There is nothing more unpleasant than being dragged down the street by a Golden Retriever. Dogs pull while on leash because we inadvertently teach them that they can. Many Goldens believe that if they pull their owners wherever they want, the owner will follow.

A leash is not a natural thing to a dog. As far as your Golden is concerned, it is just an extension of your arm that he can pull on without consequence. Refer to Chapter 6 for instruction on training your Golden to walk on leash.

There are many training products on the market that claim to teach your dog not to pull while on leash. However, none of these can teach him that walking on a loose leash is what you want. If you don't make an effort to teach your dog what you expect, he will not figure it out on his own, regardless of the training device you choose.

Attach a six-foot leash to your dog's flat buckle or snap collar. Walk a few steps forward and change direction as your dog starts to pull in front of you. When your dog catches up to you, click and stop to treat. Practice where there are few distractions, like your driveway or basement, but as your dog gets the hang of it let him walk next to you for a step or two before you click and treat.

Finally, once he's trotting nicely, don't stop after the click, just treat as you are walking and keep going. Gradually add in distractions, people, noise, smells, and other dogs. Add the cue word “heel” when your dog is trotting next to you regularly without pulling.