Leash Skills that Empower, Not Restrain: What Your Reactive Dog Feels on the Other End

I’ve been working with reactive dogs since I started my dog training career. I’ve always had a passion for helping these dogs and their people. I’ve worked with so many reactive dogs, in fact, I refined my strategies to the point where I now use a signature process with all my clients I created called the CHARM Approach.

C is for Confidence Building and something I write about quite often as increasing confidence decreases anxiety. Well, today I’m addressing the next letter which is H for Leash Handling Skills because, believe it or not, how you use the leash when walking your reactive dog makes a difference in the experience for both of you.

Your dog leash and how you use it are important elements in your tool kit for supporting your reactive, fearful, or anxious dog. The leash isn’t just a tool for control; it’s a line of communication. How you hold it, move with it, and respond through it creates emotional ripples that can either build trust… or tension.

Why Leash Handling Matters More Than You Think

If you’ve ever felt your dog hit the end of the leash like a freight train, or seen them freeze in place and stare, you already know that the leash carries meaning. But here’s the kicker: your dog is reading your leash handling as a constant stream of emotional information. Tightness, slack, abruptness, and even your breathing and posture while holding the leash—all of it matters. The leash has such an impact on your dog’s behavior that some dogs are even only reactive when on leash! Those same dogs are perfectly fine with other dogs when not wearing their leash. That tells you something, right there!

For reactive dogs, poor leash handling can unintentionally escalate stress, while gentle, intentional handling builds confidence and helps reduce reactivity over time. How you handle the leash also contributes to how much your dog pulls. Perhaps counterintuitively, the more pressure you put on your dog’s leash, the more likely they are to both pull and have reactive outbursts.

With the right leash skills you build trust with your dog, avoid reactive behavior, end leash pulling and enjoy walks so much more.

This is me walking Molly. Would you call this a tight or loose leash?

The Art of Leash Pressure and Timing

Dogs aren’t born knowing how to walk on leash. They naturally walk faster than us (they do have twice as many legs after all) and have different reasons for taking walks, too. On the flip side, humans aren’t born with an innate ability to use their dog’s leash like the tool it is. To many, a leash is just a way to keep your dog from taking off after a rabbit; in reality it’s a super useful two-way communication tool for you and your dog.

For example, pulling, whether you’re pulling your dog away from something or your dog is pulling you toward something is merely information travelling between you. The more you know how to interpret that information and deliberately convey specific information through leash pressure, the easier and more enjoyable walks become for you and your anxious or fearful dog.

Love this pup's sporty little backpack.

Confident leash handling involves:

• Teaching leash pressure like a language by using small, clear cues and a soft release to convey: “yes, that’s it!”

  
  

• Timing your pressure so it’s brief and helpful instead of frustrating.

  
  

• Avoiding tension on the leash during tough moments (like when a trigger appears). Tight leash = tighter emotions. This one is tough for most dog parents since it feels counterintuitive. Don’t worry if it takes practice to get comfortable with it.

What Your Dog Feels on the Other End

Let’s say your dog sees a trigger—another dog, skateboard, bicycle—and you tense up. Even if you don’t say a word, your dog feels your tension through the leash. The change in pressure, your posture, even how you breathe can communicate either, “We’ve got this,” or “Panic!”

Confident, skilled leash handling says, “I’m your anchor. I’m calm and I’ve got you. Let’s move through this together.”

This is especially powerful with reactive dogs whose behavior can feel less forgiving. When the leash becomes a gentle guide instead of a restraint, your dog feels safer, more in control, and more connected to you.

A Leash is a Lifeline, Not a Limit

At Creature Good Dog Training, I teach clients that the leash you use - all of your dog’s gear really - isn’t just about obedience and following the law. Leashes and the skilled use of them create emotional fluency and support your dog to feel safe in the world. Reactive dogs don’t act out to misbehave; they do it because they want to feel safe. When you focus on using their leash to communicate more than to control, everything changes.

The goal isn’t “obedience,” it’s partnership. Don’t you dream of feeling in sync with your dog on walks using the leash as a thread of trust rather than a tug-of-war rope?

The first step in leveling up your leash skills is to reduce your and your reactive dog’s stress on walks. The best way to do that is to take my free class, Peaceful Walks Start Here!