Stop Making These 2 Mistakes if Your Dog Pulls, Barks or Lunges

Stop Making These 2 Mistakes if Your Dog Pulls, Barks or Lunges

From Stress Free Dog Walks by Katie Guastapaglia

May 9, 2026 · 11 min · Episode 53

About this episode

This episode discusses two common mistakes dog owners make when their dogs pull, bark, or lunge during walks and offers strategies to improve their behavior.

If your dog listens in your living room, but not outside, beware of these two common mistakes. ❌Mistake # 1: Trying to train your dog ‘like other dogs’. More repetition, firmer cues, or higher value food does not work for the impulsive puppy, the adolescent with a dopamine addiction to movement, the 100mph dog who is scanning, sniffing, tracking, listening, reacting - all at once. To your dog, the environment isn’t ‘a bit distracting.’ It is ALL-consuming. That’s why you get one successful response but then they’re gone again, pinged right back to the end of the lead. And it’s why food is ignored completely or practically inhaled. It’s why they simply cannot listen to you. ❌Mistake # 2: Battling against your dog’s fixations on movement, sound, or scent. That’s a game you just can’t win because the environment is triggering rapid, automatic responses. Instead of fighting their distraction style… use it. What steals their attention most? Do they get distracted by sudden movements and random noises? Well, distract them with sudden movements and random noises! ▶️ Press play to find out exactly how to work with your speedy, impulsive dog’s wiring so you can gain and keep their…

People in this episode

Host: Katie Guastapaglia

Topics covered

  • dog training
  • dog behavior
  • walking techniques
  • impulsive dogs
  • distraction management

Keywords

  • dog pulls
  • dog barks
  • dog lunges
  • training mistakes
  • distraction
  • dog walking
  • impulsive behavior

More episodes of Stress Free Dog Walks

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stress Free Dog Walks podcast page.