What yielding should look like
A successful response is small and soft. Your dog may turn the head, shift one paw, or take a step toward your hand. You are not looking for a fast heel or a perfect position. You are teaching one meaning: gentle tension is a cue to move toward the handler rather than brace against the line.
Use a comfortable, well fitted walking setup. Hold the leash with enough slack that you can deliberately add a tiny amount of tension. If the dog is already pulling, you cannot show the contrast between slack and pressure clearly.
Yielding to light pressure is one supporting skill. If the main problem is sustained forward pulling throughout the walk, begin with the complete stop pulling plan so the dog learns that a loose leash, rather than pressure, keeps movement going.
Begin in a room with no distractions
Stand beside your dog and wait until the leash is loose. Move your hand a few inches sideways until the line becomes just taut. Keep your hand still. The moment your dog turns or shifts toward the tension, say your marker word, soften your hand, and place a treat near your leg.
Practice from several directions. A dog who follows pressure to the left may not yet understand pressure from behind or from the right. Keep sessions to a handful of repetitions so the response stays thoughtful rather than automatic and frantic.
Add one step at a time
When a weight shift is easy, take one slow step away. Reward your dog for following before the leash tightens fully. Next, practice gentle turns in a hallway, then in a quiet yard. The leash should return to slack after every correct response.
Do not jerk, pulse, or drag. Repeated tugs can make the dog brace harder or treat the leash as something to fight. If nothing happens after a second or two, make the exercise easier and use food placement to restart movement.
Use the skill on a real walk
Outside, ask only when your dog can still notice you. A dog staring, barking, freezing, or trying to flee may be too worried or excited to learn from leash pressure at that moment. Create distance first.
Yielding can help at a curb, around a parked car, or when the leash catches lightly around the handler. It does not replace loose leash walking practice and it should not be used to pull a frightened dog toward something.
Troubleshooting
If your dog backs away from all equipment, check fit and build a positive introduction before continuing. If a new reluctance to turn, walk, or bear weight appears, stop training and contact your veterinarian. Pain can look like resistance.
A qualified reward based trainer can watch your timing and hand position. The best sign of progress is not stronger control. It is a dog who responds to less pressure and returns to a loose leash more quickly.