tight lead means zero forward progress, and a loose lead means the walk continues. Most dogs connect the dots within a few sessions.
Consistency is absolutely non-negotiable with this technique. If you let pulling slide once because you are running late, you have just reinforced the behaviour again. Every walk is a training walk until the habit is fully replaced.
"The moment you remove the outcome your dog is working toward, the behaviour starts to change. Dogs are outcome-driven - when pulling stops working, they will try something else."
Brandon McMillanStop-and-Wait Tips
- Stop the instant the lead goes tight - do not wait for a big lunge
- Use a verbal marker like "yes" the moment the lead relaxes
- Avoid pulling back on the lead - just stop and wait calmly
- Be patient: some dogs need 15-20 stops per walk before it clicks in the first week
Tip 4: Teach the Heel Command Properly
HEEL is one of Brandon McMillan's seven essential commands, and it is the one that truly transforms daily walks. Heel means your dog walks at your left side with their shoulder roughly in line with your hip, matching your pace. When a dog is walking in heel position, they physically cannot be pulling ahead.
McMillan's method for teaching heel starts with a treat lure. Hold a treat at your left hip, say "heel", and take a single step forward. The moment your dog steps alongside you and stays in position, reward them. Build from one step to three, then five, then ten, rewarding each stretch of correct position. The key detail most owners miss is that heel is a trained behaviour - not something you can simply ask for without first building it through practice. Start in your backyard or hallway where distractions are minimal, then gradually transfer it to busier environments.
Once the heel command is solid, you have a reliable cue to call on whenever your dog starts to drift forward or surge ahead. Instead of being dragged down the footpath, you simply say "heel" and your dog repositions themselves at your side.
"The heel command is the foundation of a controlled walk. Once your dog truly understands heel, everything about your daily walks changes."
Brandon McMillan, MasterClassHeel Command Tips
- Always practise heel indoors or in a low-distraction space before taking it outside
- Build duration slowly - one step, then three, then five, rewarding each success
- Use 5-minute focused sessions, 2-3 times a day - heel takes concentration
- Always end on a success: if your dog is struggling, step back to a shorter duration and finish strong
Tip 5: Use Play as a Reward on Walks
Brandon McMillan is well known for emphasising the power of play in training. Many dog owners rely entirely on food treats as rewards, but for high-drive dogs, a burst of interactive play can be far more motivating than any biscuit. Tapping into that energy makes walks exciting, focused, and genuinely enjoyable for both of you.
The technique is straightforward. After a stretch of calm, loose-lead walking - around 20 to 30 good steps with no pulling - stop and produce a tug toy. Have a quick 15-second play session, then put the toy away and continue walking. You are making the walk itself the event your dog is engaged with, because something rewarding might happen at any moment. This unpredictability keeps dogs switched on and focused on you rather than fixated on what is 50 metres ahead.
Over time, this approach also channels your dog's physical energy through structured play rather than through frantic pulling, which means calmer and more manageable walks overall. A well-designed bungee tug toy is ideal for this - it absorbs impact, protects your shoulders during enthusiastic play, and is light enough to carry easily on a walk.
"Play is one of the most powerful training tools you have. If you only ever use food, you are leaving half of your dog's motivation completely untapped."
Brandon McMillanPlay Reward Tips
- Keep a tug toy in your pocket or bag on every training walk
- Only produce the toy after a clear stretch of calm walking - never as a response to pulling
- Keep play sessions short, around 15-20 seconds, then put the toy away and resume walking
- Vary when you produce the toy to keep your dog engaged - unpredictability is a powerful motivator
Your Next Walk Starts Here
Leash pulling is one of the most fixable dog behaviours out there, and Brandon McMillan's approach proves that you do not need complex equipment or hours of daily training to see real results. Stack these five techniques together - build impulse control at home, choose the right lead, stop every time the lead goes tight, practise heel in short daily sessions, and reward good walking with play - and most dogs make noticeable progress within a week.
The key is consistency. One focused 15-minute walk done properly is worth more than three casual strolls where you let everything slide. Start small, celebrate the wins, and trust the process. Your dog is not trying to make your life difficult - they just need you to communicate what you actually want. With the right method and the right tools, your next walk can be the one where things finally start to click.