11/10/2026
Meet Atlas, a 14-week-old Golden Retriever who absolutely hated his leash!
Before coming to Dog World and You, LLC, Atlas would completely refuse to walk on a leash. Sometimes, he would simply lie down on the ground and refuse to move. His owner had two options: drag him along (turning him into a little furry mop!) or pick him up and carry him.
Before Atlas started his 2-Week Puppy Residency, I made his owner a promise: I wanted to make the leash his favorite thing and teach him to walk so comfortably that she could eventually guide him with what I like to call "two-finger walking."
But do you think I started teaching him to walk immediately?
Absolutely not!
Atlas was already nervous about the leash and showing significant resistance. Asking him to walk before changing how he felt about the leash would have added more pressure to an experience he already disliked.
Instead, we went back to the beginning.
We started with leash games!
Sometimes, the best way to teach a puppy to walk on a leash is to stop trying to make him walk.
Through playful, positive experiences, we began building a different association with the leash. The goal was to help Atlas feel comfortable, curious, and happy when the leash appeared.
And the results? What a difference!
These simple games can be a wonderful starting point for stubborn, hesitant, or leash-resistant puppies. Rather than turning leash training into a struggle, we make it an opportunity to build engagement, confidence, and communication.
Remember: Before you teach a puppy how to walk on a leash, teach him that the leash is nothing to be afraid of.
At Dog World and You, LLC, we believe in understanding the dog before training the dog.
Because sometimes, the first step forward isn't walking at all. It's changing how the puppy feels about taking that step.
Tetiana Yancich
Dog Word and You, LLC