
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
- The Different Types of Scentwork that Calm Pulling, Barking Dogs · April 18, 2026 · 13 min
- Dog Training Isn’t Hard, It's Misunderstood · March 28, 2026 · 12 min
- What Street Dogs Know About Happiness That Pet Dogs Don’t · March 14, 2026 · 14 min
- Progress, Setbacks, and the Psychology of Sticking With It · January 31, 2026 · 11 min
- Why Dog Training Works for Some Owners (And Not Others) · January 24, 2026 · 11 min
- Stop Training Loose Lead Walking & Recall Until You Hear This · January 16, 2026 · 12 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stress Free Dog Walks podcast page.