Who Is Victoria Stilwell?
Victoria Stilwell is one of the most recognisable dog trainers in the world. Best known for her long-running Animal Planet series It's Me or the Dog, she has worked with thousands of dog owners globally since the early 2000s. Her approach is built entirely on positive reinforcement, rewarding the behaviours you want to see more of instead of punishing the ones you don't. No prong collars, no choke chains, no fear-based corrections.
She founded Positively.com, a global hub for force-free dog training resources, and runs the Victoria Stilwell Academy, which has trained certified dog trainers in over 40 countries. In Australia, her TV show has been widely broadcast and her methods have a loyal following among professional trainers and everyday dog owners alike.
When it comes to loose leash walking, Victoria is particularly direct: most pulling problems are caused by owners, not dogs. Dogs pull because pulling has always worked. The good news? That is completely fixable once you understand why it happens and what to do instead.
Victoria Stilwell tackles a dog's aggressive leash pulling in this episode of It's Me or the Dog.
Tip 1: Start Every Walk the Right Way
Victoria's first rule for leash walking is deceptively simple: the walk does not begin until your dog is calm. If your dog is bouncing at the door the moment you pick up the lead, you are already setting yourself up for a battle on the footpath. Stand still. Wait. The second your dog settles, even for a brief moment, that is when you clip on the lead and open the door.
This sounds small, but it is foundational. By requiring calm before the walk starts, you are teaching your dog that composure is what makes good things happen. A hyped-up dog who has never had to earn the privilege of walking will keep testing the leash. A dog who learns that calmness opens the door will start to default to that behaviour automatically over time.
"Dogs pull because pulling works. Every time your dog drags you forward and you keep moving, they learn that pulling is the right strategy."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Wait for four paws on the floor before you touch the lead.
- Ask for a sit before opening the front door.
- If your dog bolts through the door, calmly bring them back inside and start again.
- Keep the pre-walk routine consistent every single day so your dog knows what to expect.
Tip 2: Choose the Right Equipment
Victoria Stilwell is vocal about the tools she does and does not endorse. She will not recommend anything that causes pain or fear, including choke chains, prong collars, or electric collars. What she does recommend is equipment that gives the handler clear communication without harming the dog, and makes it physically easier to manage the lead without wrestling.
For families walking two dogs at the same time, lead tangles are one of the biggest friction points. When two dogs weave, change pace, or stop to sniff at different moments, a standard pair of leads turns into a chaotic knot within minutes. A purpose-built anti-tangle leash designed for two dogs removes that frustration entirely, letting you focus on rewarding calm, loose-lead walking instead of untangling yourself from a mess on the footpath.
"The equipment you choose should make it easier to communicate with your dog and reward them, not just restrain them. If you're spending the whole walk managing gear, you can't train."
Victoria Stilwell, It's Me or the Dog- Choose a flat collar or a well-fitted harness as your primary attachment point.
- Avoid retractable leads during training sessions as they teach your dog inconsistent walking boundaries.
- For multi-dog households, use a lead designed to prevent tangling so your attention stays on your dogs, not the gear.
- Keep lead length consistent across all sessions so your dog understands their walking zone.
Tip 3: Use the Stop-and-Wait Method
This is Victoria's most widely taught technique for leash pulling, and it works because it removes the reward for pulling in the most direct way possible. The moment your dog tightens the lead, you stop. You do not yank back, you do not say anything, you simply stop moving and wait.
When your dog checks in with you by turning their head, loosening the lead, or stepping back toward you, you immediately start walking again. You can reward with a small treat or verbal praise at this point. The message becomes crystal clear to your dog over time: a tight lead means no forward movement. A loose lead means we keep going.
Victoria notes that this technique requires patience in the early stages. Some walks will barely make it past the front gate. That is absolutely fine. The more consistently you apply the method, the faster your dog will learn that pulling is counterproductive and checking in with you is what gets them where they want to go.
"Stop the moment the leash tightens. Every single time. Inconsistency is what breaks training, not the difficulty of the behaviour itself."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Stop completely the instant you feel leash tension. No words or corrections needed.
- Stand still and relaxed. Do not pull back on the lead or add any tension yourself.
- Wait for any sign of slack in the lead, then resume walking immediately.
- Reward with treats when your dog walks beside you for even just a few steps.
- Expect early sessions to cover very little ground. That is progress, not failure.
Tip 4: Build Engagement Before You Head Out
Victoria's approach to leash walking is not only about what happens on the walk itself. It is also about what you do in the five minutes before you clip the lead on. A dog who is already mentally switched on and engaged with you before the walk begins is far more likely to check in with you during the walk itself.
Short, high-energy play sessions before heading out are a practical way to build that connection. Interactive tug play in particular is something Victoria endorses because it builds focus and clear communication between dog and owner. When you are the most interesting thing in your dog's world before the walk starts, you carry some of that engagement with you outside onto the footpath.
A bungee-style tug rope is ideal for pre-walk engagement sessions. The stretch in the rope keeps energy levels high without straining your shoulder, and the back-and-forth nature of tug naturally reinforces that you are a source of good things. That warm-up investment makes check-ins on the lead considerably more likely once you are out the door.
"Engagement is the foundation of every training technique I teach. If your dog isn't interested in you, you can't teach them anything. Build that relationship first."
Victoria Stilwell, Victoria Stilwell Academy- Play five minutes of tug before every walk to direct your dog's attention onto you.
- Run through a few quick training repetitions (sit, look, touch) to get them into learning mode.
- Use a high-value treat to get sustained eye contact before you open the front door.
- Keep the warm-up session positive and fun rather than commanding and serious.
Tip 5: Stay Consistent and Keep Sessions Short
One of the most common mistakes Victoria sees is owners who train well for a week and then give up after a difficult day. Consistency is everything. Leash pulling is a deeply ingrained habit for most dogs, and habits take regular repetition to change. One walk where you let the pulling slide can undo a surprising amount of progress.
Victoria also emphasises that training walks should be shorter and more focused than your dog's regular exercise outing. If your dog needs 45 minutes of exercise, use 15 of those minutes as a dedicated training session and let them sniff freely or run on a long line for the rest. Trying to maintain perfect loose leash technique across an entire long walk is exhausting for both dog and owner, especially in the early stages of training.
Short, intentional training sessions done daily will always outperform long, inconsistent ones. Progress can feel slow at first, but the change, when it arrives, tends to be permanent because your dog genuinely understands the rule rather than simply complying to avoid discomfort.
"Short sessions done consistently every day will change your dog's behaviour far faster than long, sporadic training marathons. Pick a time and stick to it."
Victoria Stilwell, Positively.com- Aim for 10 to 15 minute focused training walks daily rather than occasional long sessions.
- If multiple family members walk the dog, make sure everyone follows the same rules. Mixed messages are a major setback.
- Track your progress by noting how far you get before the first pull. Watch that distance grow each week.
- Celebrate small wins. Three steps of loose leash walking today becomes thirty steps next week.