Leash walking
How do I stop my two dogs competing to walk in front on a leash?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
This is usually competitive excitement rather than genuine conflict, and giving each dog a clearly defined position, one on your left and one on your right, with consistent daily practice tends to resolve most of the jostling within 1 to 2 weeks, since dogs settle once the routine becomes predictable.
Why the jostling happens
Two dogs walked together without an established position often treat forward movement as something to compete for, particularly if pulling ahead has previously been rewarded by reaching something exciting first, like a favorite corner or a familiar dog.
Assigning and reinforcing positions
Consistently walking the same dog on your left and the other on your right every single walk, rewarding each for staying in its lane rather than crossing in front of the other, builds a predictable pattern both dogs learn to expect within a couple of weeks of daily repetition.
When it looks more like real tension
If the jostling comes with stiff bodies, growling, or snapping rather than simple excited pushing, that points toward genuine tension between the two dogs rather than positional competition, and is worth addressing separately, potentially with a trainer's input if it happens repeatedly.
Key takeaways
- Competing for front position is usually excitement rather than real conflict between the dogs.
- Assigning a consistent side to each dog and rewarding it there resolves most jostling within a couple of weeks.
- Stiff bodies, growling, or snapping during this competition signal something more serious than positional excitement.
- Address genuine tension between two dogs separately, with a trainer's help if it recurs.