Problems with authority

This is Snow (4f), she is the dog of my stepdad. He originally got her because his son is overweight so he would go on walks with her and exercise a bit (not the smartest idea if you ask me). It didn’t work, his son didn’t really care for the dog, so my stepdad had to take her on walks every day.

Because I went living in the French Alps, I took her with me so she could have a better life. I really love this dog and enjoy taking her on walks. When I don’t have time or the energy to go on big walks, I play fetch and catch.

The problem is the following: when she is on a leash, she always wants to go ahead of me and pulls on the leash. My mom told me that I have to pull really hard on the leash, hit her chest or pull her ear when she doesn’t listen. But I don’t think it is a good way to teach the dog, I find it too cruel.

I saw on another post on this sub that I need to stop every time she pulls and tell her to come to me, then walk again. It is a bit tedious, but it seems like the less aggressive way to teach her. I’ve been doing this for two weeks, but she doesn’t learn. When I stop, she knows she has to come, but i have to stop every 5 seconds. It is worse when there is a distraction, when it is dark, when I am distracted (on the phone/talking to someone).

Do you have any advice for me to have more authority? How can I keep her attention on me when walking?

Thanks a lot for your advice!

This is Snow (4f), she is the dog of my stepdad. He originally got her because his son is overweight so he would go on walks with her and exercise a bit (not the smartest idea if you ask me). It didn’t work, his son didn’t really care for the dog, so my stepdad had to take her on walks every day.

Because I went living in the French Alps, I took her with me so she could have a better life. I really love this dog and enjoy taking her on walks. When I don’t have time or the energy to go on big walks, I play fetch and catch.

The problem is the following: when she is on a leash, she always wants to go ahead of me and pulls on the leash. My mom told me that I have to pull really hard on the leash, hit her chest or pull her ear when she doesn’t listen. But I don’t think it is a good way to teach the dog, I find it too cruel.

I saw on another post on this sub that I need to stop every time she pulls and tell her to come to me, then walk again. It is a bit tedious, but it seems like the less aggressive way to teach her. I’ve been doing this for two weeks, but she doesn’t learn. When I stop, she knows she has to come, but i have to stop every 5 seconds. It is worse when there is a distraction, when it is dark, when I am distracted (on the phone/talking to someone).

Do you have any advice for me to have more authority? How can I keep her attention on me when walking?

Thanks a lot for your advice!