What to Do If Your Dog Pulls or Freezes on Walks

What to Do If Your Dog Pulls or Freezes on Walks

What to Do If Your Dog Pulls or Freezes on Walks
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Your dog runs ahead like they're in a rush to get to that significant place. Your dog lunges forward like they're racing toward something urgent. Your pet keeps running toward the critical spot. Maybe things are actually the other way around. You take a few steps, and your dog stops completely—not pulling, not moving, just standing there, looking at something you cannot see. You talk softly to your dog. Still, your dog does not move. Your dog is not moving at all. A lot of people are experiencing this situation like me.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Walking your dog reveals different sides of their personality—sometimes happy and excited, other times scared or uncertain. Both behaviors come from the same emotional mix. Dogs have a variety of emotions that can all happen simultaneously. They may be happy, anxious, and/or a bit stressed. New experiences, such as sights, sounds, and smells, can create excitement for them but also overwhelm them.

Your dog isn't a "bad" dog, nor is there a problem between you two. If you are patient and understanding during walks with your dog, both the dog and you will experience less stress, so there will be fewer occasions your dog pulls on the leash and fewer occasions you stop for different reasons, and you will also get more time to walk outside and take pleasure in the beauty of nature. 

 

Why Do Walks Feel So Hard

Walking your dog should be easy. The truth is, it is not always that way. Walking your dog can be really tough sometimes.


It is not always bad behavior for dogs to pull, freeze, or stop suddenly. It is actually an example of your dog's confusion; it may be feeling mixed emotions about being in a new environment with so many things going on around it—different sounds, smells, and sights. It can be both exciting and stressful for your dog.


When we slow down and see walks as shared moments instead of tasks to finish, things start to feel easier—for both of you.

 

Why Dogs Pull on Walks

Pulling isn’t about being “bad” or stubborn. Most of the time, it’s simply a dog reacting to the world around them.

 

Why Dogs Pull on Walks

 

There are various reasons that individuals discuss. These are occurrences that happen frequently. Typical causes include:

  • When I'm near things like scents, people, or dogs, everything feels very significant to me. The new scents, the individuals, and the dogs—all of these aspects seem like a bargain to me.
  • They discover a method of doing things: if pulling has worked before, they'll keep doing it, believing it is a practical approach to accomplishing tasks. They achieve this through the acquired habit of pulling.
  • High-energy breeds naturally need more exercise and therefore need a lot of energy when walking. That’s why a dog often makes it hard to walk quietly. The situation is such that the active dogs’ energy appears limitless and must therefore be released constantly.
  • An incorrectly chosen collar or harness can cause a dog discomfort, leading to upset and often frustration. The wrong size of the collar or harness, whether too loose or too tight, can also be quite bothersome for the dog; proper selection of the size is the key to ensuring your pet's comfort.

From your dog's perspective, pulling frequently seems to mean, “I simply want to arrive there.”


Why Dogs Freeze or Refuse to Move

Freezing may be hard to interpret and at times even annoying, but most of the time it indicates that your dog has reached his limit—not that he is disobedient.
Dogs get stressed out for a lot of reasons. The common causes of stress in dogs include:

  • Fear and uncertainty (caused by loud surroundings, heavy traffic, and unfamiliar locations)
  • Stress brought on by an overstimulating setting with lots of noise and distractions.
  • An ill-fitting collar or harness that causes pain or suffering
  • Low self-esteem, particularly in young dogs (puppies or just adopted)

A dog who is in freeze mode is often trying to communicate, "Please give me a moment."

 

Why Dogs Freeze or Refuse to Move

 

How to React When Your Dog Pulls

Instead of pulling back or rushing your dog along, try slowing the moment down.

  • Pause and reset: When the leash gets tight, you should stop walking for a second. You do not have to say a lot, just wait quietly. As soon as your dog eases up and the leash is not tight anymore, you can start walking again. Your dog learns that pulling doesn't speed things up—but walking calmly does.
  • Notice and reward the good moments: When your dog walks nicely beside you, even if it is just for a step, you should let your dog know that it is good. You can say something like "good job" to your dog in a soft voice. You can also give your dog a treat, this will make your dog happy. These little things are important for your dog. Your dog will keep walking beside you if you do this.
  • Take a look at your gear: Sometimes the issue isn’t training at all—it’s comfort. A harness that fits well and doesn’t restrict movement helps your dog feel secure instead of tense. When your dog feels comfortable in their body, it’s much easier for them to stay calm and focused on the walk.

How to Help a Dog Who Freezes

When your dog halts and remains inactive, it is better to refrain from pulling or hurrying them.

  • Give Dogs Time: Stop and relax; allow your dog to see what is going on around them. Often, a few seconds of patience is often enough.
  • Use gentle praise, treats, or a calm voice to help them feel safe enough to go on.
  • Keep Walks Short and Familiar: Start with quieter paths, then gradually explore new areas as confidence builds.

The Role of the Right Walking Setup

Walking challenges aren’t just about training—they’re also about how your dog feels physically and emotionally during the walk.

At Krbobo, we design walking gear to support calm, confident movement:
  • Comfort-first harnesses that don’t restrict natural motion
  • Secure fits that help dogs feel stable instead of tense
  • Thoughtful designs that make walks feel effortless, not stressful

When a harness sits right, and the dog enjoys wearing it, they tend to unwind—unwound pups move more easily on a leash.

When you need extra help
  • Team up with someone who's officially trained in handling dogs
  • Speak to a vet—there could be soreness behind the behavior
  • Hang tight. Tiny moves tend to add up over time
Each dog picks things up in its own time.

Walking Together, Not Against Each Other


Strolling isn't perfection in motion. It's showing up beside someone, step by step. Moving together—this is where ties grow.

Taking your dog for a walk—when it pulls ahead or trails behind—it turns into something like talking without words. Each step shapes how you move, while its steps shape you right back. A rhythm forms, slow trust grows, and laughter slips in now and then. It learns to match your stride; you begin reading its timing. Safety shows up quietly, woven into those shared moments. And just like that, you both start feeling grounded.

At Krbobo, we believe every walk should feel safe, comfortable, and connected—because when your dog feels good, the journey feels better for both of you.

FAQ

Q1: Why does my dog pull only at the beginning of walks?

At the very beginning of a walk, dogs usually feel overwhelmed. There is a lot of anticipation—new odors, new views, and the joy of leaving home. That emotional flood can be difficult for them to move calmly at first.
Give your dog a quiet minute to recharge rather than rushing ahead. Pause, take a breath, and let them get used to walking at their own pace. This small exercise can reduce pulling, freezing, or nervous behavior and let your dog know that walks don't have to be fast or stressful.

Q2： Is freezing more common in puppies or rescue dogs?

Absolutely. Dogs that are still building their confidence and do not have the chance to go to different places often freeze. It takes such dogs time to adapt before they can become more confident. Non-confident dogs are likely to freeze. This situation is especially applicable to dogs that are not given many opportunities to meet people, go on trips, or interact with other dogs. Dogs need to know their environment and get accustomed to new situations to be confident.

Q3: Can the wrong harness make walking behavior worse?

Perfectly! The first factor that contributes to a dog's daily stress level is walking in a very tight restraint. Pulling, sudden stopping, and freezing are the dogs' reactions when they are very restricted or uncomfortable. A comfortable, perfectly sized dog harness makes your dog feel safe that he/she can move the way he/she wants, thus making it quieter and more fun for both of you.