How to Walk a Dog That's Stronger Than You
Let's be honest: if your dog is stronger than you, walks can feel less like a pleasant stroll and more like getting dragged down the street by a furry freight train.
Maybe you adopted a Rottweiler and you're 5'2". Maybe you're recovering from an injury and your previously manageable Labrador now feels impossible to control. Or maybe you're just physically smaller than your dog, and physics isn't working in your favor.
Whatever the reason, you're not alone. And more importantly, you don't have to live with painful, dangerous walks.
The good news? Walking a stronger dog isn't about matching their strength pound-for-pound. It's about leverage, technique, and the right equipment. With the right approach, even a small handler can confidently walk a large, powerful dog.
Here's everything you need to know to take back control of your walks without wrestling your dog into submission.
The Reality of Size Mismatch
First, let's acknowledge what you're dealing with. If your dog outweighs you or has more muscle mass than you can comfortably manage, you're facing a legitimate safety concern.
The Physics Problem
When a 90-pound dog hits the end of a 6-foot leash at full speed, they can generate hundreds of pounds of force. This isn't about dog training theory. It's basic physics. Your dog has four points of contact with the ground, a lower center of gravity. Although they are your sweet baby, they potentially have more raw strength than you.
The Consequences Are Real
Walking a stronger dog without proper technique and equipment may lead to:
- Shoulder injuries from constant pulling
- Wrist and hand strain from gripping too tight
- Falls and broken bones from sudden lunges
- Getting pulled into traffic, other dogs, or dangerous situations
- Avoiding walks altogether (which makes the problem worse)
It's Not About Dominance
Here's what this isn't about: your dog trying to dominate you or disrespect you. Dogs don't think in terms of power struggles.
Your dog pulls because they're excited, following their instincts, and have learned that pulling works. The size difference just amplifies a behavior problem that affects handlers of all sizes.
Understanding this helps you approach the problem with the right mindset: you need better mechanics and equipment, not more force.
Leverage Is Everything: Body Position Basics
When you're smaller or not as strong as your dog, technique becomes critical. The way you hold the leash and position your body can multiply your effective strength.
Hold the Leash Like Your Life Depends on It
Your first line of defense is a secure grip that won't fail when your dog suddenly lunges.
The Two-Hand Method:
- Loop the handle around your dominant wrist
- Create a second loop halfway down the leash and hold it in the same hand
- Use your other hand to guide and manage leash length
- Keep both hands in front of your body, arms slightly bent
This distributes force across your forearms and shoulders instead of isolating it in your hand or wrist.
Never wrap the leash around your hand. If your dog takes off, a wrapped leash can break fingers or dislocate joints. Use the handle as designed.
Anchor with Your Core, Not Your Arms
Think of your body like a tree. Your core is the trunk, your arms are branches. Trees can withstand incredible force because of their strong trunk, not their branches.
When your dog pulls:
- Engage your core muscles (tighten your abs)
- Plant your feet shoulder-width apart
- Bend your knees slightly
- Hold the leash close to your center of gravity (belly button height)
- Let your whole body absorb the force, not just your arms
Your arms should guide and communicate. Your core and legs provide stability and stopping power.
Use Your Entire Body Weight
When you need to stop a pulling dog, don't rely on arm strength alone. Use your body weight as an anchor.
The Emergency Stop:
- As soon as you feel your dog preparing to lunge, plant your feet
- Lower your center of gravity by bending your knees
- Lean slightly back (not so much that you'll fall)
- Let your body weight work against the leash
- Stand firm and wait for your dog to release pressure
This technique works because you're creating opposition with your entire body mass, not just your arm muscles.
The Side Position Strategy
Where you position yourself relative to your dog matters more than you think.
Keep your dog at your side, not in front of you. When your dog is ahead, they have maximum leverage to pull. When they're beside you, their pulling force is redirected at an angle that's easier to control.
If your dog forges ahead:
- Stop walking immediately
- Wait for them to return to your side
- Take a step backward if needed to encourage them back
- Resume walking only when they're in position
This takes discipline, but teaching your dog that walks only happen when they're at your side is foundational.
Equipment That Works for Your Situation
The right gear can be a game-changer when you're physically mismatched with your dog. But not all equipment is created equal.
Smart Training Collars: Control Without Strength
When you need reliable control with minimal effort, a well-designed training collar provides clear communication your dog understands instantly.
Why training collars make sense for large breed dog owners:
- Provide immediate feedback when your dog pulls
- Require minimal physical strength to be effective
- Give you a "power steering" advantage
- Work with your dog's natural learning ability
The BravoWalk Training Collar Advantage:
BravoWalk is specifically designed for pet parents who need more control without more strength. Here's how it works:
Automatic activation: The collar detects leash tension when your dog pulls and responds instantly. No perfect timing required on your part.
Clear cause-and-effect learning: BravoWalk signals pulling with a beep tone, followed by vibration (and optional TENS stimulation if you choose). When your dog stops pulling, the signals stop immediately. This creates instant feedback your dog understands: pulling = signals, loose leash = comfort.
Customizable feedback: Choose gentle options (vibration only, vibration + tone) or stronger signals (TENS stimulation levels) based on your dog's sensitivity.
Frees you to focus on rewards: With timing handled automatically, you can concentrate on marker words and treats for good behavior.
Professional training included: 4-part video series shows you exactly how to use it effectively, even if you've never used a training collar before.
This gives pet parents (especially petite owners!) the mechanical advantage they need. Your dog learns that pulling creates discomfort, while loose leash walking stays comfortable. Clear communication your dog understands instinctively.
The Harness Debate for Strong Dogs
Many people recommend harnesses for strong dogs, but here's the reality: most harnesses give dogs leverage to pull more, not less.
Back-Clip Harnesses: These actually encourage pulling. Sled dogs use harnesses specifically because they maximize pulling power. Unless you want your dog to pull harder, skip these.
Front-Clip Harnesses: These can help by redirecting your dog's momentum to the side when they pull. However:
- They don't work well on very strong dogs
- Many dogs learn to lean into the chest pressure
- They can cause shoulder injuries with chronic use
- They don't provide clear communication, just redirection
If you choose a harness, pair it with consistent training. Don't expect the equipment alone to solve the problem.
The Double-Leash System for Maximum Safety
For handlers who are significantly smaller than their dog, a double-leash setup provides redundancy and control:
Setup:
- Attach a 6-foot leash to your BravoWalk training collar
- Attach a second 6-foot leash to a front-clip harness
- Hold both leashes in your dominant hand
- Use the BravoWalk training collar leash for communication and correction
- Use the harness leash as backup and to distribute force
This gives you two points of control. If your dog lunges, the harness provides a safety backup while the BravoWalk training collar delivers feedback.
Never Underestimate a Good Waist Leash
For hands-free security, a quality waist leash can be a lifesaver (literally).
Benefits:
- Distributes pulling force across your hips and core (strongest part of your body)
- Keeps your hands free for balance
- Gives you better leverage than arm strength alone
- Makes it nearly impossible for your dog to pull you off your feet
Important! Only use a waist leash if your dog has basic leash manners. A completely untrained dog could pull you to the ground. Use this option once you've established some control through training.
Training Techniques That Don't Require Strength
You can't out-muscle a stronger dog, but you can out-think them. These training techniques work with your dog's natural learning process. No physical battles required.
The Red Light/Green Light Method
This simple technique teaches your dog that pulling stops all progress.
How it works:
- Start walking with your dog at your side
- The moment you feel any tension on the leash, stop moving
- Stand completely still like a statue
- Wait for your dog to release pressure (even slightly)
- The instant the leash goes slack, start walking again
- Repeat constantly throughout your walk
Your dog learns: "Pulling makes us stop. Loose leash makes us move forward."
The key is consistency. You might stop 50 times in the first block. That's normal. Most dogs start showing improvement within a few days if you never, ever reward pulling by moving forward.
The Direction Change Game
This technique teaches your dog to pay attention to you instead of just charging ahead.
How it works:
- Walk in a normal direction
- When your dog pulls or stops paying attention, immediately turn 180 degrees
- Walk in the opposite direction without saying anything
- Repeat whenever your dog isn't paying attention
Your dog learns: "I need to watch where my human is going, or we'll end up somewhere unexpected."
This is mentally engaging for your dog and requires zero strength from you.
High-Value Rewards for Position
Make staying at your side the best place to be.
How it works:
- Keep premium treats (chicken, cheese, hot dogs) in your pocket
- Every 10-15 seconds that your dog walks calmly at your side, reward with a treat
- Mark the behavior with "yes!" just before giving the treat
- Gradually increase time between rewards as your dog improves
Your dog learns: "Walking next to my person = amazing things happen."
This positive reinforcement approach works especially well when combined with equipment that provides clear feedback about pulling.
Practice Emergency Stops in Low-Stress Environments
Before you need it in a crisis, practice stopping your strong dog safely.
How to practice:
- In your yard or a quiet area, walk normally
- Without warning, plant your feet and use the emergency stop technique
- Wait for your dog to stop pulling and look at you
- Reward heavily and resume walking
- Practice 5-10 times per training session
Why this matters: When your dog lunges at a squirrel during a real walk, your body will remember what to do. Muscle memory beats panic.
Building Confidence Over Time
Walking a stronger dog isn't just about physical technique. It's about building your confidence as a handler.
Start Small, Build Gradually
Week 1: Practice in your driveway or front yard. Master the basics without distractions.
Week 2: Walk to the end of your street and back. Low-traffic, familiar environment.
Week 3: Gradually add distance and mild distractions (parked cars, mailboxes).
Week 4+: Progress to normal walking routes as your confidence and control improve.
There's no shame in starting small. Every confident handler with a strong dog started exactly where you are now.
Celebrate Small Wins
- Your dog walked 20 feet without pulling (even if that took 5 minutes)
- You successfully stopped a lunge before it happened
- An entire block with loose leash
- A neighbor commented on how good your dog looks
Progress is progress. Acknowledge it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small person safely walk a large dog?
Yes, with the right technique and equipment. Focus on leverage, body positioning, and tools like the BravoWalk training collar that provide mechanical advantage. Many petite pet parents successfully walk dogs 2-3 times their weight by using proper form and training tools that provide clear communication without requiring strength.
What's the best collar for a dog stronger than you?
A smart training collar that provides immediate, clear feedback is most effective for smaller handlers. BravoWalk works well because it activates automatically from leash tension, requiring minimal strength while giving you reliable control. Avoid equipment that relies on you physically overpowering your dog.
How do I stop my strong dog from pulling without getting dragged?
Use the Red Light/Green Light method: stop moving the instant your dog pulls, and only resume when the leash is slack. This teaches your dog that pulling never gets them anywhere. Combine this with equipment that provides automatic feedback for faster results.
Is it safe to walk a dog that's stronger than me alone?
With proper equipment and technique, yes. However, if your dog is significantly stronger and not yet trained, consider walking in safe areas away from traffic and other dogs until you've established basic control. A double-leash system adds extra safety.
How long does it take to train a strong dog to walk politely?
Most dogs show noticeable improvement within 2-4 weeks of consistent training. Strong, determined pullers may take 6-8 weeks. The key is absolute consistency. Every walk is a training opportunity.
Should I avoid walking my dog if they're too strong for me?
Never avoid walks. Lack of exercise makes pulling worse. Instead, modify your walks for safety: practice shorter sessions in quiet areas away from traffic and other dogs while you build skills, drive to low-distraction locations for focused training, and always prioritize environments where you can maintain control. If you're concerned about safety or not seeing progress, consider working with a professional dog trainer who can assess your specific situation and provide hands-on guidance.
The Bottom Line
Walking a dog that's stronger than you isn't a matter of matching their strength. It's about using leverage, technique, and smart equipment to multiply your effective control.
You don't need to be bigger or stronger than your dog. You need to be smarter about how you approach the problem.
The formula that works:
- Proper body positioning and technique
- Equipment that provides mechanical advantage
- Consistent training that doesn't require strength
- Patience with yourself and your dog
Your dog isn't trying to overpower you. They're just following their instincts and learned patterns. With clear communication and the right tools, every strong dog can learn to walk politely, regardless of their handler's size.
The walk your dog takes tomorrow doesn't have to look like the walk they took today. You've got this.
Discover the BravoWalk Difference
Designed for pet parents who need control without strength, BravoWalk provides automatic timing and customizable feedback that works with your dog's natural learning.