HI, I have a cocker spaniel pup who is 5 months old. He has been getting quite strong on the lead, I just use a lead and his collar. I did buy a XS harness from pets at home but never really used it and now its too small so wondering what to do. Should I use a harness on him? I had a Halti for my old dog and dont really want one for him. I have also been just looping the lead underneath his arms to create a kind of harness anfd that gives me a bit more control.

Thanks

I suggest you need to master the walk, your dog should not be in front but walk alongside you. If the dog pulls and gets in front then you stop and place the dog in a sit to wait for you to choose in what direction and when you go.

This starts before you leave the house, if the dog pulls and gets through the door first you might simply stop the walk at that point and come back inside, take the lead off then sit and read a book for five minutes. The pup will not like this and probably bark to prompt you to respond to his demands.

Like any training be consistent and calm, it will take multiple times for the pup to learn the new process but he will.

The walk, along with feeding times are each opportunities for training where you seek to get the pup to do something for which you reward with a walk or a meal. If you just give without expecting the dog to do anything in return the dog will naturally think of him as your boss, and along that path is future problems.