When the gentle giant no longer knocks you over – why large, friendly dogs still cause leash problems
"You can't imagine. I used to have to jump into the ditch whenever other dogs appeared. Otherwise, I wouldn't have stood a chance. And now I can easily lead him in my hand. It's crazy."
We regularly hear such statements from owners of large dog breeds. Names like Newfoundlands , Bernese Mountain Dogs , or Labradors are mentioned particularly often – dogs considered gentle giants, friendly, social, playful, and highly motivated to interact with other dogs.
Many people are therefore asking themselves:
Why does my dog pull on the leash even though he is friendly?
Why am I being knocked down by my dog even though he isn't showing any aggression?
Why is leash training so difficult for large dogs?
Newfoundlands are known for their sociable nature. When they see another dog, they don't usually run up to control or threaten it. Their motivation is friendly, sociable, and playful. In essence, they're saying, "Hey, who are you? Want to meet me?" This behavior seems harmless, endearing, and often even touching.
The problem doesn't stem from malice, but from mass, strength, and a lack of logical leash control . The empathetic owner, often significantly smaller and lighter than her dog, initially enjoys her dog's exuberance. Pulling can often be managed during puppyhood. However, as soon as a Newfoundland reaches 60 or 70 kilograms, joy becomes a genuine safety hazard.
In practice, this often leads to serious injuries. Broken hands and fingers, leg injuries, falls, and herniated discs caused by sudden pulling on the leash are not uncommon. Many women begin to avoid walks altogether. They go at times when they are unlikely to encounter anyone or avoid certain routes completely. However, this avoidance often leads to a lack of sensory stimulation and can even exacerbate the problem in the long run.
It's important to make a clear distinction: This is not an aggressive dog. This is an over-motivated, socially outgoing dog who has never learned to control his strength on the leash. Classic methods like pulling, resisting, or verbal corrections don't work reliably here, as they are either physically impossible or emotionally counterproductive.
This is where front-lead training with an anti-stress harness comes in. When the dog is led close to the front of the body, the entire dynamic of leash handling changes. The pull no longer comes from behind, but instead, when the leash is tightened, automatically leads to a turn towards the handler. The handler can further stabilize themselves by taking a step forward instead of allowing themselves to be pulled backward. This technique isn't a one-off, but is practiced until it becomes second nature.
The dog experiences no pain or fear during this process. Instead, through repetition, it learns that rushing forward too quickly is ineffective. Being turned away is perceived as an interruption, not a punishment. To continue enjoying encounters, the dog must slow down. This is precisely where the learning process begins.
This effect is often particularly noticeable in very large, friendly dogs. They don't want to fight, control, or dominate. They want contact. If they learn that walking calmly is the only way to achieve this contact, they adapt their behavior accordingly.
The result is surprising for many owners. Walks become relaxed again. The fear of being knocked over disappears. Encounters with other dogs are manageable without suppressing the dog's joy of life. Walks become what they should be again: a shared activity, not a stressful situation.
Leash training for large dogs is therefore not a matter of strictness or assertiveness, but of biomechanical logic and training . If you redirect the forces correctly, you don't have to fight them.
Further information on leading, lead logic and stress-free lead work can be found at
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