Most leash-pulling videos demo on dogs that already know what is expected of them. Teaching a puppy is a different task: they need the concept introduced in a calm setting before distractions enter the picture, and equipment that suits a young, growing dog. What the majority of videos skip is the transition — how you move from 'tolerating the lead indoors' to 'loose lead down a busy street'.
Short verdict
Start with Zak George's puppy-specific video: it is the only one in this pack built for a dog that has never worn a lead, and it takes you from treat work and direction changes indoors to a distracting outdoor environment in one session. If your puppy has already become a confirmed puller, add McCann Dog Training's 'always pulling' video, which supplies the door-impulse-control foundation that every other guide assumes you already have.
The ranking
1
Best overall
How to Leash Train your Puppy!
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution · 7:15 · Dec 2016
Zak George introduces puppy Flurry to the lead in a calm indoor space, using small, soft treat pieces to build attention before any real walking begins. The session moves outside to a waterfront area full of geese and birds, with direction changes and praise as the primary tools throughout — no collar corrections at any point.
Why it ranks here: The puppy-specific framing makes a difference. At 3:41 George states plainly that the entire objective is getting the dog to pay attention to you while you hold the other end of the lead. By 5:41 he addresses something most videos ignore entirely: as a puppy grows, its natural pace increases, so the owner needs to stay patient and vigilant throughout the first many months rather than expecting one good session to hold. That expectation-setting is exactly what a first-time puppy owner needs to hear before they start.
~6 min · beginner · treats required · starts indoors
2
Best for dogs that never stop pulling
Leash Walking Training For Dogs That Are ALWAYS Pulling!
McCann Dog Training · 15:01 · Sep 2021
McCann instructor Carol works with Freya, a genuine puller, and builds the session entirely around impulse control before a single step is taken outside. The foundation is a door exercise: the dog does not pass through until she makes eye contact 1:09, which Carol calls a 'magic force field' that transfers directly to walk behaviour — and then to outdoor distraction work at 8:37.
Why it ranks here: The explicit distinction between 'taking your dog for a walk' and 'teaching your dog to walk' — set out at 0:00 and made concrete at 0:58 with the door work — is the clearest statement in this entire pack of what puppy leash training actually is. It is something the other ranked videos skip, and it gives puppy owners a starting point that lies before the pavement. At 10:46 Carol is still working ten feet from the front door, which is a useful reality check for owners expecting faster progress. A commenter confirmed it as 'one of the best explanations of leash pulling on YouTube'.
~14 min · beginner–intermediate · treats used · indoor and outdoor
3
Best step-by-step positive method
How to Train Your Dog to NOT PULL on the Leash!
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution · 8:46 · Sep 2013
Zak George works with owner Jose and dog Nina through a structured positive-reinforcement progression: introduce the concept indoors first 1:31, build eye contact and treat-based focus, then carry those same skills into progressively more distracting environments. He counts steps between corrections aloud at 7:27 to show how small the increments are in early training.
Why it ranks here: The instruction at 4:46 to 'change as few variables at a time' when moving from indoor to outdoor practice is more carefully explained here than anywhere else in this pack. A vet and behaviorist in the comments endorsed the approach specifically. The honest admission at 7:58 that 'there are still several weeks of consistency ahead' prepares a new puppy owner for what is actually involved, rather than a single-session guarantee.
~8 min · beginner · treats required · starts indoors
4
Best equipment primer
CESAR MILLAN TEACHES YOU HOW TO USE THE LEASH!
Cesar Millan · 8:39 · Jan 2021
Cesar Millan demonstrates the same lead on multiple breeds and sizes — from a Great Dane to a small dog — all placed at the top of the neck. He explains the three tool categories (halter, collar, harness), and recommends the halter specifically for anyone just starting to teach a dog to walk on a lead 0:32, with a clear rationale for each choice.
Why it ranks here: New puppy owners often reach for a harness, so Millan's point at 0:51 — that harnesses suit experienced handlers because they can encourage pulling and tracking — is a direct counter to the default instinct. Watch this before buying equipment. The leash-placement detail at 7:13, that the top of the neck is the most sensitive position and requires the least physical effort to guide, is specific and immediately actionable across any breed.
~8 min · beginner · no corrections shown · conceptual
5
Best quick reference for setup
5 Quick Tips To Stop Your Dog From Pulling On The Leash
McCann Dog Training · 7:30 · Jul 2020
McCann's Rob covers collar fit, leash tension, why harnesses don't address the underlying problem, and how to use a head collar when you need more control. The collar-fitting section explicitly names growing puppies 3:04, noting that a well-fitted collar provides both control and safety as the dog changes size.
Why it ranks here: The leash-tension point at 3:23 — that owners who keep the lead constantly tight are inadvertently training the dog to pull, because that pressure is all the dog knows — explains the most common beginner mistake in one short demonstration. Multiple commenters pointed out the demo dog is already well trained, which limits how much the video shows in messy real-world conditions. The setup advice holds regardless; treat it as a pre-walk checklist rather than a live training guide.
~7 min · beginner · treats shown · outdoor
