To get your dog to walk politely on the leash you will have to change a few simple things.
Begin by changing how you treat your dog inside the house. Giving him attention and treats that he has not earned and allowing him to do whatever he wants weakens you in his eyes. He thinks you are his friendly assistant. Start a No Free Lunch (NFL) policy that requires him to earn his rewards by doing something that you want.
Next, dig into your dog training tool-box and pull out your dog's stuff. If you only have a basic nylon leash and buckle collar, it's time to upgrade. Prong collars, Halti Head Collars, and Sporn Collars are fantastic training tools.
The Prong collar is self-correcting (it constricts when the dog pulls against it), which produces a small correction to the dog when he pulls. The moment he stops, the collar relaxes and releases its pressure. The dog associates pulling with discomfort and stops pulling. Stubborn dogs will continue to pull, but there will be a noticeable drop in frequency and intensity and a corresponding increase in your enjoyment on the walk.
Halti Head collars work on the principle that where the head goes, the body will follow. With a loop that attaches gently over the nose and underneath the jaw, the Halti collar exerts mild pressure on the dog's head when he begins pulling in the wrong direction. The pressure relaxes once he stops pulling, again teaching the dog that pulling is not fun.
Sporn harnesses are designed to redirect the pressure to a sensitive area behind the dog's front legs. This sensation motivates the dog to stop pulling. The Sporn harness is particularly good for smaller dogs that are not as hardy, as well as for dogs with neck or back problems since it takes the pressure off the neck and head area.
Any of these three collars can help reduce pulling on the leash.
In addition to stocking up with modern training equipment, you should also work on the underlying problem - your dog doesn't know what you want. The common approach to walking a dog is to attach the leash to his collar, open the door, and go for a walk. Unfortunately, none of those steps tell your dog how he should walk. He is excited and energized and goes as fast as he can.
To break him of that habit you have to teach him what to do. Gather up favored treats and grab his leash. Walk to the door and call your dog over. Tell him to sit. Once he has sat attach the leash and tell him to stay. Open the door and step out (always go first). Invite your dog outside and then tell him to sit. Reward him with a treat.
Take one step with him at your side. Stop and reward. Take two steps. Stop and reward. Gradually increase the length you walk before stopping and treating. If he tries to race away from you stop where you are. Do not let him pull you. If you have a special training collar it will provide the correction for you. If not, then verbalize that he has done the wrong thing. When the leash becomes tight, tell him No Pull in a calm voice. Wait for him to stop pulling and relax on the leash. As soon as it is loose tell him Good.
If he has been pulling for a long time then it will take longer to teach him the new rules. It can be done, though, if you remember to be consistent, rewarding him with treats and praise for doing the right thing and providing him with a verbal correction when he does the wrong thing. In the beginning your walks will be slow and seem unproductive (you should start in your yard or out in front of your place - only going a short distance the first few days), but you will make progress.
Change the rules inside so that you are the boss, update your training tools collection, and establish new rules for the walk outside and you will soon have a dog that respects you and understands that he has to go at your pace.
Problems caused by lunging toward other dogs, small animals, or people are a different issue and require an additional game plan. For basic walking, discipline, equipment, and consistency will work.
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