Does a Harness Cause A dog To Pull More On The Lead?

By Sarah Groves Dog Training - Puppy Trainer Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot

“I’ve heard harnesses make dogs pull.”

It’s something I hear all the time from dog owners who want to learn how to stop their dog from pulling on the lead.

And I completely understand where the confusion comes from.

You might have read online or been told:

• “Harnesses encourage pulling.”

• “They’re built for sled dogs.”

• “If you don’t want pulling, use a collar.”

But here’s the truth…

A harness does not teach a dog to pull.

Pulling is a learned behaviour.

And like any learned behaviour, it happens because it has worked well for the dog in the past.

Why Dogs Actually Pull on the Lead

Dogs pull because:

• The world is exciting

• They want to get to something such as a smell, another dog or a person

• Pulling has successfully got them there before

If a puppy pulls and we keep walking, they learn that pulling works.

It’s not about what they’re wearing and more about what they’re learning.

What a Harness Actually Does

A well fitted harness:

• Spreads pressure across the body

• Protects the delicate structures of the neck and throat

• Is especially important for growing puppies

When a dog pulls on a collar, the pressure is concentrated on the neck where the trachea, thyroid and cervical spine sit.

Puppies are still developing. Their bodies are growing. Their coordination isn’t perfect.

For many dogs, a harness is simply the safer, kinder choice.

It doesn’t create pulling - it just prevents neck strain while we teach loose lead skills properly.

What About Sled Dogs?

Yes, sled dogs wear harnesses to pull.

But they are specifically trained to pull in a specific context, with specific cues, over time.

Your puppy is not naturally programmed to pull because fabric is around their chest.

They pull because they haven’t yet learned how to walk calmly beside you.

And that’s a training issue, not an equipment issue.

Training Stops Pulling. Equipment Supports Training.

If your puppy pulls, the solution isn’t changing equipment over and over.

The solution is:

• Teaching them what you do want

• Reinforcing calm walking

• Making it worthwhile to stay close to you

• Being consistent

A harness won’t magically fix pulling.

But it also isn’t the cause.

Think of it this way. The harness is the seatbelt. Training is the driving lesson and both have their place.

The Real Question

Instead of asking

“Does a harness cause pulling?”

A better question might be

“Has my puppy been shown how to walk on a loose lead yet?”

Because pulling isn’t stubbornness.

It isn’t dominance.

And it isn’t caused by straps.

It’s simply a skill that hasn’t been taught clearly yet.

And the good news?

Loose lead walking is absolutely something we can teach.

If you’re struggling with lead pulling, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common challenges I help puppy owners with.

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